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Book Club Author Suggestion: Kristin Hannah

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Portrait of Kristin Hannah. She is sitting on the floor holding her bent left knee. Wearing black trousers and boots and a whit V-neck sweater. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail and she is wearing hooped earrings. She is smiling.
Kristin Hannah – taken by Kevin Lynch

Brief Bio:

Kristin Hannah (born September 25, 1960) is a bestselling American author renowned for her emotionally powerful novels that explore themes of love, loss, resilience, and female friendship. Her storytelling is celebrated for its rich character development and historical depth. Born in California, Hannah earned a degree in communication from the University of Washington in 1983 and later graduated from the University of Puget Sound School of Law. She practiced law in Seattle before pursuing writing full-time. Her first novel, co-written with her mother during her mother’s battle with cancer, was never published.

Hannah began her writing career in the early 1990s and gained widespread acclaim with Firefly Lane (2008), which was later adapted into a Netflix series. Her most notable works include The Nightingale (2015), which has sold over 4.5 million copies and been translated into 45 languages, The Great Alone (2018), The Four Winds (2021), Winter Garden, and The Women (2024), a novel set during the Vietnam War. She resides on Bainbridge Island, Washington, with her husband and their son..

Available Works in the Colorado Book Club Resource

The Book Club Resource has 8+ copies of the titles below available for 8+ weeks at a time to reading groups across the state. The descriptions below are from Amazon.

Nightingale (2015)| Discussion Questions

The Nightingale Cover Art. Teal background with a yellow silhouette of a nightingale on a branch.

“The Nightingale” tells the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, living in France during World War II. Vianne, a married woman, faces the hardships of war, including housing a German officer in her home. Isabelle, a younger and more adventurous sister, joins the French Resistance, taking dangerous paths to help allied soldiers escape to Spain. Both sisters, though separated by their circumstances, are united by their determination to survive and protect those they love. 

El ruiseñor (2015) | Preguntas de Discusión

Portada de El ruisenor. Fondo color verde azulado con la silueta amarilla de un ruiseñor posado en una rama.

En el tranquilo pueblo de Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac se despide de su marido, Antoine, que debe marchar al frente. Ella no cree que los nazis vayan a invadir Francia, pero lo hacen, con batallones de soldados marchando por las calles, con caravanas de camiones y tanques, con aviones que llenan los cielos y lanzan bombas sobre los inocentes. Cuando un capitán alemán requisa la casa de Vianne, ella y su hija deben convivir con el enemigo o arriesgarse a perderlo todo. Sin comida ni dinero ni esperanza, Vianne se ve obligada a tomar decisiones cada vez más difíciles para sobrevivir.La hermana de Vianne, Isabelle, es una joven rebelde de dieciocho años que busca un propósito para su vida con toda la temeraria pasión de la juventud. Mientras miles de parisinos escapan de la ciudad ante la inminente llegada de los alemanes, Isabelle se encuentra con Gaëton, un partisano que cree que los franceses pueden luchar contra los nazis desde dentro de Francia. Isabelle se enamora completamente pero, tras sentirse traicionada, decide unirse a la Resistencia. Sin detenerse nunca para mirar atrás, Isabelle arriesgará su vida una y otra vez para salvar a otros.En el amor descubrimos quiénes queremos ser.

The Great Alone (2018) | Discussion Questions

Cover Art for the Great Alone. Image contains pink mountains in a sunset with a multicolored road running through it.

After returning from the Vietnam War, Ernt Allbright becomes unstable and uproots his family to live off the grid in remote Alaska. His wife, Cora, follows out of love, and their thirteen-year-old daughter, Leni, hopes the move will bring a fresh start. At first, the rugged wilderness and supportive community offer promise, but as the harsh winter sets in, Ernt’s mental state worsens. Trapped in isolation and darkness, Leni and Cora soon realize the greatest danger lies not outside—but within their own home.

The Women (2024) | Discussion Questions

Cover Art for The Women. Red background with a splash of gold containing a black silhouette of a helicopter flying over palm trees.

The Women follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a sheltered young nursing student who joins the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War after her brother is deployed. Thrust into the chaos of war, she faces the brutality of combat and forms deep, life-altering bonds. But returning home proves to be the greatest challenge, as she and her fellow veterans confront a divided, unwelcoming America. This powerful novel highlights the overlooked contributions and sacrifices of women in war, portraying one woman’s courage, resilience, and journey through a defining moment in history.

Quotations:

  • “Finding your passion isn’t just about careers and money. It’s about finding your authentic self. The one you’ve buried beneath other people’s needs.”
  • “Sitting around and waiting for your muse is not the best choice.”
  • “I learned with Firefly Lane that women’s experience is more universal than we think. We’re all living some version of the same life.”
  • “I follow the rules and wait my turn. The biggest risk I ever took was in daring to believe I could write novels.”
  • “One thing I can tell you for sure is this: we only regret what we don’t do in life.”
  • “The measure of a man comes down to moments, spread out like dots of pain on the canvas of life. Everything you were, everything you’ll someday be, resides in the small, seemingly ordinary choices of everyday life.”
  • “We are all a little broken, but the last time I checked, broken crayons still color the same.”
  • “Holding onto bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”

Notable Facts:

  • She is a #1 New York Times bestselling author with over 20 novels published.
  • The Nightingale (2015), set in Nazi-occupied France, became a global bestseller and won multiple awards. It is also being adapted into a feature film.
  • Her novel Firefly Lane was adapted into a popular Netflix series starring Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.
  • The Nightingale won the Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction and has been translated into more than 40 languages.
  • Before becoming a full-time writer, Hannah worked as a lawyer. She holds a law degree from the University of Washington.
  • She began writing her first novel with her mother during her mother’s battle with cancer, which deeply influenced her path as a writer.
  • Many of her novels, including The Four Winds (2021), are rooted in historical events, particularly those highlighting women’s experiences.
  • Kristin Hannah was born in Southern California but has lived much of her life in the Pacific Northwest, which often serves as a setting in her novels.

Videos/Interviews

Sources

Book club sets are circulated to participating libraries via the CLiC courier. Read all about the program on the Book Club Resource landing page. If you are interested in receiving book club sets but are not already a member library, use the online form to get signed up.

Since the BCR has always relied on book donations, we are deeply grateful to all of the institutions and individuals that have donated sets and helped make the collection stronger. Please contact bookclub@coloradovirtuallibrary.org for questions or to discuss donations.

Regan Harper
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