Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Women” by Kristin Hannah, St. Martin’s, February 2024

OMG! I predict that “The Women” by Kristin Hannah will be a best seller and one of the most influential books 2024. I am so grateful to receive an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, and I have a reader hang-over from this powerful novel. I am a fan of Kristin Hannah and highly recommend this thought-provoking and memorable novel. The genres for this book are Historical Fiction, Adult Women, Sisterhood, and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for this novel centers around the Vietnam War and the women who participated and were forgotten. This was a highly unpopular war, which resonates with me as I lived during this time. Many young men taught in particular New York City areas to avoid the draft. When I first started teaching, there were more male teachers. The music of the time, folk songs, “Hair,” and protests still make me think of this time.

Kristin Hannah is a fantastic writer and storyteller who visually describes everything. The author uses our senses to depict the war and lifestyle: we see it, feel it, smell it, touch it, and taste it. The author describes her dramatic and colorful characters as complex, complicated, courageous, and flawed. Many young people who volunteered or were drafted were innocent and unaware of what happened during the war. The story’s protagonist, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, volunteers to serve as a Nurse after her brother is killed. The Army is the only branch of the government to accept her. Frankie makes lifetime friendships with other women.

Frankie and these other women heal and comfort soldiers torn apart physically and emotionally during dangerous and risky times. Women weren’t recognized as being in Vietnam during and after the war. The author discusses the effects of war on the participants, their lives, and their families.

I recommend having some Kleenex nearby, as this is such an emotional story. Kudos to Kristin Hannah for the hours of research and writing about an era that has been forgotten. I highly recommend this amazing book.