The Women – by Kristin Hannah – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States, Vietnam)

NOTE: I received early access to THE WOMEN and am writing this review voluntarily. Thank you netgalley and St. Martin’s Press. Publication Date: February 6, 2024.

Nothing less than you’d expect from this bestselling author (THE FOUR WINDS, THE NIGHTINGALE)! THE WOMEN is an emotional, intellectually rich page-turner exploring the United States Vietnam War (1955-75), written from the perspective of women who were there. Awarded five stars on Goodreads.

The Vietnam War is a complex and layered story to tell because there are so many aspects:

• Early anti-communism support for the war that slowly eroded away, 

• Continual increases in the number of soldiers drafted,

• The massive loss of life, 

• Growing mistrust in the information provided by the government, 

• Political divisions within families, 

• The shameful way we treated veterans upon their return, 

• Soldiers massacring Vietnamese civilians (Think My Lai) 

• The psychological and physical scars veterans permanently carried, 

• The difficulty veterans had getting help for PTSD and Agent Orange exposure, 

• Public demand for an accounting of all the prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIAs), 

• The growing and powerful public protest that ultimately forced the war’s end.

Hannah weaves all of these into her novel. It’s quite an impressive achievement. 

Despite many who still believe that no women went to Vietnam, Hannah focuses her story around Frances “Frankie” McGrath, an Army nurse, who specifically requests to serve in Vietnam, to be close to her beloved brother Finley.

It is through Frankie’s eyes that we witness the carnage. There are the primitive conditions of the medical facilities. The relentless pace of treating horrific injuries with inadequate resources. Long shifts and continual fatigue. But also the intense support and bonding that connected those treating the casualties and how those feelings led to the deepest friendships and, in some instances, romances. And, of course, the grief of losing people close. 

THE WOMEN is a powerful, emotional and, at times, very difficult story to read. Also, hard to put down. Because it’s historical fiction at its best. It takes each reader into a masterfully constructed story to help us better understand a challenging chapter in our history. It wouldn’t surprise me if this became the definitive historical novel about the Vietnam War.

More about the author, Kristin Hannah.

You may be interested in my reviews of other books by this author:

THE FOUR WINDS

THE NIGHTINGALE

WINTER GARDEN