Here at Oakham Nub News we are working closely with Laura from Rutland Book Club to bring you monthly instalments of our book club feature.

Laura Ray has been running Rutland Book Club for over 18 months and arranges monthly meet ups for other keen readers to discuss their chosen book of the month - and you are invited to join!

The book club title for this month is 'The Nightingale' by Kristin Hannah.

 About the book:

FRANCE, 1939

In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn't believe that the Nazis will invade France…but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. 

When a German captain requisitions Vianne's home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.

Laura's Review:

This book really lives up to the praise it has received in reviews. 

Set between the second world war in occupied France and 1995 America, it brings to life the horrors and experience of the war and life in France for two sisters. Two sisters different in many ways but also very alike. 

Though her writing Kristin Hannah reminds us of the heroic ordinary people of WWII and the risks they took to not only survive themselves but to also save others, often complete strangers. It is a beautifully written, tragic story. I couldn't help but be moved by the hardships and cruelties endured by Nazi occupied France during WW2. The bravery of resistance fighters was extraordinary — the world owes them a great debt; even today. We must never forget.

The Nightingale is one of those books that will stay in my thoughts for a very long time. It was emotional and totally captivating. I cared deeply for the characters — they became my companions and friends. I so wanted a happy ending but war changes people; loved ones are taken from us and suffering surrounds us. The lives these fictional characters lived felt overwhelmingly real and horrific. Yet out of loss, courage and tragedy, freedom and hope emerged.

If you like WWII historical fiction, or even if you don't, I encourage you to try this book out. I know I'm going to be encouraging everyone I know to read it.

How to join the book club:

Rutland Book Club will be discussing this book on Wednesday 7th December 2022 at 7.30pm. They meet at The Wisteria Hotel in Oakham. People are welcome to join the Rutland Book Club Facebook group.

The book can be bought online or locally from Walkers Book Shop which is on the High Street in Oakham.

Keep your eyes peeled for the next Rutland Book Club pick...

The monthly book will be shared here each month.

In the meantime, see you at The Wisteria on the 7th of December.