Friday 4 April 2014

The Nightingale Novels

On a recent trip to the library, I picked up The Nightingale Girls by Donna Douglas. The story is about three very different girls who are training to be nurses in the East End in the 1930's. It sounded like something I might enjoy so I brought it home with me.


I really enjoyed this book. There's some great characters who come from different backgrounds, all with their own story, and they kept me interested from start to finish. The only negative thing I could say was that the book left me wanting more, so I was thrilled to learn that this is just the first book in a series, something I didn't realise at the time I was reading it.


I've now read the second in the series, The Nightingale Sisters. This book takes up where the first left off, and continues with the lives of the three main characters, though the ward sisters feature more in this second book than the first, and a new character is introduced, the night sister who has a secret to hide.

The Nightingale Nurses, the third book in the series, is now winging its way to me, and a fourth book, Nightingales On Call, is due for release later this month. I'm sure I'll enjoy them just as much as I've enjoyed the first two.

40 comments:

  1. Sounds interesting - been on the lookout for a good read!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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    1. They're an easy read, I'm enjoying them very much.

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  2. I think these will be another series I will be looking up on my kindle. At least when I stash them on my Kindle D can't see how many I have yet to read:-). I have been pretty good so far this year I have only bought about 5 or 6 books which are now residing on the bookshelf waiting for me to complete my challenge and I'm now on my 11th out of 13 books to complete by June. Yeah

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    1. You're doing really well with your reading challenge so I think it's time that you stock up again. I've bought a few books myself just lately so I've plenty to go at too.

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  3. These sound very interesting and something that I would enjoy, but I daren't add any more books to my enormous pile!! Glad that you are enjoying them. xx

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    1. I've added quite a few books to my reading pile just lately, and I'm not a very fast reader. I'm quite choosy about what I read so I tend to buy things as I see them when they take my fancy.

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  4. It's interesting to read books set in that period. Happy reading. Flighty xx

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    1. I enjoy reading books from this period. It's interesting to compare attitudes in different times.

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  5. I would really enjoy these books but I don't know if they're available here. I will definitely check the library. Thanks for the recommendation!

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    1. I hope you manage to find them over there, I've really enjoyed reading them so far.

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  6. Sounds like a good series, I enjoyed the Call the midwife programmes so I might check these out too. Thanks for the lead, have a great weekend xx

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    1. They're very similar to Call The Midwife in that they're set in the East End, though a little earlier. I'm sure any fan of Call The Midwife would enjoy these books too.

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  7. I shall look out for it, I love a good series to immerse myself in, thank you xx

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    1. I like books in a series, it takes the bother away of wondering what to read next. I'm sure you'll enjoy them.

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  8. This looks just my kind of book, I will certainly look out for them if not at the library then from the kindle store. I have just read The Home Front Girls by Rosie Goodwin...lovely gentle read, you might enjoy it..

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    1. I've just looked up The Home Front Girls and it sounds like I'd enjoy it so I've put it on my list to look out for. I'm hoping that I get a Kindle or an ereader for my birthday or Christmas, some books are so much cheaper to buy as an ebook.

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    2. I love my kindle, it goes everywhere with me. I am just about to start Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts it was 58p on kindle, its about girls who worked for Pearce Duffs just before the first world war. There are some really good offers and daily offers on Kindle, you can soon build up a collection for very little cost.

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    3. I bought Mick a Kindle for Christmas. It was something that didn't appeal to me, but since he's had his, I can see I would use it.

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  9. They sound a great read, I enjoy reading books based on that period of time so I will look out for them xx

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    1. They're an easy read, I'm sure you'll enjoy them.

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  10. I shall have to put these books on my list. I've sadly neglected my reading this year - can't seem to find books that appeal.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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    1. I'm really picky when it comes to books, I have to really fancy them. These haven't disappointed, I'm eagerly awaiting delivery of the third book now.

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  11. I love series of books. I like to see how the characters from earlier books are getting along in the next ones. I think I'll need to look into this series. :o)

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    1. I enjoy series too. Authors get the chance to develop the characters more over more than one book, and I'm usually wanting to know what happens next at the end of a book.

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  12. looks interesting.......I must do more reading!

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    1. I neglected my reading for years while the kids were young, but I'm back to it again now and loving it.

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  13. Always on the lookout for good books. I have the 3 "Call the Midwife" books that I've sent on to my daughter and I really enjoyed them. I'll have to check these out.

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    1. I haven't read the Call The Midwife books but I've watched the series and I'd like to read them now. I expect they're very similar to the Nightingale books.

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  14. How fab that there was more on offer after the first one seeing as you enjoyed it so much.
    A dark secret usually makes for entertaining reading!
    Lisa x

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    1. I was delighted when I discovered more books in the series. There's even a Christmas story, but it's only available as an ebook so I might have to borrow Mick's Kindle.

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  15. I loved those sort of books when I was growing up so might look out the library for them. Thanks as I need to get back into some reading. I am reading (though lots of pics as well) a non-fiction book called "The Flower Shop" by Sally Page. It's lovely. Hope you have a lovely weekend and take care.

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    1. I hope you manage to find them in the library, they're a good read. The Flower Shop sounds like a lovely, gentle read, something I'd enjoy.

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  16. Thanks for the recommendation. I might try these in the summer when my reading choices become my own again!

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    1. I think they'd be a good holiday read, something you don't need to concentrate on. I usually read in bed so these kind of books are ideal for me.

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  17. This series sounds an enjoyable read and interesting to read about nursing in the 1930s. I miss the days when nurses wore those caps and capes! One of the books I enjoyed years ago was Monica Dickens's One Pair of Feet which was about nurse training in the 1940s.

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    1. My sister trained to be a nurse in the 1970's and she had to wear a hat and cape, I don't remember when they stopped wearing them. I shall have to look up that book, it sounds interesting.

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  18. I'll look out for these Jo. I remember being in hospital when I was 8 in the 60's and I thought how gorgeous the nurses looked with their frilly hats and aprons and lovely shiny belt buckles. Sadly they werent practical and nowadays tunics and trousers are the order of the day for us NHS workers!

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    1. I think you'd enjoy these books. I suppose nurses uniform has had to change with the times, but so has the running of a hospital too. I enjoyed reading all about the ward sisters and how each one ran their own ward.

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  19. I will keep a look out, just watched the 1st episode of The Crimson Field about nurses in WWI, did you watch it? Looks good.

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    1. I saw The Crimson Field advertised but I didn't watch it, perhaps I should have done but I've been taping quite a few things just lately and I'm finding I don't have time to watch everything I want to so something has to give.

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