A thought that kept going through my mind while I listened to The Nightingale (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2015) by Kristin Hannah is that it would make for a great movie. I’m not alone in that thought. After finishing the book I learned the release of the motion picture is set for 2027.

However, most movies never truly capture the book. They can’t. Not enough time to delve into the nuances that printed words can. Not enough time to develop all the characters’ story lines.

So, read or listen to the book before the movie comes out.

This historical fiction takes place during World War II as the Nazis are about to occupy France through to when the country is liberated. It’s the story of two sisters who are not close because of difficulties in childhood, but their lives are always going to be intertwined.

They have different beliefs before the war comes to their doorsteps, what one should or should not do to fight, let alone survive.

Hannah is a fantastic storyteller. It’s easy to believe Vianne and Isabelle are real people; same for all the other people in their lives. This is because they are based on real people.

The heroism, heartache, terror, and atrocities of war are not glossed over. At times the book is gritty. How could it not be? That’s what makes it feel so real. Like I am reading about the lives of people who lived through that time period.

This book is bound to trigger an array of emotions; at least it did for me. I highly recommend it.