The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Thank you so much to Netgalley St Martin's Press and Kristin Hannah for allowing me an advanced reader copy of "The Nightingale" in exchange for an honest review.  World War II France provides an elegant and tragic backdrop for an elegant and tragic story.  Viann and Isabelle's story of resilience and survival under extreme circumstances is such an inspiration for how strength and faith in love can overcome the worst odds.  Although the sisters were separated for a good deal of the novel, their stories and experiences run parallel yet divergent paths through the book.  I loved seeing how the women used their gender invisibility to their advantage to help as many people as possible survive the atrocities of the Nazi occupation.  I want to believe that I would be able to be that strong under the same settings, I pray that this is true.

The beautiful ending destroyed me in the best possible way.  I had never read Kristin Hannah in the past, but it will certainly not be the last time I pick up her novels.

Goodreads Rating: 5 stars.

Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris

If you have not gotten on board with the audio book revolution, make an exception for the new NPH autobiography read by the author himself which brings amazing new life to the stories and absurdity of his writing.  Even if you just pick this up to read this, I am certain that you will be able to "hear" Harris's distinctive voice come through in the writing.  My favorite part, besides all of his fictitious ways that he creates choose your own adventure deaths for himself, was the tenderness that creeps into his voice when he talks about his spouse and his kids.  Neil may be a comic performer but when it comes to his family, the truth of the depth of his emotions shines through.

Definitely pick this up, you will belly laugh and be inspired all in the same setting.

Goodreads Rating: 5 stars.

Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper

*sigh* How I yearn to be old enough to be able to just take off one day to walk unreasonable distances for unreasonable reasons. This story was just beautifully crafted and Etta is the old lady that I can only hope to become some day. The transition from past to present was striking and revealing in a very beautiful way. The novel itself was reminiscent of another of my favorites "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" and places Emma Hooper in a short list of authors like Rachel Joyce that I will pick up no matter what the subject of their next work may be. There was only one spot in the novel when things got a tiny bit murky but things were resolved quickly and the ending was just superb. Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster and Emma Hooper for allowing me an advanced copy of this beautiful work in exchange for my honest review.

Goodreads Rating: 5 stars