In 1965, nursing student Frankie McGrath, after hearing the words "Women can be heroes, too," impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows her brother to Vietnam where she is overwhelmed by the destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.
The Vietnam War was such a controversial and turbulent time in U.S. history. Thank you, Kristin Hannah, for writing The Women, a remarkable tribute to all Vietnam veterans, especially the often overlooked and underappreciated women who served in Vietnam. YES, WOMEN SERVED IN VIETNAM!!
I’m a huge fan of Kristin Hannah’s books, so of course, I was fired up to read her newest book, The Women. Just like all her other books, this one also exceeded my expectations. Ms. Hannah’s amazing writing style has a way of pulling you into the story, getting the characters to become your family, and really not wanting the book to end. I went through a spectrum of emotions reading The Women. I felt fear and anxiety for the service men and women being in a warzone. I felt hopeful for the new relationships being formed. I felt anger and disappointment in the way Vietnam veterans were treated by some Americans upon their arrival home. I felt frustration for veterans suffering in silence because people just wanted to forget and move on. Freedom isn’t free; there’s always a high price to pay for freedom. It took several weeks and several lighthearted books after for me to recover from this book, but I truly appreciate having the opportunity to read it.
The amount of research, time, and energy that went into the writing of such a high caliber book astonishes me. I loved everything about this book and would recommend it to everyone. This is a must read! If you’ve already read it, you understand. If you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for? Don’t miss out on this unforgettable gem! - Crystal, Tech Services Librarian