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A review by misslucyelizabeth
The Women by Kristin Hannah
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
—and women—
I was caught between rating this either three or four stars. I chose four. Why I chose four stars instead of three, is because the art for educating one on the Vietnam War is unfortunately rather scarce. I have read many upon many both fiction and non-fiction stories and true accounts of the Second World War, so it was incredibly refreshing to read a book about the Vietnam War — especially, about the women and their experiences and sacrifices, that went without knowledge and the immense respect that they deserved. I loved the strong theme of womanly friendship. And I loved how the book didn’t just end with the war, and that it exposed the trials and failures of life post-war that millions experienced and were failed to be supported in during those times in our history.
In saying this, what made me want to rate this book only three stars was the heavy layering of trauma upon trauma. Yes, Frankie was suffering from immense PTSD (which I also think the author did well in writing), and with PTSD there is usually a good dose of self-sabotage, which of course we saw Frankie experiencing. So I am understanding of that. But it still felt ‘too’ layered with trauma. It was just one thing after another.
I was not too keen on the main focus of romance. I think that Jamie was a good lesson, but Rye should have been rewritten and have worked out, or Henry should have worked out. OR, Frankie should have forgotten about romance and focused on herself — but again, that classic self-sabotage was the antagonist here.
I also didn’t actually predict Jamie to have survived his extreme injuries and then pop up 10 years later. It was sweet, but no.
I also wished to have read more about Barb and Ethel, and the Major who assigned Frankie on her arrival. Hello — complete babes. I loved their undying friendship and camaraderie. I loved when they first came to Frankie and took her back to the farm — it should have stayed those three, for at least most of the book. Perhaps, the book could have been even more womanly focused, such as exposing the horrid struggles that the Vietnamese women were forced to face and live through — or die by the hands of.
In conclusion, I applaud the author of not only writing this story within itself, but for exposing the women of the Vietnam War, for their work and their sacrifices.
Well done.
I was caught between rating this either three or four stars. I chose four. Why I chose four stars instead of three, is because the art for educating one on the Vietnam War is unfortunately rather scarce. I have read many upon many both fiction and non-fiction stories and true accounts of the Second World War, so it was incredibly refreshing to read a book about the Vietnam War — especially, about the women and their experiences and sacrifices, that went without knowledge and the immense respect that they deserved. I loved the strong theme of womanly friendship. And I loved how the book didn’t just end with the war, and that it exposed the trials and failures of life post-war that millions experienced and were failed to be supported in during those times in our history.
In saying this, what made me want to rate this book only three stars was the heavy layering of trauma upon trauma. Yes, Frankie was suffering from immense PTSD (which I also think the author did well in writing), and with PTSD there is usually a good dose of self-sabotage, which of course we saw Frankie experiencing. So I am understanding of that. But it still felt ‘too’ layered with trauma. It was just one thing after another.
I was not too keen on the main focus of romance. I think that Jamie was a good lesson, but Rye should have been rewritten and have worked out, or Henry should have worked out. OR, Frankie should have forgotten about romance and focused on herself — but again, that classic self-sabotage was the antagonist here.
I also didn’t actually predict Jamie to have survived his extreme injuries and then pop up 10 years later. It was sweet, but no.
I also wished to have read more about Barb and Ethel, and the Major who assigned Frankie on her arrival. Hello — complete babes. I loved their undying friendship and camaraderie. I loved when they first came to Frankie and took her back to the farm — it should have stayed those three, for at least most of the book. Perhaps, the book could have been even more womanly focused, such as exposing the horrid struggles that the Vietnamese women were forced to face and live through — or die by the hands of.
In conclusion, I applaud the author of not only writing this story within itself, but for exposing the women of the Vietnam War, for their work and their sacrifices.
Well done.