SIDEKICK TO The Nightingale

by Katherine R. Miller

Can’t get enough of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale? Immerse yourself in her world, hang out with Isabelle and Vianne just a little longer, and discover hidden treasures with this Sidekick.

Warning: This is an independent companion to The Nightingale, meant to enhance your experience of the novel. If you have not yet bought Kristin Hannah’s novel, make sure to purchase it before buying this unofficial Sidekick.

The Nazis are sweeping through Europe, and all the talk in France is of war. For Vianne and Isabelle Mauriac, two sisters separated by ten years and a hundred miles, the coming years will bring trials—and opportunities—they’ve never before dreamt of. “In love we find out who we want to be,” our narrator tells us as the book opens. “In war we find out who we are.”

Kristin Hannah has written over twenty novels, among them her award-winning debut, A Handful of Heaven. The Nightingale, her first novel to be set during World War II, is already bringing in praises from longtime fans as well as new readers.

With this Sidekick, you’ll:

• Delve deep into the hidden motives and psyches of the characters you’ve come to know and love

• Learn what you might have missed on your first read of Hannah’s novel

• Uncover some of the novel’s hidden gems and underlying themes

• Explore possible alternate endings and imagine ideas for a sequel

• Get a chance to discuss The Nightingale with other savvy readers on our Goodreads forum

Sidekicks are entertaining and insightful reading companions, filled with delightful commentary and thought-provoking questions. What are readers saying about Katherine R. Miller's Sidekicks? "Enlightened me," "answered my questions," "blew me out of the water," "packed with useful insights," "showed me things I'd missed entirely," "reminds me of a book club conversation." Designed to be read side by side with the novels they complement, they’ll give you even more reasons to love some of today’s best books.

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2015

Reviews

[Stephanie Schenker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my soul.

[Lorett Jellings · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!!!

[Marilyn Lagier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for book club. I liked it. We had read THE FOUR WINDS earlier this year and someone suggested this book. I did like it and I thought it was better written than THE FOUR WINDS. There was much more substance to the characters than in the other one I read. I did think Isabelle was too impetuous, too snotty, but in the same regard, Vianne was too gullible, too trusting, until she suddenly had to "grow up" so to speak, just to save her daughter, "son," and what they had. It was obvious that Hannah did her homework on researching what happened in France when the Nazis over-ran. I think I may choose another book of hers to read on my own.

What the heck? What is "sidekick"? I see it says kindle edition--but I can't find the actual book title on Goodreads. I did not read this sidekick thing--and most certainly not on my kindle. I read a real, live book that I got to hold, turn corners to hold my place, and had to order fro Amazon because my public library ONLY carried the audible version. So, maybe my review works for the real novel and maybe it doesn't.

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

a borrowed book from the local public library - Going from 1995 and the early 40's about a family being involved in helping to over throw the Nazi's in ww II in France and how they had to live through the German occupation. It reminded me of things that happened then and after the Brits and Americans became involve. A very compelling story that kept you reading.

[Laura Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite books I have ever read. It had a slow start but one you get into it you are hooked! The way it is written keeps you interested and I really enjoyed that you don't know who the present day character is until the end of the book.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story

[Alicia Ziff · Rating 5 out of 5]

exciting, sad, painful a story that takes you in and carries you through the lives of people who lived in hell and survived. beautifully written

[Michael Whitlatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a great read and an exciting tale.

[Frances Keogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book

[Jeff Dohmen]

awesome book

[Brooke Bernhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed with this book! So good!

[Candace Simar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece! I love historical fiction, and The Nightengale is historical fiction at its very best. Thank you, Kristin Hannah.

[Jeanineitsme · Rating 5 out of 5]

The nightingale is set in France during World War 2. It is the story of 2 sisters, Vianne and Isabelle Mauriac, who move in and out of each other's lives as the war rages around them. Having been all but abandoned as children when their mother died, they were shuffled off to live with a nanny in a small french town. Vianne left Isabelle behind when she met and married her husband and Isabelle was left with no family to speak of. The sisters are thrown together when Isabelle's father again insists she go to live with her sister. This book read with enough detail that I felt I was reading a historical story. The horrors the sisters had to endure were very realistic and I felt that I understood a lot more of what it had been like to be a Jew in France during the war. Excellent read!

[Lisa Magidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book which I just picked off of the shelf at the library. It is historical fiction set in France during World War II. The book follows two sisters through the Nazi Occupation and relates each sister's experiences during the War. It was easy to read as the characters were interesting and the book helped me to visualize what it must have been like to live through the war.

[Dawn Kane]

I have been, accidentally, reading a lot of WWII stories lately. This has been my favorite so far. It is told from the perspective of two sister. They are very different in personality, but they gradually learn how much they share. The story contains the pain of war, but also love an heroism. I highly recommend it.

[Linda Lyon Podhajsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. As a historian, I got caught up in the historical aspect of World War II and the French Resistance. What came alive for me was the suffering and heroism of those who chose not to pacify the Nazis. Two sisters make very different choices, one not realizing she is resisting in her own way. It makes me sick to think about that disgusting time in history.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! It was a very heart wrenching story about two sisters living in France when the Nazis invaded. Very interesting and well written. Read the book in 2 days, ignoring everything around me!

[Judith Mosconi · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story - couldn't put this one down. I wonder what I would have done...

[Rose Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nightingale is an excellent book. Very in depth.

[Mary Nahernak · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely could not stop listening - a tear jerker

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about France during WWII, the Resistance told through the eyes of 2 sisters.

[Maria O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! Only stopped reading when life got in my way

[Melinda Umbarger hunley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read.

[Perry Nathanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is about two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, who do their best to survive in German-occupied France during WWII. This is an interesting book because it discusses what women endured while men were away fighting and how they contributed to efforts to defeat the Nazis. Isabelle worked for years as part of the French Resistance – first as a courier and later as a guide taking British airmen and others over the rugged Pyrenees Mountains to safety in Spain. Isabelle, whose code name was “Nightingale,” risked her life over and over again. Vianne was forced to make horrendous choices to keep herself, her daughter and her best friend’s son alive.
It was amazing to read about how unselfish, resourceful and courageous so many people were. In the end the sisters found out how very much their difficult father had loved them. The ending was very sad because Isabelle died after surviving brutal torturing and then getting sick in a concentration camp. It seemed too tidy that she died soon after the American liberated the camp’s prisoners and immediately after her long-time love visited her. All the same, they were all huge heroes.

[Gloria Biondi]

I think this may be the best book I have ever read. I'm anxious to read more of this authors books. I was surprised to hear that it was based on a true story or parts of one.