As a woman who went to war, there is so much I relate to in this book. Disorientation upon arrival. Incoming. Helicopter travel. Long days. And nights. Disorientation on going home. Not connecting with people. Startled at loud noises. Finding, after a while, my footing in the real world. I am glad I read this. I feel seen. P.S. I now work near a small airport that supports small military aircraft. Sometimes at night, when I listen to a black hawk helicopter coming in, it reminds me of "being there," and I find solace in that sound.
Thank you for sharing this and validating her story telling on this aspect. And most importantly, thank you for your time, energy, and service. I love that the author did such a great job of bringing awareness to this experience. While I certaiinly could empathize with hearing people's difficulties or trauma post war, it was such an eye opener seeing the little things as well, and getting into a character's head that was experiencing it.
This is my fistt Kristin Hannah book, and I LOVED it! Self confession, I’m a 3rd generation OR RN. So while I’ve never closed up a wound on the war front like Frankie, I resonated with her SOOOOOO much! That feeling of being green and ‘a bump on a log’, when the surgeon needs something from you NOW, at the beginning is real. The second half, when Frankie got back to America, I read that in one night. I couldn’t put this book down. After reading this, how I wish my Grandmother was still alive. The questions I could wish I could ask her… 🥲😢
Cannot imagine all you have seen / experienced in an OR. That is another intenset and unique environment for sure. I know, I always think of the stories lost or missed from the older generations in my family too. I wish I had recorded more history and conversations.
I listened to the audiobook and loved it. It kept me engaged the entire time. It was so well written and felt so real that I googled it to see if Ms. Hannah had served herself. It turned out that she just felt very passionate about it and very dedicated to research .
I just finished this book this morning, and man, what an emotional journey. I read it in 3 days, as I too, couldn’t put it down! Incredibly captivating and it really exposed a lot of my own ignorance in regard to the Vietnam war and the aftermath. Highly recommend!
I agree completely in almost everything you say! Oh my god, what a great book! Loved the first part most. Wanted more of part 3, but still... part 2 was fenomenal. It was so hard to read, I felt like I fell down in a bottomless black hole. Hannah wrote it so good and it was a very important part of the book. So I just wanted her to make the book longer, expand part 3 but keep everything else as it was 😃
That (can I say f…ing) war!! I was 11 in 1966 when my beloved brother, my only sibling, graduated HS and voluntarily joined the Army so he could go to Vietnam. That’s what all the men in my family did. The men glorified their horrific experiences in WWII. WWII vets were celebrated as heroes. My brother was in Vietnam for 4 years 1966-1970. He re-enlisted for God only knows why. Finally, when I was 15, he came home. Bobby was not the same person I knew. He tried to talk to my father about his experiences in Nam. My brother was disillusioned by the way the war was being handled by LBJ, by the way Vietnam vets were treated by not only the Hippies and war protestors but by our own father. My father was furious about my beloved brothers attitude, considered him unpatriotic. My brother reported getting spit at, yelled at when traveling home in his dress uniforms through the US airports. To make a long story short, my brother cut himself off from everyone and moved from Rochester, NY to Maui, Hawaii for 20 yrs, then to Ensenada Mexico where he died at 58 yrs old 12/8/2006 from prostate cancer r/t agent orange exposure. Because of that f….ing war, I had to live my life without my brother. This book brought back so many bad memories, buried memories for me. Not the gory events but so many other things were familiar to me. I feel in some ways that I could’ve written this book. I felt the heartache, loneliness and loss same as the characters in this book. In HS, I rarely talked about my brother being in Vietnam because I was too devastated and didn’t want my friends to know my heartache. That war ruined my family. I’m glad I read this book because it validated my heartache, loss, and loneliness that i still feel to this day. There are just some heartaches in life that you never get over. You just learn to live with the pain. Because of “losing” my brother in Vietnam, I worked as a nurse for 26 years with kids with cancer. That’s a good thing that came from my loss. In 2006, I got a call from a Mexican Dr that my brother had died in his apartment in Mexico. It took an Act of Congress, but within 2 weeks, I was on my way with my daughter to Mexico to claim my brothers body , have him cremated and bury him at home in a shared niche with my parents. I arranged for The Vietnam Vets Honor Guard to honor my brother at his Funeral Mass. They came, not dressed in their dress uniforms but dressed in Army Fatigues. I didn’t ask but I knew why. All of those guy were spit on in their Dress Uniforms when they came home. They honored my brother and presented me with a flag. I needed that closure. My brother served our Country honorably and he was treated like shit when he came home. He deserved way better and I made sure he got it.
I am so sorry for what you, your family, and brother experienced. The stress and trauma is incredible to think about...and to consider having people hatefully respond to you is heart breaking.
Thank you for the review! I just finished reading The Women, and it really brought back memories of that period. It was tough for our country as well as personally, and reliving it through this book was pretty painful. It's a wonderful book and so well written, but I can't say I loved reading it. Thanks!
I loved the book … I thought the zero communication from the military about what really happened to Jamie was a bit far fetched. I mean, no one from that unit was curious as to what happened to him. Other than that, thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Just finished the book. I've asked my parents in the past, if they remembered this time in history. They don't seem to remember, which I find odd. I'm asking my mom to read this book and see if this reminds her. Until then I shall mop my tears.
This was my 1st Kristin Hannah book. I agree with you she did a wonderful job describing the war. The book was very well written. I too found myself not being able to put it down at times. And just heartbreak after heartbreak you felt for the main character Frankie so much. I feel like I learned more about the war and what America was like in this novel then in history class. Women have come so far. It was very eye opening as well. I am looking forward to reading more books by Kristin Hannah
I'm with you - Kristin Hannah's character development is on another level! I felt like I knew these women personally by the end. Has anyone else read "The Nightingale" by her? Wondering if it has the same immersive vibe as "The Women" - might need to be my next read!
Hello! Great question. No. I referenced that (trauma and recovery) in the title as this book covers the period during and AFTER war, so her trauma and her recovery work are a part of that.
@@LiteraryLife Oh I thought it was a follow-up book Just going by your video titoe Really enjoyed the review by the way. Have started the book up the chapter 9 already.
As a woman who went to war, there is so much I relate to in this book. Disorientation upon arrival. Incoming. Helicopter travel. Long days. And nights. Disorientation on going home. Not connecting with people. Startled at loud noises. Finding, after a while, my footing in the real world.
I am glad I read this. I feel seen.
P.S. I now work near a small airport that supports small military aircraft. Sometimes at night, when I listen to a black hawk helicopter coming in, it reminds me of "being there," and I find solace in that sound.
Thank you for sharing this and validating her story telling on this aspect. And most importantly, thank you for your time, energy, and service. I love that the author did such a great job of bringing awareness to this experience. While I certaiinly could empathize with hearing people's difficulties or trauma post war, it was such an eye opener seeing the little things as well, and getting into a character's head that was experiencing it.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you so much for your service!
This is my fistt Kristin Hannah book, and I LOVED it! Self confession, I’m a 3rd generation OR RN. So while I’ve never closed up a wound on the war front like Frankie, I resonated with her SOOOOOO much! That feeling of being green and ‘a bump on a log’, when the surgeon needs something from you NOW, at the beginning is real. The second half, when Frankie got back to America, I read that in one night. I couldn’t put this book down. After reading this, how I wish my Grandmother was still alive. The questions I could wish I could ask her… 🥲😢
Cannot imagine all you have seen / experienced in an OR. That is another intenset and unique environment for sure. I know, I always think of the stories lost or missed from the older generations in my family too. I wish I had recorded more history and conversations.
I listened to the audiobook and loved it. It kept me engaged the entire time. It was so well written and felt so real that I googled it to see if Ms. Hannah had served herself. It turned out that she just felt very passionate about it and very dedicated to research .
Amazing job researching; she had so many specific details in her writing, it made everything come to life and feel so real in my mind.
Thank you so much for taking the time for this review. I have been on the fence about “The Women” but you have just pushed me to the buying side 😊
You are so welcome! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)
I just finished this book this morning, and man, what an emotional journey. I read it in 3 days, as I too, couldn’t put it down! Incredibly captivating and it really exposed a lot of my own ignorance in regard to the Vietnam war and the aftermath. Highly recommend!
Is is book available in soft form?
I agree completely in almost everything you say! Oh my god, what a great book! Loved the first part most. Wanted more of part 3, but still... part 2 was fenomenal. It was so hard to read, I felt like I fell down in a bottomless black hole. Hannah wrote it so good and it was a very important part of the book. So I just wanted her to make the book longer, expand part 3 but keep everything else as it was 😃
That (can I say f…ing) war!! I was 11 in 1966 when my beloved brother, my only sibling, graduated HS and voluntarily joined the Army so he could go to Vietnam. That’s what all the men in my family did. The men glorified their horrific experiences in WWII. WWII vets were celebrated as heroes. My brother was in Vietnam for 4 years 1966-1970. He re-enlisted for God only knows why. Finally, when I was 15, he came home. Bobby was not the same person I knew. He tried to talk to my father about his experiences in Nam. My brother was disillusioned by the way the war was being handled by LBJ, by the way Vietnam vets were treated by not only the Hippies and war protestors but by our own father. My father was furious about my beloved brothers attitude, considered him unpatriotic. My brother reported getting spit at, yelled at when traveling home in his dress uniforms through the US airports. To make a long story short, my brother cut himself off from everyone and moved from Rochester, NY to Maui, Hawaii for 20 yrs, then to Ensenada Mexico where he died at 58 yrs old 12/8/2006 from prostate cancer r/t agent orange exposure. Because of that f….ing war, I had to live my life without my brother. This book brought back so many bad memories, buried memories for me. Not the gory events but so many other things were familiar to me. I feel in some ways that I could’ve written this book. I felt the heartache, loneliness and loss same as the characters in this book. In HS, I rarely talked about my brother being in Vietnam because I was too devastated and didn’t want my friends to know my heartache. That war ruined my family. I’m glad I read this book because it validated my heartache, loss, and loneliness that i still feel to this day. There are just some heartaches in life that you never get over. You just learn to live with the pain. Because of “losing” my brother in Vietnam, I worked as a nurse for 26 years with kids with cancer. That’s a good thing that came from my loss. In 2006, I got a call from a Mexican Dr that my brother had died in his apartment in Mexico. It took an Act of Congress, but within 2 weeks, I was on my way with my daughter to Mexico to claim my brothers body , have him cremated and bury him at home in a shared niche with my parents. I arranged for The Vietnam Vets Honor Guard to honor my brother at his Funeral Mass. They came, not dressed in their dress uniforms but dressed in Army Fatigues. I didn’t ask but I knew why. All of those guy were spit on in their Dress Uniforms when they came home. They honored my brother and presented me with a flag. I needed that closure. My brother served our Country honorably and he was treated like shit when he came home. He deserved way better and I made sure he got it.
I am so sorry for what you, your family, and brother experienced. The stress and trauma is incredible to think about...and to consider having people hatefully respond to you is heart breaking.
You are such a friendly face to check in with. I love your videos. Great recommendations!
Thank you so much!!
Great review! I feel the same way about the middle section of the book and wished to read more about how she put her life back together.
Thank you for the review! I just finished reading The Women, and it really brought back memories of that period. It was tough for our country as well as personally, and reliving it through this book was pretty painful. It's a wonderful book and so well written, but I can't say I loved reading it. Thanks!
Great review - I am looking forward to reading this one!
I loved the book … I thought the zero communication from the military about what really happened to Jamie was a bit far fetched. I mean, no one from that unit was curious as to what happened to him. Other than that, thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Just finished the book. I've asked my parents in the past, if they remembered this time in history. They don't seem to remember, which I find odd. I'm asking my mom to read this book and see if this reminds her. Until then I shall mop my tears.
This was my 1st Kristin Hannah book. I agree with you she did a wonderful job describing the war. The book was very well written. I too found myself not being able to put it down at times. And just heartbreak after heartbreak you felt for the main character Frankie so much. I feel like I learned more about the war and what America was like in this novel then in history class. Women have come so far. It was very eye opening as well. I am looking forward to reading more books by Kristin Hannah
The first 150 pages were well written…the second half like a harlequin romance novel..
This comment made my day! (Love the Harlequin reference).
I'm with you - Kristin Hannah's character development is on another level! I felt like I knew these women personally by the end. Has anyone else read "The Nightingale" by her? Wondering if it has the same immersive vibe as "The Women" - might need to be my next read!
I loved The Nightingale!!
I also loved The Nightingale.
Please review The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Oooh this looks good! Added to my library holds.
❤Thank, Thank, Thank! ❤
Just asking out of interest
Is women in war trauma and recovery Is it the follow-up book?
Hello! Great question. No. I referenced that (trauma and recovery) in the title as this book covers the period during and AFTER war, so her trauma and her recovery work are a part of that.
@@LiteraryLife
Oh I thought it was a follow-up book Just going by your video titoe Really enjoyed the review by the way. Have started the book up the chapter 9 already.
so i was waiting for your rate? How much?
4 stars! Sorry about that…sometimes my enthusiasm derails me :/
agreed!!!
I enjoyed this book immensely. I gave it 4 stars also. I’ve recommended it to many ppl including those who didn’t ask for it 😂
It's a good global recommendation for sure!
This book sucks I hated it -1919 stars
This book was racist