The Women: A Novel By T.C. Boyle

This novel should be a must read for all. It was eye opening regarding the Vietnam War. Forget the horrors of the war: what it did was eloquently alert the reader to the true horrors of our Veterans upon their return home. I am a child of the 60’s: my head has been in the sand for the past 63 yrs regarding the war. Kristin Hannah opened my eyes, and my mind, in her writing of this bristling novel. I loved it. Tough read, but I loved it. Loved her writing, and just found the subject matter riveting. I closed the book crying, with a better understanding of our troops “homecoming”, which was non-existent.

They say a good book stays with you. They say a good read settles in your soul, and you constantly think about the characters, and the narrative. This was life altering for me, as it dispelled the Vietnam war’s purpose, and instead, focused on the true victims: our troops returning home.

Thank you Kristin Hannah, for a brilliant expose, along with just an overall great read.

As a 30 year Army veteran including Operation Iraqi Freedom, this is the book I didn’t know I needed. Honest, emotional, cathartic, well written. I cried for all of them, the ones who went before us, my era, and for those who will come after us. This book hit me in places I didn’t realize I still carry. This will sit with me for a long time.

In her latest masterpiece, “The Women,” Kristin Hannah once again proves her prowess in weaving narratives that resonate deeply with the human spirit. Known for her powerful storytelling in acclaimed works like “The Nightingale” and “The Four Winds,” Hannah embarks on an ambitious journey through the tumultuous era of the 1960s, presenting an intimate yet expansive portrait of a nation at the brink of transformation.

At the heart of this novel is Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a character whose development from a sheltered, idealistic nursing student into a battle-hardened Army nurse symbolizes the tumultuous era she inhabits. Frankie’s journey is a revelation, a testament to the untold stories of women who dared to step into the fray of conflict, challenging the societal norms of their time. The transformation she undergoes, fueled by the stark realities of the Vietnam War, is written with such authenticity and emotional depth that you cannot help but feel intimately connected to her struggles, triumphs, and inevitable moments of despair.

“The Women” is not just Frankie’s story; it is an ode to the countless women who, like her, ventured into the heart of darkness, armed with little more than their courage and a steadfast commitment to healing. Hannah’s portrayal of war’s chaos, the bonds forged and broken in the crucible of conflict, and the arduous journey of reintegration into a society that seems to have moved on without them is both heart-wrenching and enlightening.

What sets this novel apart is Hannah’s ability to capture the essence of an era—the music, the mood, the whirlwind of social change—and distill it through the experiences of her characters. Frankie’s return home to a divided America, her struggle to reconcile the person she has become with the nation she thought she knew, is a powerful commentary on the cost of war and the resilience of the human spirit.

While “The Women” is undeniably a work of fiction, its roots in the real-life experiences of female veterans lend it a compelling authenticity. Hannah’s meticulous research and her compassionate storytelling ensure that the novel is not only a tribute to the women of Vietnam but to all women who have faced the horrors of war with unwavering bravery.

In giving “The Women” a four-star rating, I (a female US Army veteran myself) do so with the utmost respect for Kristin Hannah’s craftsmanship and her dedication to shedding light on the often-overlooked contributions of women in war. If there is any critique to be had, it lies in wanting more—the novel, at times, leaves the reader yearning for deeper explorations into the lives of its secondary characters, each of whom could easily be the protagonist of their own compelling tale.

Ultimately, “The Women” is a profound, moving novel that not only entertains but enlightens, reminding us of the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of a pivotal moment in American history through the eyes of those who lived it.

I admit I’m not an emotional reader. It takes a lot me make me shed tears while reading, but the ending of this book was surprisinly emotional for me. I love reading historical novels, but I knew little about the Vietnam War and its outcomes to the soldiers and nurses who ventured in there in service. A really good book that like many other that I’ve been reading, show the forgotten role of women in wars that marked a whole generation.

I had schoolmates in that war. I lost friends in that war. I still want to curse when I remember the daily death toll offered up like numbers on the stock market. I was a member of Another Mother For Peace. Vietnam is the war of our shame. Reading this book brought it all back, all the emotion, anger, sadness. I like Kristin Hanna’s novels, and she always evokes a strong sense of place. Real life just gets more real in her capable hands. The research was excellent. Even the songs from that era were correct and took me straight back in time. Even readers who didn’t experience that war should read this book. The nurses and women journalists lost their lives and mental health in that war and have received very little attention. This book brings their sacrifice to light. I highly recommend this incredible book. I hope it will become a movie.