Reviews tagging 'Car accident'

The Women by Kristin Hannah

179 reviews

shibaunited's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism

kat_rowlen's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

3 Stars

I liked how this book highlighted the Vietnam War because I feel like World War II is usually highlighted. I also love that this book called out the double standards between men’s heroics and women’s heroism. But I feel like Frankie didn’t develop as a character until the last 60 pages. I also didn’t like how every man she came in contact with seemed to fall instantly in love with her. It was unrealistic and took me out of the story. I also wish the book would’ve developed the plot around her evolving nursing skills more. Other than that, this was an interesting and engaging book that highlighted topics that usually aren’t discussed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

chanatova's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Forced institutionalization

knkoch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Minor: Torture

Not trying to utilize every possible TW, but it's a pretty raw look at PTSD resulting from war. The medical gore is about as explicit as can be.

kathrynshields's review against another edition

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?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infertility, Racism, Torture, Police brutality, Car accident, and Alcohol

Largely takes place in hospitals place during the Vietnam War and covers the years following the end of the war

raquellecollins's review against another edition

dark sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and War

vatodd's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense

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

4.25

Very emotional and well done. Shines a light on under told stories. Some writing choices were not my favorite but overall extremely well done. Made me cry several times and really feel in it just some of the later plot twists felt unnecessary

hate a pregnancy trope and multiple he is not really dead is a lot but glad no man saved her but she saved herself and a man wasn't her happy ending but healing was and Jamie was just a cherry on top. The privilege that our main character had made many of the resolutions way more convenient than I suppose it was/is for the vast majority of vets which I suppose it made plot writing easier but which we got more of the common girl's story not just snips from Barb and Ethel

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Violence, and War

Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Blood, and Car accident

Minor: Hate crime and Vomit

rdt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.75

I had heard such great things about this book, maybe my expectations were too high. I found it melodramatic and too long. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, War, and Injury/Injury detail

kdermody's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I understand why people love this book. I really do. I actually didn’t find myself emotionally impacted for most of this. Largely, I think it has to do with what I like to call “Grey’s Anatomy Syndrome.” The MC goes through so much throughout this novel, I found myself guessing what trauma she might go through next. If you haven’t already assumed, she goes through A LOT. To name a few:

Death of loved ones 
Vietnam War
PTSD 
Miscarriage 
Drug/alcohol addiction

 

I do appreciate Kristin Hannah’s dedication to writing about the women in the Vietnam War. I just don’t think this worked for me as well as others. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Miscarriage, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and War

mckennaroan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail