![]() Meghan Brehon I have not been reading as much as I want to this summer. This is probably pretty obvious, seeing as the last 5 reviews posted are by Cassidy. Instead of crushing several novels a week as is my norm, I have barely been picking them up. It makes me almost sad that there has not been a book so far this summer that has compelled me to read until the birds begin to chirp at me to go to bed. Anyhow, none of the books on my shelf were really screaming at me to be read, so I went to my mom’s stacks to see what she had. Here, I found The Nightingale. It’s historical fiction (perhaps my favourite genre) and from what I’ve heard it sounded good. This was enough for me to give it a go. If you are looking for a lighthearted read, back away. As would be expected from a book that follows sisters in Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War, there is nothing lighthearted about this book. With that being said, I happily offered my heart for this novel to drag through the mud. My tears did not come until the end of the book. I did not anticipate the ending at all, although as the story began to come to a close there was a certain trepidation as I hungrily turned page after page. There are chapters that take place well into one of the sisters’ lives at different points within the novel, so I knew I was not only going to learn what happens to the characters in the short term, but also how their lives played out (if they did). Where things could have only gone two ways, they went in the opposite direction I had been expecting. When there was a multitude of possible outcomes and future plot points, I was too busy tearing forward to find how things unravel to stop and come up with my own predictions (that would have most likely been wrong anyway). This novel was also an opportunity for me to learn more history. I now know more about France during the occupation, and Free France (France Libre). Not only do you get a sense of what life might have been like for a French person living in France during the war, but also see some of the inner workings of Free France. The historical elements were weaved into the plot in such a way that I could begin to understand the glimpse of hope that Free France offered in the hardships and long darkness of the war and occupation, and how that could be an appealing organisation to join (despite the immense dangers). I am looking forward to History 20 which I am taking in the upcoming school year, as it has a large focus on WW2. Upon finishing The Nightingale some of my most prevalent thoughts were, “Why can’t everything have a fairy tale happy ending?” and, “I should really learn how to speak French”. Alas, a happy ending would not have been plausible in the situation, and learning a language takes work and dedication. The dynamic of the sisters, and the fast moving plot sprinkled with hardships that are somehow overcome by the will and bravery of the women make this book such a worthwhile read. Every barrier she turned into a gate.
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