The Women by Kristin Hannah
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: ebook via library
Published Feb.06, 2024 by St. Martins Press
Soundtrack: Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Women is a heavy story of many things: idealistic dreams shattered, the bond of sisterhood, the horrific way Vietnam veterans were treated, and the persistent lack of knowledge and understanding for those with mental health diseases. In the first half of the novel, Hannah transports you to the jungle of Vietnam, capturing both the physical and mental atrocities of war. It is graphic and profoundly sad reading about the massive loss of life, but there also is some joy in watching Frankie grow into herself.
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While the first half of the book is emotionally gripping and drags you in, it is the second half and the portrayal of PTSD that makes this a five-star read for me. The exploration of grief and the impacts of trauma mixed with the authentic depiction of PTSD and addiction were enthralling. The portrayal of drug abuse and alcoholism as coping mechanisms felt true to the life of those with substance use disorder
I typically enjoy historical fiction based on actual persons, but this book was a compilation of multiple people, and I think in this context, it worked. While Frankie may not have existed, 10,000 women like her did. The ending was not what I expected and, honestly, perhaps not what I was hoping for; however, I felt that Hannah gave her more than I, as a reader, could’ve imagined. Frankie is flawed. At points, her flaws were irritating to me, but then again, the same flaws are what brought her character to life.
At first, I thought the trauma to Frankie was too much, but in retrospect, I think her trauma is the story of so many service members. How many returned physically unarmed but suffered the loss of their friends or witnessed others struggling when they returned? As the majority of Vietnam POWs were airmen and pilots, Hannah’s presentation is hauntingly accurate and representative of the suffering of the 1500 service members who remain missing in action in Vietnam. I truly enjoyed reading this novel and felt it honored service members and PTSD survivors well.
5 ⭐️: Enamored!
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