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rebeccawolfe's review
4.0
Fascinating account of the Army and Navy nurses who lived through hell in the Philippines in WWII. Many of the young women signed up for adventure in the tropics, not really believing they'd end up in a war. They endured shelling, heat, dysentery, malaria, snakes, bugs, and hunger while treating horribly wounded men, despite the fact that they had not been trained in combat medicine. They showed remarkable courage, stamina, and dedication.Then they were taken as POWs and lived under horrific conditions; most of them came dangerously close to starvation. Many had longterm health problems as a result. This book was truly riveting. I am in awe of these women. I was distracted by all the typos and grammatical errors, though.
mpoper's review
Gripping. As an RN and feminist I just loved this book. For anyone interested in history or WWII a very well researched book that will leave you curious for more.
xxstefaniereadsxx's review
informative
slow-paced
4.0
I never knew there were nurses trapped on Bataan during World War II. During my education, my focus was on European history with a specialization in World War II, so I did not read a whole lot about the Pacific Theatre. This book was very good. I learned so much about nurses during World War II from this book, and certainly about the horrible conditions they faced on Bataan. These personal accounts from these women who struggled under the assault and then who struggled in the jungle and under Japanese occupation was so moving. I highly suggest this book for those who are interested in the Pacific Theatre.
brinastewart's review against another edition
3.0
I like reading these stories because it is worth learning and knowing what real people went through and their story. It moved a little slow and when it would split and take about two locations such as hospitals and prison camps, it got a little confusing. Though I was able to get back on track by reading on. This was a book club read.., I only note that because I would not have heard about ir or picked it up if it was not chosen for the book club.
carolineteselle's review
4.0
"A man's notion of honor was driven by ego, a woman's by an inviolable sense of self built on the sentiment of sacrifice. Real courage required that they think first of their patients, not of themselves." p. 85
"The women on Batann and Corregidor simply did what they had to do, no more and no less than the men who fought alongside them. They were not heroes, but their service was considered extraordinary because no one expected them to do what they did." p. 127
"...The Angels of Bataan and Corregidor were suddenly women unto themselves, a band of sisters, as it were, whose mission was simply to survive." p. 153
"So we will not call them heroes or angels, but what they were, what they are–women, made remarkable by history and ennobled by suffering and love." p. 267
"I think men feel compelled to prove themselves in accord. The voice of a woman is the voice of connection, and this inclination to keep close, to define oneself through affinity, kept the women going." p. 267
"The women on Batann and Corregidor simply did what they had to do, no more and no less than the men who fought alongside them. They were not heroes, but their service was considered extraordinary because no one expected them to do what they did." p. 127
"...The Angels of Bataan and Corregidor were suddenly women unto themselves, a band of sisters, as it were, whose mission was simply to survive." p. 153
"So we will not call them heroes or angels, but what they were, what they are–women, made remarkable by history and ennobled by suffering and love." p. 267
"I think men feel compelled to prove themselves in accord. The voice of a woman is the voice of connection, and this inclination to keep close, to define oneself through affinity, kept the women going." p. 267
btanis's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
A must read for anyone in a command position as an example of how not to treat your subordinates. These brave women got the short end of the stick from their command at all points.
dujyt's review
2.0
Book started out quite strong bringing this topic of women/nurses in the military during WWII into awareness. However, I thought the book began dragging as the author used quotes from letters/interviews more often to tell the story, rather than using those quotes to build sharper portraits of the women, the experience, and the history involved.
By strongest criticism is that the last third of the book seems more like it was an outline draft, slapped on without much fleshing out.
I'm glad I spent the time reading the book and learning about a historical topic I'd never known about before, but I wouldn't suggest it as a great read.
By strongest criticism is that the last third of the book seems more like it was an outline draft, slapped on without much fleshing out.
I'm glad I spent the time reading the book and learning about a historical topic I'd never known about before, but I wouldn't suggest it as a great read.
bethnellvaccaro's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book and learned more about a part of WWII that I know very little about. I appreciate that this book was told from a collective point of view, but I would have enjoyed going deeper into some of the individual nurses experiences.