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sgophie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
m4tchabearv's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.5
dfay's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. Upsetting and beautiful and truly my pick of the year. I don’t see how another book could top this. I couldn’t put it down.
messia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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
4.0
Great storytelling for a historical fiction set during WW2 in France. I was moved and surprised by one of the plot twists and it was a major one so I’d say it works quite well.
As a French person, I loved reading about this part of our history, because it’s the power of fiction: you get an immersive experience of what it might have been like for the people who lived it, in a way that a History class cannot do. And I think it is beautiful that this particular novel by Kristin Hannah became so popular, because it allowed for the stories of very brave women and men to be brought to our collective attention again.
One thing really took me out of the story several times though: the use of French. I cringed each time I read a random « Maman » or « grandmère », (don’t even get me started on the « C’est la vie! » at the end😬). And the « Oui » used as an « Ok », which you can’t actually do in French… It’s not so much the idea of using French words, it’s the fact that they weren’t even used well. Obviously the writer used some very well-known phrases that would make a foreigner think « This story takes place in France, ohlala!» but to a French speaker it just made me think « Yup, that was written by an American. ». I actually like it when I read a novel in English by an Indian or a Nigerian author and they mix bits of another language with it. But the author speaks the language and therefore, I assume, is using it correctly.
As a French person, I loved reading about this part of our history, because it’s the power of fiction: you get an immersive experience of what it might have been like for the people who lived it, in a way that a History class cannot do. And I think it is beautiful that this particular novel by Kristin Hannah became so popular, because it allowed for the stories of very brave women and men to be brought to our collective attention again.
One thing really took me out of the story several times though: the use of French. I cringed each time I read a random « Maman » or « grandmère », (don’t even get me started on the « C’est la vie! » at the end😬). And the « Oui » used as an « Ok », which you can’t actually do in French… It’s not so much the idea of using French words, it’s the fact that they weren’t even used well. Obviously the writer used some very well-known phrases that would make a foreigner think « This story takes place in France, ohlala!» but to a French speaker it just made me think « Yup, that was written by an American. ». I actually like it when I read a novel in English by an Indian or a Nigerian author and they mix bits of another language with it. But the author speaks the language and therefore, I assume, is using it correctly.
jeanettefy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
megswholesomelife82's review against another edition
4.0
I really wanted to give this 5 stars, but found myself skimming pagee to get to more action/ plot.
My favorite character was Vianne, as a mother I could easily relate to her need to protect her children.
Exploringin life inFrance during WWII made for an interesting story. I went through many emotions reading this, anger, frustration and sadness to name a few.
My favorite character was Vianne, as a mother I could easily relate to her need to protect her children.
Exploringin life inFrance during WWII made for an interesting story. I went through many emotions reading this, anger, frustration and sadness to name a few.
dimonos's review against another edition
5.0
Я такие книги не читаю! Исторические + тяжелая тема. Не знаю как попал на эту. Пока понял о чем будет книга, было уже поздно. Книга меня затянула. Классно прорисованные характеры героев. Не новая, но хорошо рассказанная история. Как по мне, уж через чур правильные и хорошие. Но это единственная слабость этой книги. В остальном всем рекомендую!
charlottefay95's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hymb0's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0