Reviews with content warning for Sexism - The Women

This is an impressively researched and thorough historical novel that gives attention to a neglected contingent of the Vietnam War: the women and men who served as combat nurses and surgeons. The detail in the medical, shelling, and in-country scenes was gripping. I do appreciate that the entirety of Frankie's two tours only covers the first half of the book, as understandbly Frankie's main battle after surviving Vietnam is surviving and eventually healing from the PTSD she acquires. I don't doubt the raw depictions of drug and alcohol abuse, depression, and suicidality she experiences were informed by Kristin Hannah's research into the accounts of real women who served as combat nurses. It does feel a little as though MC Frankie is present for and experiences a bit too much plot, which turns this from a realistic historical novel (character-wise) into a more educational amalgam of many experiences embodied by virtually a single character. That's not the worst thing, but it does change subtly what this is. I was reminded of Brotherless Night and how V.V. Ganeshananthan expertly established an entire community of Tamil Sri Lankans to spread out the impact of the events and impacts of civil war. In that book, the characters shown through a bit more because no one or two character withstood every personal challenge. So, while The Women felt detailed and real, I don't know that I quite believed Frankie was a real person, as much as she felt like a vessel.

I think Hannah did well at balancing respect for the horrors of war that service members of all divisions experience without engaging in uncritical patriotism. Frankie and her fellow nurses were among many vets who ended up protesting U.S. wartime policy decisions, as well as their treatment by institutions like the VA and the invalidating dismissal of their roles they received once home. Self advocacy is a huge component of this story. Ultimately, there are so many people who got swept up and away by the larger political forces at work that initiated and sustained U.S. military operations in Vietnam. It's a complicated thing to both care for and support healing for veterans without condoning the governmental decisions that made them into veterans.

Content Warnings

kathrynshields's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The Women is a beautifully written blend of storytelling and history exploring the bravery and heroism of the forgotten women who served in the Vietnam War. It was more episodic than expected but I really grew to love the characters.

How do all these men keep rising from the dead?

Content Warnings

lbarnobirobinson's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional medium-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

5.0

5 stars for each time I was emotionally devastated by this book

Content Warnings

emmazimmer's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative 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

4.75

Beautiful story bringing light to a topic that is not well-known. Inspiring, challenging, and emotional. I cried throughout several parts of the book. I want to rate it 5 stars but

the ending was just a little too "perfect" for me. As happy as I was that Jamie and Frankie reunited after they both had time to heal, the realist in my knows that probably wouldn't have happened. What are the chances that both Rye and Jamie are revealed to have been alive the whole time? Plus, both were obvious reveals that I saw coming a mile away. I also wish that Jamie was mentioned more frequently throughout the book. The writing gives the impression that Frankie has forgotten/completely moved on from him. All this aside though, the plot as written made me happy and I'm very glad Frankie was able to get her happy ending.

Content Warnings