A book review of The Women by Kristin Hannah. Fans of historical fiction will love this gripping novel about strength, patriotism and sacrifice.
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This post is all about THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah.
THE WOMEN
A Novel by Kristin Hannah
In March we celebrate International Women’s Day, so I usually try to feature stories about strong women that would empower a future generation to reach for the stars. The title of Kristin Hannah’s upcoming novel was too perfect not to select as our March book club pick. In a world torn by war a young woman joins the Army Nurse Corp and heads off to Vietnam.
I was excited to have found a story of patriotism, strength, and friendship for a month when we celebrate women. Little did I know at the time that THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah would become a #1 New York Times bestseller and. As of the day I am writing this, has been on the list for 5 weeks. I am not surprised it took the world by a storm. In fact, I am delighted. This story sheds light to the sacrifices many young women did in times of war. So, whether you are a member of our online IVI’S READS BOOK CLUB or looking for your the next favorite read, here is our official MARCH BOOK CLUB PICK – THE WOMEN.
Book Synopsis & Details
– from the publisher
A #1 bestseller on The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times!
From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah’s The Women―at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.
Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets―and becomes one of―the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.
But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.
Book Details:
Title: THE WOMEN
Author: Kristin Hannah
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Print Length: 480 page
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Genres: Historical Fiction, War Fiction, Women Fiction
Where to Buy: Amazon; Bookshop; Barnes & Noble
THE WOMEN
BOOK REVIEW
Written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah this engrossing page-turner takes us back to the turbulent 1965. In a world torn by war a young woman joins the Army Nurse Corp. She is faced with not just the realities of war but the chaos of coming home to a changed world.
THE WOMEN addresses the contrast between expectations when signing up for service and the grim realities at the front. Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s experiences both during the war and its aftermath, including dealing with PTSD, are eye opening. This is a story of patriotism, bravery, strength, sacrifice and friendship.
“The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn’t quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words. We were there.”
–Kristin Hannah, THE WOMEN
It was refreshing to find a historical novel featuring war nurses and I loved that it was not WWI or WWII centered. The fact that the author’s focus is on the women who chose to enlist and risked their lives in more ways than one is why I had to pick up this book. Frankie comes with no experience, little to no understanding of what she would face once in Vietnam, but after a quick reality check she finds within herself a strength and determination that will eventually bring her home.
From the vivid settings to the gripping scenes, THE WOMEN is a book that will have people talking. There are quite a few tragic events, gory and bloody scenes, but this is a fast, engaging read. The romantic subplots were not my favorite and I found them frustrating at times but that is my personal preference and other readers may love them. I would recommend for historical fiction and war lovers, as well as for book clubs as there is so much to impact that one would never run out of questions or discussion topics.
About the Author and What to Read Next
Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels. Her newest novel, The Women, about the nurses who served in the Vietnam war, will be released on February 6, 2024. The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore’s bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by both the Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021. In 2018, The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.
In 2015, The Nightingale became an international blockbuster and was Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People’s Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week. The Nightingale is currently in pre-production at Tri Star. Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke. A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Book Recommendations for Fans of
The Women
If you loved this book you should check out these other titles by Kristin Hannah.
FINAL THOUGHTS
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