If only I could give a book six stars… this would be the one. What an absolutely remarkable novel. It was just so multi-faceted and powerful, and filled with so many rich historical events. Kristin Hannah wove a riveting tale centering on the lives of two sisters, Isabelle and Viann Rosingal. These courageous women experienced this horrific time in history in vastly different ways, yet each learned their strengths, in their own time. The novel delved into the role that French women had in the Second World War; many did not merely wait at home for their husbands, but actively assisted in the French Resistance. It also brought to light how much the French people suffered during this war too, a topic not often broached.
I was quickly transported to this place in time through Hannah’s vivid descriptions, and these women became my dear friends in a short amount of time. Human emotion was conveyed in such a raw manner, that I found my heart aching throughout much of the novel. Hannah evoked all of the senses, to the point of feeling the characters’ physical pain, smelling the putrid odors, and hearing the gut-wrenching cries. Some of the scenes were particularly shuddersome, and apparently quite a deviation from the author’s usual literary style… bravo for your bravery, Ms. Hannah!
If I may be so bold as to say, this novel will move you, it will haunt you, and it will alter your perception of the power of the human spirit.
Read 5/26/15
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