Comments on: Book Club Fail: The Nightingale

By: Marsha Tejeda

Marsha Tejeda — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 05:20:13 +0000

Oh, my. I had to read this book as an assignment for my MFA in Creative Writing. I wrote a scathing reading response to it. Hackneyed, full of anachronisms, plot holes, etc., all mentioned above. Where the hell was her editor? Fact checker? For my thesis, I wrote a book about my father’s time as a Flight Surgeon in WWII in the Pacific Theater. Hint: antibiotics were just barely being used and they came from America, not Britain. Was it really necessary for Ms. Hannah to use some form of the word “clatter” 36 times in the book (yes, I counted using my Kindle app)? She managed to shoehorn nearly every event/situation/cliché from the war into one small French town. I had a hard time finishing it. (Disclaimer: I’m a librarian and former history teacher, so these things probably bothered me more than Hannah’s usual audience.)

By: Susan Scoville

Susan Scoville — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 22:11:08 +0000

I really enjoyed reading your post and am glad I’m not the only one not loving that book. I couldn’t get past all the anachronisms and plot holes. Some examples that made me want to toss the book across the room: Hannah forgot to age one sister, while adding years to the other. She forgot she said it was snowing and mentioned roses climbing a garden wall. Viviane was a teenage mother but also went through college with her Jewish girlfriend. That would never have happened in those times. Viviane and her husband had modest employment but lived quite a luxurious lifestyle. Women drivers were unusual then but the younger sister somehow does quite a bit of driving without it being shown as exceptional. Also, a child is shot down apparently so words of pathos can be forced from her mouth. (Wasn’t I brave back there?). Emotional manipulation much? Plus, I felt a lack of flow to the story. At one point Viviane’s family is hungry and forgets that they have chickens in the yard. They also have a garden of vegetables. A hungry hoard of people pass through their property. The starving throng leaves litter but there is no mention of whether the crowd ate the vegetables. If you are concerned about starving wouldn’t that be the first thing you would look for? Anything left of our crop? Frenchmen who were hanged and still had berets on their heads. I guess berets are inevitable because (sarcasm here) all Frenchmen wear them but who put them back on their heads post-mortem? I found the younger sister annoying, flouncing angrily around the German soldiers when they arrived in town, risking getting her family shot to display a little sass. And, later, she disengaged from a dispirited crowd to quickly encounter an attractive man in the woods, a man ready to offer her a hot meal from his campfire. This is the Danielle Steele version of World War II. But, perhaps, that explains the nove’ls popularity. Mon dieu!

By: Maple Donut

Maple Donut — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 05:25:38 +0000

Thank you! I’m glad I’m not the only one to see this books imperfections

By: jenniferpuryear

jenniferpuryear — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 15:45:26 +0000

In reply to Don Winston.

Don, you are as always both kind and charming. I had so much fun writing this that I’ve considered not reading any more books ever for book club, and simply reporting. :). Xo

By: jenniferpuryear

jenniferpuryear — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 15:44:32 +0000

In reply to Sine.

Several people said EXACTLY what you did – that the opening was the strongest moment of the book, and that the book couldn’t sustain its ambition or power. I’m so glad you enjoyed this book club report! And I was so grateful for your absolutely terrific review last year. Xo

By: jenniferpuryear

jenniferpuryear — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 15:41:20 +0000

In reply to Tracy.

This is really a love it or hate it book for many! For sure not the book for everyone. It was actually quite nice just to listen to my book club talk about it, without having strong opinions myself. I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and I will do it again! I hope all is well with you, and thank you so much for your comment, Tracy! Xo

By: Don Winston

Don Winston — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 05:58:20 +0000

That is one fine-looking book club! Thanks for letting us be flies on the wall. This could be a web series.

By: Sine

Sine — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 04:39:55 +0000

I loved this. Having read (and reviewed:-) the book, I can feel for both passionate sides. The ewer/pitcher issue escaped me, must have flown right by it. I feel that that first sentence you highlighted was the strongest of the whole book, and it went a little downhill from there. It could have been better told, I agree. The plot didn’t really develop in a satisfying way. But still, got me thinking about character and what i might have done… I loved getting a glimpse of your book club in this manner!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 03:08:28 +0000

Oh, these books that get such buzz! I felt like it read like a Harlequin romance. The writing bugged with romantic and tragic cliques. This was not a favorite of mine. Loved your notes, though, Jennifer!