The Women by Kristin Hannah
The Women is the powerful and brave story of Frances “Frankie” McGrath, of who she was and who she became. From her sheltered upbringing on idyllic Coronado Island to the chaos and devastation of the Vietnam War, and finally to the grim reality of coming home to a country that had turned its back on its veterans.
Frankie is an incredibly strong and compelling character. Kristin Hannah's writing clearly portrayed the stark contrast between her life before the war, her time in Vietnam, and the painful aftermath. Watching Frankie navigate these phases, each one breaking and reshaping her in different ways, was both heartbreaking and empowering. Yes, she made mistakes, especially in her darkest moments, but her compassion, grit, and courage were undeniable.
I would have given this a full 5-star rating but I can’t, and here’s why: for a book that focuses on the strength and heroism of women, I was frustrated that Frankie’s final breaking point was caused by a man. It felt like a great disservice to her character.
One of the most touching aspects of the novel is the friendship between Frankie, Ethel, and Barb. Their bond is genuine and unconditional, offering some of the few moments of light and happiness during such a tragic time. Their camaraderie was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I’d like to think of The Women as more than just historical fiction. It’s a long-overdue recognition of the sacrifices of women who were written out of the history books.
I’ll end this review with a quote from the book: “𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨. 𝙒𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.”
Rating: ★★★★☆
From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.
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 over-whelmed 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.