The Women by Kristin Hannah
Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.
But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.
The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.
Review: Raised on a steady stream of her father's war hero stories, in 1965 twenty-year-old nursing student Frankie McGrath is spurred by the idea that women can be heroes too and enlists in the Army Nurse Corps and is shipped out to serve in Vietnam. In Vietnam, she realizes just how young and inexperienced she is as she is thrown headfirst into caring for soldiers with horrific and often fatal wounds. Each day is an exhausting blur of blood, death, and survival against the odds. Amidst the backdrop of war, Frankie makes enduring friendships and experiences love and loss. But what she doesn't yet realize is that her battle is just beginning. Frankie returns home to a country divided over the war, angry protesters who call her names, and a family ashamed of her service. What a beautiful story by a masterful storyteller. I have never read a single book about Vietnam, and I felt like Hannah really did the war's veterans a great service in beautifully telling their story and struggles through Frankie's perspective. As a reader, I really felt empathy for Frankie's feelings of shame and rejection by her own country when she returns home through the author's skillful portrayal. This book has received significant praise, and I was worried it would be unable to live up to the hype, but I truly loved it.
This is the fourth book I have read by Kristin Hannah and my favorite to date. Frankie changes and grows so much as a character over the course of the book. At the beginning, she is a naive and innocent girl with little experience in so many ways, both professionally but also in relationships. By the end of the book, she has carved out a career for herself, overcome significant personal battles, and working hard to help others who have experienced similar experiences to her. I also liked the way the author handled Frankie's love life. Frankie does not have a fairy tale happy ending with any of her love interests in this book, but it truly felt more realistic to include disappointments and heartbreaks along the way.
My one complaint with this book is why Frankie was so trusting of certain individuals and didn't seek out more explanation or follow up. I know they say love blinds us, but she seemed incredibly naive and trusting, even after being burned before. It just didn't seem particularly believable, especially for someone as morally upstanding as Frankie.
Stars: 5
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