Author Spotlight

 Hi there. Every once in a while I’m going to feature one author for the entire blog. It’s obviously going to be a favorite author of mine. All of the books I’ve read by this author (so far) will be talked about. 

This week I’m talking about a fairly new to me author, Kristin Hannah.  I’ve just come across Hannah’s books within the last six months or so. Boy am I glad that I did. I like the history lessons I get from the stories she tells, I like the way she writes, the flow of the stories, the strong characters, and the fact that there’s no fluff or filler. It’s all story. I would recommend any of these books I’ve read highly. Very highly.

The first book I read by Hannah is The Nightingale (pub.2015). I think I’ve mention my attraction to historical fiction and this book is of that genre. It takes place in a French village during the WWII Nazi occupation. It involves two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, trying to survive the best they can under the circumstances they now have to live with. Vianne is a more traditional and practical thinker while Isabelle is a more emotional or rebellious doer. Vianne accepts what she needs to do to survive the occupation such as interacting with the soldiers in order to live, while Isabelle feels the need to do something else. She gets involved with the resistance to not only help herself and her family, but feels it is her duty to help all under the occupation. She risks her life constantly in her efforts.

Having been born well after WWII, the nightingale’s story is part of that time in history I wasn’t acquainted with. Hannah brings these characters to life with realism and strength and depth. Her books are ‘can’t put down’ stories you don’t want to finish but are glad you read when you do. So glad I read.

The next book I read was The Women (pub.2024). Another historical fiction. (I do read other genres.) The Women takes place during the Vietnam War years and in the aftermath. It’s a story about nursing student Frances McGrath who is looking to make a difference in the world and follows her older brother to Vietnam. It’s a world of difference from Southern California, where she’s been raised. She is allowed to join the Army nurse’s corp and is quickly thrown into the deep end of war. During her time in service she develops deep connections with her fellow soldiers, especially nurses, and sees unimaginable horrors and sacrifices. This book also delves into what happens when the nurses come home to a country divided about the war and don’t look upon those who served in it as the heroes they truly were. 

I find that Hannah gives real human emotions to her characters. None are perfect.  Whether you side with them or not, you know that they have the courage of their convictions and are not simply cookie cutter characters on a page. While Vietnam is not a subject I enjoy reading about (or any war I guess), this book was more about those real people who sacrificed their lives for us all. This book shined a light on the lesser know of them - the women. Really like this book.

I enjoyed those two books so much but felt I had to take a little break from reading the same author. When I was ready, I then read The Four Winds. (pub.2021) This book takes place after the Great Depression. It’s main character is a woman named Elsa who is trying to do the best she can for her family after her husband leaves her at probably the worst time he could have. She is living in Texas, and to say times are tough would be an understatement. After the constant dust storms finally kill the crops, destroy the homes and leaves them no choice, Elsa, and other families in the region, choose to move on. This is a story of strength and perseverance (to say the least). A true story of what many people of the time went through. 

Hannah is the best at showing the human spirit. Really good book.