The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah

 

Characters

Vianne Mauriac Antoine – husband, drafted Sophie – daughter, stuffed bear Bebe (gave to Ari) Julian – son   Isabelle Rossignol– Vianne’s sister, always sent away to school after mother died Juliette Gervaise – false name, took downed airmen across the mountains to safety   Rossignol -father, forger for underground   Rachel de Champlain – Vianne’s best friend, taught together, Jewish Sarah – daughter, shot by Germans Ari – infant son, given to Vianne to save, “Daniel”   Gaetan Dubois “Gaet” - helped saved downed airmen, romance with Isabelle   Paris underground: Monsieur Levy Gaet Anouk Henri – ran hotel in town Didier   Captain Holfgang Beck – lived with family, good to family, killed by Vianne to save Isabelle   Sturmbannfuher Von Richter – second soldier living with Vianne, raped her

 

NOTE: Page numbers are from the 2017 paperback edition.

1.      Discuss the various characters.  Were there any that you keep thinking about after you finished the book?  How did Isabelle’s childhood prepare her for her work with the resistance?

2.      Were you surprised when you read that Vianne and Isabelle’s father was really working for the resistance and that is why, toward the end of the novel, he did not want Isabelle around?

3.      When Vianne discovered Isabelle and the dead airman in the hiding place in the garage (page 372), should she have asked more questions or was her reaction to yell at Isabelle understandable?

4.      What do you think prompted Captain Beck to search Vianne’s house and subsequently find Isabelle, thus leading to Vianne killing him?  Did Vianne suddenly look guilty when he was talking about not finding the downed pilot and how that would hurt his reputation?

5.      Were you able to understand the complicated relationship between Vianne and Beck?  He basically was a good man and did things to help such as getting Ari papers so he was saved.  Also, the family would have greatly suffered without his help with food.

6.      When Beck asked Vianne for the names of teachers at the school, did she have any choice but to comply?  This basically insured that Rachel would be sent to a concentration camp.

7.      Did you like the ending?  Were you surprised to learn that Vianne had saved 19 Jewish children.

8.      Discuss your reading experience.   How did you approach the difficult subject in the book?  Would you recommend the book to a friend?