The Women
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4.5 • 214 Ratings
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
'A master storyteller' Delia Owens, bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing
'Stuns with sacrifice. Uplifts with heroism. A long overdue tribute to the brave women nurses who served in Viet Nam' Bonnie Garmus, #1 international bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry
'You would be hard-pressed to find a book club that has not discussed one of her novels' New York Times
From the worldwide bestselling author of The Four Winds, The Nightingale and Firefly Lane (a Number One series on Netflix), The Women is a story of devastating loss and epic love. It is both an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and a story of a nation divided by war.
It would be the journey of a lifetime . . .
'Women can be heroes, too'. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances "Frankie" McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on California's idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause.
The Women is the story of one woman who goes to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm's way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has been all too often forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyrical beauty, The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define an era.
PRAISE FOR KRISTIN HANNAH
'Powerful and compelling' Christy Lefteri, bestselling author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo
'You would be hard-pressed to find a book club that has not discussed one of her novels' New York Times
'A rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival' - Kate Morton
'A masterclass' - Karen Swan
'Powerful' - Matt Haig
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hannah's emotionally charged page-turner (after The Four Winds) centers on a young nurse whose life is changed by the Vietnam War. Before Frankie McGrath begins basic training for the Army in 1966, her older brother Finley is killed in action. Frankie excels as a surgical nurse in Vietnam and becomes close with fellow nurses Ethel and Barb. After Ethel's tour ends, Frankie and Barb gets assigned to the base at Pleiku, near the Cambodian border, where some of the heaviest fighting occurs. There, she reunites with Navy officer Rye Walsh, Finley's best friend, and they become lovers. When Frankie returns to the U.S., she's met with indifference for her service from her parents, who are still grieving her brother's death, and disdain from people who oppose the war. She leans on alcohol and drugs while struggling to acclimate to civilian life. Though the situations and dialogue can feel contrived (Rye, after announcing he's re-upping, says to Frankie at the close of a chapter, "I'm not leaving my girl"), Hannah's depictions of Frankie tending to wounded soldiers are urgent and eye-opening, and a reunion of the three nurses for Frankie's benefit is poignantly told. Fans of women's historicals will enjoy this magnetic wartime story.
Customer Reviews
Great read
Thank you for giving me a perspective on women in combat during the Vietnam war. So sad and beautifully told. It opened my eyes and my heart to all who lost their lives in many ways and not just the finality of death. I had always heard of the mental struggles of the Vietnam vets, thank you for explaining why. A well written and treasured story that unfolded truth and the betrayal of the American government over war!
The Women
Fantastic book, highlighting the trauma of war.
Recommend as an amazing read
Powerful
I felt every emotion the characters in this book, shocked at what they had to go through, anger of what they felt and cried for their hurt and pain. To all the women who have served and continue to serve to this day. I see you and I thank you.