Volusia County Public Library discussion

The Nightingale opens with an intriguing statement that lays out one of the major themes of the book: “If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.” What do you think the narrator means by this? Is love the ideal and war the reality? How does war change the way these characters love? How does love influence their actions in the war?

I haven't read very far into the book, but I think the author could mean that in love we tend to be the better person for the one we love. That other person may pull the best out of us as well. But when conflict comes, especially conflict that comes with the stress and uncertainty of war, the choices are harder, the stakes are higher. The decisions and actions made under duress show the true inner self that we really are. Character should remain the same, but unfortunately in tough times it changes.

After having finished the book, the author is not distinguishing between real love and false love, but how that love manifests itself in different circumstances. Familial relationships are strained, war seemed to destroy the family but actually strengthened their bond of love for one another to the point of enduring beatings, interrogation, rape, and even death to save each other. Vianne would do anything to help a jewish friend and protect her daughter. Gaetan found his way back to Isabelle and loved her even though she was bald, emaciated, had missing teeth and scars. Vianne and Antoine chose to stay together in marriage after he had endured imprisonment and she was carrying a nazi captain's child. These loves, created before the hard ships of war,threatened to fizzle and die, but instead blossomed and strengthened to become unbreakable until death.