An overly sympathetic story of fraternisation

An overly sympathetic story of fraternisation with the enemy. Whilst many people were suffering at the hands of German occupied France, our 'hero' does very nicely out of his collaboration.

Historically fairly accurate, but I doubt that in reality the main character and his friends would have had any career after the occupation ended, due to their constant wining and dining of the enemy.

Even so, a good book, that gives insight into the contradictory feelings that survival at any costs, would place on most of us.

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A Harrowing Glimpse into Nazi Occupied France

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would most certainly recommend this audiobook; the narration, the story itself with the tentative bits of romance, the danger and bit of nervous fear it inspired in me, marks a novel that is very much well done!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Nightingale?

I just loved the characters and the moments of emotion b/w the m/c and his two very different lovers.

What about Matthew Lloyd Davies’s performance did you like?

I liked his voice and pacing! It fit with the characters and the story.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

For much of the book I was on bated breath waiting for the moment we’re this would all go wrong!

Any additional comments?

Loved the attention to detail! This felt like a researched book, which is so rare you have to appreciate it when you find it!

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wonderful wonderful wonderful

Loved it. the narration was great, colourful and varied, although there were moments that were almost too quiet, but always appropriate and sincere. Terrific story.

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Something Quite Unexpected …

It is something quite unexpected to sympathise with WW2, Nazi soldiers, Gestapo informers, French resistance fighters and collaborators Yet, this story does, by humanizing soldiers - whether formally conscripted or in resistance movements - making them individuals with lives, loves, family, motivation, hopes, and a moral compass of their own. Like history, Nightingale lets us observe and judge them because isn’t hindsight 20/20 vision? Then there is Yves. He is not a soldier - in the sense of a warrior - but fights to keep entertaining because music is an elixir for the worn souls.

This story made me uncomfortable. There was the tension, the feeling of dread evoked about surviving in Occupied Paris and the choices Yves made to survive. Another part of the discomfort was how Yves’ orientation plays a pivotal part in his survival post WW2 and to be crystal clear, this story is not about being homosexual – it is just that our protagonist happens to be gay. The biggest source for discomfort is Nightingale’s question, if your own life was balanced on a knife’s edge, would you have chosen differently? Mr. Voinov, thank you for your elegant insight on perspective.

Mathew Lloyd Davies chose the perfect soft tone and polished accent for Yves. I enjoyed Maurice’s languidness compared to Stark’s baritone correctness, Falk’s youthful energy and I loved Vandio’s rich timbre. I appreciated all vocal decisions except when MLD chose a choppy delivery that was most pronounced with Maurice and Grimmstein. MLD’s greatest asset is his honeyed vocals that he suffuses with fragility, strength, tenderness or viciousness so this sharp, jerky delivery detracted. Otherwise, his performance evokes atmosphere, a sense of a time and a place and is a win.

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