A review by mhinnen
The Women by Kristin Hannah

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite books and I love everything I have read by her. The Women was no exception. 


"Frankie had been told often enough by her girlfriends, by Finley, by Jamie, that she was unyielding in her morality, and it was true. Deep down, she was still the good Catholic girl she’d been in her youth. She believed in good and evil, right and wrong, the dream of America. Who would she be if she chose to look away from the wrongness of this war?"

I was born the summer that Frankie, the main character, came back from Vietnam. My early childhood nightmares often stemmed from news footage about the Vietnam War. As impacted as I was, I cannot imagine what it was like to live through the trauma of war - particularly one like this. Hannah writes about Frankie's experiences with intensity and compassion. Most of the first part of the book is her growth as a nurse in Vietnam. She is a hero. Men go home because of her. She sees the humanity of each person she is tasked with caring for. 

The intensity of the war then shifts as Frankie comes home and she is not recognized as a hero. There is no place for her as a veteran. Her skills are not valued. She is diminished and confused - surrounded by garden parties and champagne. It is painful to read this young woman's journey into despair, "the walking dead." The shame and the pain of the decisions she makes while in the midst of PTSD. And I was so grateful for the friends who surrounded her and guided her - refusing to give up on this young woman who is only in her 20s. 

I would have liked to see more of the relationship between Frankie and her brother Finley. Clearly, they were close, but I didn't have a frame of reference to really know what it was rooted in. The love affair could have been edited down and not have had as many twists and turns. 

It was important to note the impact of how the Vietnam War forever changed the US - especially the soldiers who fought and died and the lifelong struggles they faced in body and spirit. This is true for those who volunteered and those who were drafted. However, the ongoing impact of war is not unique to Vietnam. My grandfather was institutionalized and given electro-shock treatment after WWII and his father died from mustard gas poisoning. I also think it's important to recognize the devastation the US caused to the people of Vietnam and the generational impact of Agent Orange that we are responsible for - talk about a weapon of mass destruction. 

It was infuriating and frustrating that the VA didn't offer her support or recognize her sacrifice. But I also felt like the rejection from the male combat veterans was justified - unlike Frankie, they had participated in killing as well as witnessed atrocities that Frankie hadn't seen- she was a healer. But it was unfortunate how they seemed to lack any compassion for her or at least gratitude for her role. 

Overall, I loved this book. I read through it in just a few days . . . mostly in tears. Hannah offers a complex perspective on war, love, and friendship. The war protests from the veterans are particularly moving.  And as always, she highlights the strength of women that comes through strong relationships and resilience. The ending was satisfying and left me with a feeling of hope. 

Thank you @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and @kristinhannahauthor for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of #TheWomen