The Women by Kristin Hannah
Published by St. Martin's
Publication date: February 6, 2024
Genres: Book Clubs, Fiction, Historical
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Silence. Shaking my head. Those are the two reactions I had when I finished reading Kristin Hannah’s new novel, The Women. I’m not sure the last time I read a book that brought me to tears so frequently and was also such a vivid reminder of a particular time in my adolescence, even if the subject was not one that impacted my life. Set during the Vietnam War it’s about one young woman’s experiences both in-country and once she returns to the United States.
When Frankie’s beloved older brother goes off to Vietnam in the early years of the war, she’s determined to follow him. At 17 she’s already training to be a nurse, despite her parents’ belief that she should be thinking about marriage. Her idealism is such that she throws aside her comfortable life and finagles her way into becoming an Army nurse. With a bare minimum of training, she arrives in Vietnam and is thrown into a world of violence, pain, and destruction worse than she could ever have imagined. And yet, when her tour is done, she stays on for another one working in one of the most dangerous arenas of the war in brutal conditions.
When Frankie finally returns home, looking to begin her life anew, she finds only shame and lies. Her conservative father is so displeased by her actions he’s told all her friends and everyone in their social circle she’s been in Europe for two years. If that doesn’t cut deep enough, when she realizes she’s succumbing to dangerous means of self-medicating and needs help, she’s turned away by every organization she goes to for help. All repeating the words that push the limits of her sanity: There were no women serving in Vietnam. This gaslighting and willful ignorance leaves her feeling alone and psychologically broken. Her only solace is her two best friends, Ethel and Barb, women she met and served with. Their bond is the strongest she has, but their ability to see each other or even talk frequently is hampered by the times.
The Women is so well-written that the novel is less like reading and more of a visceral experience. Whether it’s the war scenes in the operating rooms—gruesome and wrenching in their truth as so many young men, teenagers, died in service to a fake cause propagated by a group of irresponsible, egotistical men. Or the environment, with seasons lurching between drowning in mud and blood or being scorched in relentless heat and dust. Or the core of abiding love and commitment between those in-country that led to moments of pathos, humor, extreme bravery, and self-sacrifice. For Frankie to have survived this only to be undone by coming home is just as difficult to process. In Vietnam she was an equal—strong, competent, and confident, knowing she was saving lives only to be vilified and relegated back to a second-class citizen in America. It is all laid out on page after gripping page.
I didn’t like Hannah‘s book The Great Alone, and had stopped reading her books, but The Women is an outstanding work of historical fiction. Frankie’s journey is one filled with emotion as Hannah expands her into all the realms of human experience, including acceptance and hope. Did she stretch a bit too far into the more commercial terrain of morality tales and happy endings? Yes, but I was so deeply invested by that point that I could not stop reading. This is challenging, worthwhile reading on a little-known aspect of American history. I highly recommend it to all readers.
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*I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.*
My MIL’s sister was a nurse in Vietnam. Sadly, she died by suicide in the early 80s because of undiagnosed/untreated PTSD – leaving behind a husband and 2 young boys. 🙁 My MIL’s book club picked this for their book for April… I think the other members must not have known my MIL lost her sister that way? She was not excited to pick it up as it feels far too close to home for her… I do want to read this but need to be in the right head space.
Oh, no. I can’t imagine how she’ll be able to read it. Frankie struggles so much on her return. It’s painful enough for someone with no experience, but to have a family member who went through it and then died? That’s a lot.
Catherine……it is very unusual for me to respond to a book review or really anything from someone I don’t know personally. Everything you said in your review totally matched my reactions to this book. I have found this author to be more of a “formula” author and I usually don’t bother with her books..but this one caught my attention. I was in college during Vietnam and my brother served there…young men I knew casually in college died there. I was a young mother and involved in marriage and parenting toward the end of the war, so this book reminded me of the times we lived through and taught me things I truly didn’t know (because I was young and busy and naive). This was like a trip back in time that allowed me to see things through a more accurate prism. As we go through horrible times in this country now, it also reminded me of how resilient we are…the 60’s and early 70’s were a time of continual upheaval of one sort or another…and we got through it. Thanks for your excellent and thoughtful review…I always look forward to your book opinions.
Thank you and I’m glad you found my review accurate. I love hearing from other readers!
My mother was in the same situation as you- 3 young children so she also felt those times slid by without her really knowing what was going on. She also thought the novel was eye-opening and relatable to where we are now.
Well, I’m glad I wasn’t such a bad influence that you didn’t read this one…. I shall remain unmoved, but I’m glad you went for it and liked it so much!
You’re a tough cookie! I can see why you would not enjoy it. It was right book right time for me.
I was so moved by this book, that ie has effected me in a profound way. I lived through this era as a young married mom , and was not fully aware of what was happening. My husband was in the army reserve, but because we’d had a child, he wasn’t reactivated. We watched the horrible scrolling of names on tv with a sense of detachment:
When I read this book, I felt extremely guilty about my detachment from the tragedy of the Vietnam war. It was only after reading some of the other comments , that I realized I’m not alone.
So, thank you for this site! I found it accidentally, but will try to stay connected
My mother’s experience was the same as yours. She had 3 children under the age of 10 and has said she remembers almost nothing about the war. She was stunned by the book.
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you can find some great reading options from my reviews.
I’m glad I wasn’t such a bad influence that you didn’t read this one… I’ll stay firm, but I’m happy you gave it a try and enjoyed it so much!