What makes a person a hero? Do they jump right into a situation or evaluate and make a conscious choice to help others?
In “The Nightingale,” by Kristin Hannah, two sisters face World War II in Nazi-occupied France, with very different ideas of how to make it through the war. The oldest sister, Vianne is married with a young daughter, Sophie, when her husband leaves to fight against Germany. Isabelle, the younger sister, is sent to live with Vianne. They both view their circumstances differently – one wants to fight, the other to endure without making waves.
Throughout the story, both sisters make choices that send them on a collision course with the Nazis. Vianne believes that everything will be fine as long as she just does what she’s asked. However, when a Nazi officer is stationed at her home, her belief that she can simply follow orders starts to crumble as she witnesses the wrongs and eventually the atrocities of her captors. She does what she can to insure the welfare of her daughter and their home. Vianne slowly becomes a hero out of necessity and moral conviction.
Isabelle jumps right in guns firing, so to speak. Her heroism was blatant and at times careless. No thought of what could happen to her or her family for her actions. This caused a tremendous strain between the sisters as Vianne tries to protect her daughter. But nothing can stop Isabelle not even dire consequences.
The sisters’ lives had been shaped prior to the war by the death of their mother. Their father withdrew and left them with the charitable Sisters to educate and board them. Vianne and Isabelle adapted to their new world, but it left them with scars, especially Isabelle, who was much younger. Vianne hid hers in the guise of a sea of conformity and Isabelle, unable to conform in any way, lashed out in a violent storm of discord. But by the end of the novel the two sisters finally grow to understand, appreciate and love each other as they find an inner strength to steel themselves against the darkest hours.
We loved this book and talked about being a hero at book club. Both women were heroes to us. We also talked about living through a war. None of us has had to do that and when you read an historical fiction with characters that you bond with it’s as if you are there with them. Seeing and feeling what they do. Powerful. We really like the fact that both protagonists are strong, intelligent women. Love the quote near the end of the book!
“Men tell stories. Women get on with it. For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over.” Page 328.
This is a novel that will stay with you and make you think! Can there be anything better?
Rating: 9