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Book Club: The Women

Book Review: The Women by Kristin Hannah


Kristin Hannah’s The Women is a powerful novel that transports readers to an era of turmoil, where peace, free love, politics, and war collide. It’s a time when women are beginning to step beyond traditional roles, seeking purpose beyond marriage and motherhood, even as the world teeters on the edge of chaos. The story follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young woman who, after completing nursing school, boldly decides to follow her brother to Vietnam. Her determination to earn a place on her father’s wall of family war heroes is a testament to her courage. But nothing could prepare her for the brutal realities of war. Naïve to the actual destruction of human life caused by war, Frankie is thrust into a world where survival depends on resilience, and saving lives comes at an emotional cost she never anticipated.


Amid the horrors of war, she forges deep bonds with two fellow nurses—friendships that become her lifeline in an otherwise unbearable reality. Hannah’s vivid, heart-wrenching descriptions of life as an Army nurse in Vietnam pull readers into the living hell, making them feel every moment of fear, exhaustion, and determination alongside Frankie.


The second half of the novel shifts to Frankie’s life after Vietnam, where she faces an entirely new battle. Instead of being welcomed home as a hero, she is met with hostility and indifference—treated with the same disdain as the soldiers who fought in the war. Worse still, she finds no support, no recognition, and no understanding of the trauma she carries. Through Frankie’s journey, Hannah sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences of women who served in Vietnam and the devastating effects of PTSD. With no help in sight, Frankie is left to navigate her pain alone, turning to self-destructive means to cope with a world that refuses to acknowledge her sacrifice. Desperate for her parents’ validation, she finds only disappointment, deepening her sense of isolation. Hannah masterfully captures the emotional and psychological toll of war, illustrating the horrors of the battlefield and the long, painful road home.


The Women is a gripping, emotionally charged novel that is impossible to put down. It tells a compelling story and brings attention to the struggles of those who gave everything for their country, only to be forgotten. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction, women’s stories, or the lasting impact of war.


Map of Vietnam showing provinces in shades of blue. Labels include province names. Two stars labeled "Hoàng Sa" and "Trường Sa" are visible.

Do you know where Vietnam is on the Map?

Vietnam is situated in Southeast Asia, on the eastern edge of the Indochinese Peninsula. The countries that border it are Laos, Cambodia, and China. Its eastern border is the South China Sea. 


Brief Timeline of Events Related To the Vietnam War


1950s: 

The US initially sent military advisors to South Vietnam to support the French colonial forces in the First Indochina War. The French were defeated in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu. 


1954:            

Geneva Accords, signed in Geneva, Switzerland, ended the First Indochina War. They divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel, creating North and South Vietnam.   


1964:

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, where the US claimed North Vietnamese patrol boats attacked two U.S. destroyers, led to increased US involvement and the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing President Johnson to take military action. 


1965: 

Operation Rolling Thunder began with the United States starting a bombing campaign of North Vietnam, and the first U.S. combat troops were deployed. 

From this point on, the U.S. was in the war, with many U.S. citizens leading anti-war demonstrations. 


1973:

The Paris Peace Accords were signed, leading to the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. 


1975:

North Vietnamese forces launched a final offensive, capturing Saigon and reunifying Vietnam under communist rule. 

(History Channel, 2025)



Interesting Facts about the Vietnam War


  • Many of the soldiers were volunteers (approximately two-thirds) and not drafted.

  • The last call for drafted soldiers was December 7, 1972. Men must still register today within 30 days of their 18th birthday, but since that day, the draft has not been enacted.

  • Additional countries supporting the fight in Vietnam with the U.S. were the Khmer Republic (Cambodia), South Korea, Laos, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Thailand. 

  • This was the first war that was televised.

(Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Oregon Capital, 2025)


Medical and Nursing Facts about the Vietnam War


  • Helicopters were used extensively to transport the wounded quickly to medical facilities, which helped save many lives. However, that meant nurses had to care for severely wounded soldiers. Approximately 900,000 soldiers were transported by a Bell UH-1, nicknamed the “Huey.”

  • The nurses and other medical personnel worked 12-hour shifts six days a week, and when a mass casualty incident occurred during a major battle, they could work 24 to 36 hour shifts. 

  • There were more than 3 million people killed in Vietnam, 58,000 Americans; many were Vietnamese citizens.

  • 11,000 women served in Vietnam, with 90% being nurses.

  • Vietnam was the first war in which male nurses served as Army Nurse Corps officers.

  • Nurses had more autonomy than those in the States due to the nature of the situation. 

(All References used to gather the Medical and Nursing Facts)



Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)


“According to a survey by the Veterans Administration, some 500,000 of the 3 million troops who served in Vietnam suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism and drug addiction were markedly higher among veterans.” (History.com, 2025)


During the Vietnam Era, PTSD was not a formal diagnosis.  It was not until 1980 that the diagnosis was added to DSM-III by the American Psychological Association (APA).  This medical condition, which was poorly understood at the time, often meant soldiers returning home did not receive the proper mental health treatment required to return to civilian life (VA, 2025).  


Have you read The Women? Share your thoughts with us! This powerful novel has sparked important conversations about women's experiences in war and the lasting effects of trauma. Or, if this review has sparked your interest, grab a copy today—you won’t regret it.

Also, have you ever visited this beautiful country? If so, share with us your favorite place you visited while there.


References

History.com written by History Channel editors in 2009, last updated Feb 27, 2025 Title: Vietnam War https://www.history.com/articles/vietnam-war-history



National Museum of the United States Army. (n.d.) Medivac. https://www.thenmusa.org/armyinnovations/innovationsmedevac/


Texas Tech University, The Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/exhibits/nurses/


U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. (2025). PTSD: National Center for PTSD. VA. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/history_ptsd.asp


Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Oregon Capital. (2025) - https://ocvvm.com/2023/08/facts-about-the-vietnam-war-you-never-knew/


 
 
 

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