Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

385 reviews

uselesspirateraven's review against another edition

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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and War

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Mass/school shootings, and Murder

Minor: Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, and Abandonment

mboutlaw's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.75

This book wrecked me. As a mother of two young children especially, it hit HARD. It was triggering to a point of me almost marking it DNF. I used a whole box of tissues and gave myself a headache in the reading of certain scenes. 

However, I kept reading because I felt a need to find closure of this story and I am glad that I did. Truly. Isabelle/Vianne’s story of loss, hope, and unending compassion was life-changing. By this book, I will forever be reminded of the thousands of stories of the small (and yet huge) acts of kindness, love, and rebellion during times where people were forced to look into the very face of evil.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Infertility, and Miscarriage

This is a book about WWII, it will describe war crimes against Jewish people and those suspected of helping them. It describes multiple graphic instances of child death at the hands of Nazis. Would not recommend this book to anyone sensitive to any of these themes and moreover would encourage mothers of small children to avoid this book.

geminisoul's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

This books is probably one of the best books I have read this year. The strength that the characters find throughout the story is astounding. The author has done a fantastic job of world and character building. I couldn't help but cry at times while reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

baileewyatt's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

4.75

This book was amazing. I loved our two main characters and as heartbreaking as their struggles got, it felt so honest and raw that it was truly captivating. 

When I first started it was a little difficult to follow the timeline. I found myself getting confused which would take me out of the experience a little. That is the only reason I took off .25 because once the story started picking up, and especially in the latter half, I was so hooked. I didn't want to put it down. The last 5-10 pages got me right in the heart. I had made it through most of the book without crying but I did not get out unscathed because all of my tears had been saved up for those moments. 

This story is intense and it's not one meant to be read quickly so don't go in with that mindset. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction, is looking for a book that will really touch you, or just loves a story about life and sisterhood. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Racism, Rape, Murder, and War

claire_bear26's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Miscarriage, Rape, Torture, Violence, and Antisemitism

gj1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Xenophobia, and War

Moderate: Child death and Rape

claireeshelby's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

I cannot remember the last time I read a 500+ page book in a matter of hours (and stayed up till 4am to finish). I was completely and entirely hooked. Beautiful, simple, descriptive writing style that brought out each of the characters nuances and understandably complex emotions in war time. I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction, and the way this story was architected resonated with me in a different way than any other. The impending doom that you know is on the horizon, but the incessant hope that you still feel until the very last moment when yet another disastrous Nazi action rips away a life. 

I hesitated to give 5 stars because the writing did get a bit repetitive, but it held my attention for nearly 5 hours straight, so clearly something worked!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Murder, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual assault

ceelo1581's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring 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

I am going to need 5 to 7 business days to recover from this book. It was probably one of the best novels that I have ever read. I don’t typically gravitate towards historical fiction; however, this was one that I could not put down. I learned so much about the history of France during World War II. While this was a fictional novel, there was so much that was based on the true stories of people who lived through the atrocities of this time. The characters were incredible, and the storyline kept me intrigued. There were so many twists and turns that I never saw coming. Definitely a must read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence

elocinrhom's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, War, and Deportation

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Pregnancy

jeggert10's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Deportation

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, Excrement, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs