Reviews

The Women by Kristin Hannah

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hayleyhasik's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

cassiebartelme's review

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

“There were no women in Vietnam” is a frequent statement in this novel demonstrating how often the contributions of women were dismissed as less than, insignificant or at times recognized. It is heartbreaking to watch Frankie be failed time and again by her family, the community and the VA as she wrestles with how serving in Vietnam as a combat nurse shapes the person she becomes.

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rachael27's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

julie_julie's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

perfectsolitude's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative sad fast-paced

4.5

I read the last 30% in the train and had to cry at the end. People watching and all. The man in front of me apparently found my tears a good sign and asked for the book title.

It was a good sign.

It is important to have books about women in war, and I’m happy Kristin Hannah took up to the task. We follow a nurse to the Vietnam War, and her journey after she came back home. There’s friendship, romance, jungles, sirenes, wounded, helicopters, parties and (most of all) trauma.

Although I don’t think Hannah’s prose is that top-notch, the book is a page-turner. I flew through it. The middle part was, maybe, slightly less interesting, but overall a great read on an important topic that I will probably remember for a long time.