Nilufer Ozmekik's Reviews > The Women

Don’t believe the lie if somebody insists that there were no women in Vietnam. They were there! They served their country, struggling with tragedies, PTSD, and casualties as well. But there was one crucial difference for them: they were never considered war heroes. Nobody applauded them for the sacrifices they made or awarded them medals. They didn't receive praise for their service, and when they attempted to speak about the psychologically consuming experiences they went through, they were silenced, as they weren't even recognized as veterans. This work is dedicated to the women who served their country both militarily and as civilian women stationed in Vietnam – heroines who need to be remembered, praised, and admired.

This time, Kristin Hannah takes us back to the mid-sixties, shortly after JFK was shot in Texas. The country's primary focus is battling communism, and in pursuit of this mission, numerous troops comprising young Americans are sent to Vietnam.

I highly recommend keeping some napkins, handkerchiefs, or tissues close by, as you'll need them during your reading experience. Another word of caution: don't plan anything extensive for your day, because once you start reading this book and tell yourself you'll only read a few pages before setting it down, that plan might not hold. From the moment you dive into Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s story, you'll become engrossed. It's almost as if you're under a spell – you won't be able to put it down. Her story will grip you, tearing at your heartstrings and evoking numerous tears, as you connect with her fears, heartbreaks, pains, anger, and frustrations. You can practically hear her internal screams and the words she's forced to bottle up because nobody wants to listen. She might be the most honest, poignant, tough, and resilient heroine the author has ever created. So, my advice is to clear your schedule, go with the flow, and allow the story to transport you to the jungles of Vietnam, where the echoing sound of helipads reverberates in your ears, and you find yourself in a hospital surrounded by young soldiers uttering their final messages to their loved ones.

The book commences at a house party on Coronado Island, celebrating Frankie’s brother's enlistment. Frankie decides to take a break in her father's study, where a "hero’s walk" is displayed, featuring photos of the family's men who served in various wars. Now, her brother will be added to this wall. But why can't she be included too? It's in this moment that she realizes her brother's best friend, Rye, is also hiding in the room, questioning her: why can't a woman be a hero as well? This question alters everything for Frankie and challenges the life plans her family has set out for her. They expect her to marry and have children, conforming to the norms of the early sixties. However, she decides that she, too, can be a hero, serving her country and making her family proud, just like her brother did. She applies to the Army Nurse Corps to follow in her brother's footsteps.

Her conservative and highly respected family doesn't support her decision, and when a tragic piece of news arrives unexpectedly, Frankie's life takes a sharp turn before she embarks on her earth-shattering journey.

Soon, she finds herself amidst chaos and destruction, realizing that as a young, innocent, and inexperienced woman, she's like a fish in a bottle tossed into a dangerous ocean teeming with sharks. Within a short span of time, she becomes terrified, numb, and exhausted, navigating days where her heart breaks as she witnesses soldiers younger than her brother losing their lives and civilians becoming expendable amidst the chaos. As Frankie edges closer to collapse, nearly drowning in sorrow, her friends Barb and Ethel extend a lifeline, offering enough emotional support to keep her from giving up.

The book takes us on a 20-year journey with Frankie, spanning two terms of her life as she struggles to save herself. She risks her life in the process, and upon her return, she realizes that she's not regarded as a war hero like the men who fought in combat. People avoid discussing the war, and even her own family treats her as though she's done something to embarrass them, something they'd rather not acknowledge. During the day, she's compelled to blend into the community, resuming where she left off before the war, while at night, she battles her nightmares and the clutches of PTSD. She comes to understand that she's not the proud, ideal girl her family wanted her to be and never can be. Eventually, she gives in.

Frankie's painful journey, marked by her substantial losses, her battles with addiction, and her anger toward those who betrayed and disrespected her, is portrayed with remarkable realism. You can feel her emotions; they're everywhere. You ache, you cry, you feel resentment, and you sigh. You experience every pain she carries as if it's a blow to your own face.

She's one of the women from the war whose stories need to be told, remembered, cherished, and respected. Will she overcome her inner demons? Will she learn to heal from her pain, forgive those who worsened her suffering, embrace her flaws, and confront her fears that she's afraid to share with others? Will she ultimately find the peace she's searching for? Read her story to uncover the answers.

I'm still recovering from the impact of this book. My heart is a whirlwind of different emotions. While some characters may seem fictional initially, as you delve into their stories, you'll develop an immediate connection that makes these characters a part of you, lingering in your life indefinitely. Frankie is one such character – unforgettable, courageous, vulnerable, tarnished but not broken, poignant, and dependable.

I believe this might be my favorite work by Kristin Hannah. After reading her closing note, I gained a deeper appreciation for the years of hard work she put into creating these vivid characters and crafting realistic descriptions of war zones, leading us on this unforgettable journey. This book will likely be one of the standout reads of 2024, and I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to read it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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