Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

69 reviews

mcnoble's review

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

An absolutely heartbreaking but beautiful story of two heroic sisters who, in their own ways, navigate and survive the challenged cast at them during a Nazi-occupied France during WWII. In her writing, Kristin Hannah transports you to Paris, the mountains, the countryside, and to the hidden places in between where survivors gather. She shares how there is not one way to be a hero, to be a friend, or to be a sister. This book was tense but well-paced, and, as one can imagine, an absolute tear jerker at times. Thank you to the wonderfully brave women who silently carry the world during war and thank you Kristin for sharing their stories. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Child death, Death, Murder, Torture, Blood, Violence, Genocide, Gun violence, War, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

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

xandrav's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Alcohol, Rape, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Genocide, Death, Miscarriage, War, Sexual assault, Violence, Alcoholism, and Excrement

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

lmayfieldx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Antisemitism, War, Xenophobia, Violence, Gun violence, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Deportation, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Miscarriage, Child death, and Rape

ericaco0's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

You will cry so hard!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Violence

Moderate: Xenophobia, Murder, Medical trauma, Deportation, Antisemitism, and Alcoholism

Minor: Grief, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Cancer

Historical, gut-wrenching, war, family, loyalty, loss

akashapaulina's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Violence, Rape, and War

bookwormatheart's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Death of parent, War, Physical abuse, Child death, Cancer, Xenophobia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Rape, Terminal illness, Violence, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry

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

abloo17's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Emotional and beautifully written. WWII can be a tough setting to write in and Kristin Hannah mastered it. Just enough detail and development to keep the plot and characters moving while telling an impactful story of resilience. The end was heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. 
I take away a half point because it was a very slow start for me but the middle and end cruised. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, War, Xenophobia, Misogyny, and Genocide