I recently wrote about the historical novel The Nightingale in our July 2026 Edition of What We’re Reading, but I thought it was worth spotlighting further with a full Perfect Pairing Reading Guide, so here it is!
This 2015 novel is set to be released as a major motion picture on February 12, 2027, which is very exciting. I expect there will be renewed interest in this novel and that some readers will want to pick up the book before they watch the upcoming film. Let me tell you that you won’t regret it!
Set during the early years of World War II as Germany invades and cruelly controls Paris and the French countryside, the book centers on two sisters, their alcoholic poet father and how the war tears their family and closest relationships apart. Vianne (Dakota Fanning) is a rule follower who must let two Nazi officers board in her ancestral home Le Jardin, while her younger sister Isabelle (Elle Fanning) is a rebel and capricious rule-breaker whose been expelled from more schools than I can count and finds her calling supporting the French resistance.
As with any war novel, there are some tough and painful moments for readers to confront, especially as women and children nearly starve while the Germans gorge themselves on requisitioned French food, smoked meats and sausages and fine wines. However, the dual-timeline plot remains satisfying through the last pages of the last chapter. As we become emotionally invested in the characters, we’re compelled to find out how their stories resolve.
The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK
A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation.
Goodreads Best Historical Novel of the Year - People's Choice Favorite Fiction Winner - #1 Indie Next Selection - A Buzzfeed and The Week Best Book of the Year
With courage, grace and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France -- a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It's a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.
Cookbook & Recipe Pairings for The Nightingale
Now, for a little digression. Speaking of French food … in the 1970s, my grandparents were friends with chef Charles Virion, who wrote the French Country Cookbook. Sadly, it’s now out of print, but you can always pick up a used copy. There’s also a very entertaining Kirkus review that cheekily pokes fun at his use of canned stock and vague instructions like you when the souffle is done because you know when it’s done.
During this time, my grandparents invited him over to dinner. Always a perfectionist, my grandmother was understandably anxious about cooking for a professional chef. But he told her, there’s no need to feel like you need to impress me with your cooking. If you made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it would still be an honor. Sometimes, the act of cooking for someone is important than what’s on the table.
French cuisine can definitely be complex, but not all the recipes are difficult. In The Nightingale, Vianne occasionally cooks for the Nazis staying at her home. Although she does her best to avoid eating any of the food they supply, she does make one memorable meal with freshly caught fish, fried potatoes and preserved lemons. As a diehard Julia Child fan, I thought I would share one of my favorite recipes of hers. I can picture Vianne making a rustic version of this creamy sausage and potato casserole using vegetables from her own garden. It’s rich but pairs well with a simple salad dressed in a light champagne vinaigrette.
Julia Child’s Gratin de Pommes de Terre et Saucisson
Ingredients:
- 3 cups sliced, parboiled potatoes (red or waxy varieties work best)
- 1 cup minced onions, cooked in butter
- 1/2 pound of smoked sausage, such as Kielbasa
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups light cream
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup shredded cheese like Gruyere, Emmenthaler or cheddar
- 1 tablespoon butter
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees (190 C
- Lightly grease a baking dish or pie plate
- Arrange layers of potatoes, onion and sausage in the dish
- Blend eggs, cream, salt and pepper; pour over potato mixture
- Sprinkle top with cheese and dot with butter
- Bake in upper third of preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown
Source: Jungle Red Writers
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
by Julia Child - Louisette Bertholle - Simone Beck
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The definitive cookbook on French cuisine for American readers: "I only wish that I had written it myself." – James Beard
Cocktail Pairing for The Nightingale
There’s plenty of talk about French wine in this Kristin Hannah novel. The girls' father Julien Rossignol (Mark Rylance) is continually drinking brandy while writing poetry late at night. The Nazis flaunt their fine French wines obnoxiously, and even the downed American and British airmen who attempt to escape occupied France carry bota bags of wine as they climb over treacherous mountain passes in the Pyrenees. While few of the French were enjoying their own wine, a light rose spritz made with elderflower liqueur is the perfect pairing for Julia Child’s rich potato casserole.
St-Germain Rosé Hugo Spritz
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
- 2 oz Rosé (sparkling or still)
- 2 oz club soda or sparkling water
- Lime wedge or mint for garnish
Directions:
- Pour St‑Germain over ice in a glass.
- Top with wine and club soda.
- Stir to combine.
- Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime wedge.
Source: St-Germain Liqueur
Book Club Discussion Questions
The Nightingale is the perfect book club read! It has history, substance, emotionally charged plots, and most importantly, it’s easy to finish. I am not the fastest reader, but I whipped through the 540-ish page book in about three days over a long weekend. There’s also plenty to talk about. Here are a few discussion topics and ideas.
- How does Kristin Hannah’s descriptive writing style and adjectives add to the story?
- What’s the role of the narrator in this dual-timeline story, and how does it tie the plot together?
- Discuss the role of assumed identities. What about those who changed their names voluntarily versus those who were forced to?
- What emotions did you feel when the Germans invaded and the refugees plundered Le Jardin?
- How are the two sisters similar or different? Does the war change these qualities?
- Both Vianne and Isabelle make sacrifices during the war. Which sister is more heroic in your view?
Related Reads
For more books with substance and similar themes, check out these picks from my reading list. And There Was Light is a remarkable true story and memoir by blind man Jacques Lusseyran who was a leader in the French Resistance and miraculously survived Buchenwald. All the Light We Cannot See is a work of historical fiction centered on a blind French girl and a German boy. While I didn’t find that it has the same page-turning quality as The Nightingale, this Pulitzer Prize winner definitely has substance. Finally, check out Kristin Hannah’s The Women for a look at more strong women fighting through wartime. I've also included a novel about Julia Child's own experiences in the foreign intelligence community.
1. And There Was Light: The Extraordinary Memoir of a Blind Hero of the French Resistance in World War II by Jacques Lusseyran
2. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
3. The Women by Kristin Hannah (Page & Pairing Reading Guide Available)
4. The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers