Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

297 reviews

zmede's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

My first five star read. This book definitely put my in a reading slump after finishing it. The book was so raw and painted such a vivid picture of what the characters were experiencing. I definitely recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

dkamada's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Antisemitism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Excrement, and Fire/Fire injury

caitlinscamera's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Torture, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Violence and War

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

chiaradg's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Antisemitism, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Torture

Minor: Alcoholism and Cancer

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

charlotterose13x's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

“I know now what matters, and it is not what I have lost, it is my memories. 
Wounds heal, love lasts, we remain” 

The most heartbreaking, beautiful book I have read in while and my favourite book of 2024 so far.

 This story has me fully invested in these women’s lives and their stories. I was moved greatly by their relationship and sisters and their experiences throughout the war.

 The way Hannah has written from both women’s perspectives is incredible. Both ladies living different lives but despite all odds brought closer by the outbreak of war in France. Vianne and Isabelle are both equally as strong and inspiring fighting their own battles against the Nazis.

Well worth a read and I will be recommending to all 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Torture, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

benleon97's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

This novel started off really strong for me, but as it progressed I found myself losing interest in the plot. I felt it beginning to drag in the second half and could have done with a few less scenes. Personally Isabelle’s impulsive charm began wearing off and her story was getting repetitive. I was just waiting for her eventual capture at one point. On the other hand Vianne’s parts felt like the writing for her POV suffered, and some of the predicaments she found herself in felt forced to move along the plot. Additionally, the exposition on war facts throughout the novel made the writing suffer but I understand that’s to make a book like this digestible for all readers. That being said, this book does a lot of things well. The contrast of Isabelle’s and Viannes experiences is amazingly done and you really see the horrors women were faced with during war on both sides of the action. Objectively the descriptive writing is good and Kristin Hannah does a great job at setting scenes. Moreover, she’s great at showing reality in this novel through the hard choices and the impossible trials people such as Vianne, the children, and even Beck have to go through during a time of war. Overall, a real eye opening novel that will have you learning a great deal about France and women’s history during ww2 and the important part they played despite the control of men. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

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