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Also, Frankie's PTSD after the war was written so well. It was hard sometimes to read about how much she struggled going back to her old way of life after all she'd been through. I felt really bad for her and wish she could've had an easier time getting help.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, Abortion
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War
Graphic: Death, War
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Pros: The pacing is excellent. The first 40-50% of the book takes place on the ground in Vietnam, the second half is about Frankie's experience as a veteran. The story is very gritty & raw. I would never classify this as a romance novel. There is romance in it, yes, but it is only a part of the plot. Frankie, Barb, and Ethel are an amazing trio and a solid representation of true friendship.
Cons: Three things bugged me. First, the second half of the book is a little too 'constant tragedy'. I get why Hannah may have deliberately written the plot this way, but it just seemed almost TOO much to happen to one person, and sometimes it felt like the tragedies were ways to escape plot hang-ups. Second, multiple parts of the book were predictable. Third, I was a little surprised at how often it seemed Frankie and her fellow nurses just hopped on a helicopter to go to a party. Numerous times in the book it is mentioned that helicopter pilots have a low survival rate and "Charlie loves shooting choppers", but it's totally acceptable to grab a Christmas tree or go to different parties via helicopter? That was the only part of the novel that I truly questioned the historical accuracy of.
Overall, great read, a good page-turner. This is a book that will stick with you long after you've finished it.
Characters = 5
Setting = 5
Writing = 4
Plot = 4
Intrigue = 5
Enjoyment = 5
(4.7/5.0 overall)
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Violence, Medical content, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Colonisation
Kristin Hannah has a remarkably beautiful gift for storytelling, and I loved how she wrote an angle that is not often discussed — there were women in Vietnam.
STUNNING read.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, War
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, War
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Car accident
Minor: Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Police brutality, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abortion
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail