Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

34 reviews

livlaughlit's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I was intrigued to read this book, as I’d heard practically nothing but rave reviews, but sadly this missed the mark for me.

I thought the writing style was somewhat unsophisticated and repetitive, with Hannah often implying something and then immediately clarifying what she meant, just in case we hadn’t picked up on the nuance. Regardless, the pervasive anachronisms were the real bug-bear for me. On every other page, there was an error that made me roll my eyes (oral antibiotics? A Flemish farmer smoking like a true Frenchman? The flippant mention of concentration camps on official warnings?). This read as Historical Fanfiction, rather than a well-researched piece of Historical Fiction. It was also extremely forgiving of Vichy France’s passing antisemitic legislation independently of Nazi requirements.  

Too often, the characters were reduced to flat stereotypes, and the development of the romantic plots were poorly paced (especially between Isabelle and Gaetan). I was also unconvinced by Isabelle and Vianne’s relationship, which seemed not to develop much at all.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, War, Xenophobia, Child death, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Torture, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, and Sexual violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Miscarriage

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book devastated me. The plot is so intricately woven together, the female protagonists are both incredibly brave and interesting, the historical pieces are flawlessly researched and rendered. I hadn’t considered the war from this many perspectives or through the different scenarios that unfolded in the course of this novel. I wept for the bravery, the sacrifice, and the love that encompassed WW2 and that this novel highlights. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Cancer, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Confinement, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Bullying, Kidnapping, Medical content, Torture, Blood, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, War, and Pregnancy

lsaunder0724's review

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

If you read lots of WWII historical fiction, you may find this to be a tad lacking in comparison to other books of this subject matter. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Genocide, Physical abuse, Violence, War, Deportation, Death, Gun violence, Child death, Antisemitism, and Torture

Moderate: Sexism, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

kaylokay_'s review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, War, Death of parent, Genocide, Gun violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Ableism, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Grief, Rape, Antisemitism, Biphobia, Child death, Confinement, Death, Deportation, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Cancer

squarahreads's review

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Violence, Rape, Hate crime, Genocide, Child death, Death, Gun violence, War, Torture, and Death of parent

Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexism

cadybooks's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Deportation, Grief, Misogyny, Violence, War, Alcohol, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Blood, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Child death, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual content

bxnny's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Slavery, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Vomit, Xenophobia, Murder, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Blood, Deportation, Hate crime, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Violence, Child death, Death, Genocide, and War

Moderate: Police brutality, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Excrement, Homophobia, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Sexism

mad_books_'s review

challenging emotional inspiring tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, Miscarriage, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Child death, Infertility, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, Deportation, Blood, Grief, Genocide, Police brutality, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Torture, Physical abuse, Sexism, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Misogyny

bubblechase's review

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The mislead was crazy bonks and really Oom f-ed the effect of the ending. Very interesting book, probably the first novel I've read set in war times, really jived with the sisterhood

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, War, Racism, Genocide, Sexual assault, Murder, Physical abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Rape, and Miscarriage

srosa037's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I loved it from the beginning. It was a sometime sad, and emotional right. I am not usually one to enjoy historical fiction but this one got me 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexism, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, Genocide, Bullying, Torture, Antisemitism, Blood, Death of parent, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual violence, War, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail