From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

The Women

Kristin Hannah

Start date: April 1, 2025

Finish date: April 30, 2025

Discussion: Book of the Month

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Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Jan 26, 2024 Megan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was my second audio of the year, and I do feel like it makes a difference in how I process the book. There were some repetitions in the language that may not have stuck out to me as much had I been reading in my head vs hearing it read aloud.

Slight spoiler included:

The Women focuses on First Lieutenant, Frances McGrath, Army nurse, who serves 2 tours in Vietnam. I love that this novel brings light to the brave women of this era that have been often overlooked and forgotten. I also love how ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 09, 2023 Trisha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: botm-challenge, goodreadschoice2024

“We were forgotten; all of us Vietnam vets, but the women most of all."

Stunning. Heartbreaking. Frankie's story pulled me in, hooked me completely, broke my heart but lifted me up, too. I love when women's voices are heard, when we lift them up and hear their stories.

I knew very little about Vietnam. It really is the war that everyone tries to forget and no one really wants to talk about. This is the first story I've encountered that gave us the story of the nurses. Of coming home and being tol ...more

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Feb 16, 2024 Elizabeth rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, american, vietnam-war

Kristin Hannah is by far one of my favorite authors. This was not my favorite of her books, but it was still very good. Before I get into the summary of the book, the reason I did not give it a 5 was for a few reasons: I felt the character development was rushed in some regards as in comparison to other books by Hannah, there was a lot of trauma dumping with one character that seemed repetitive and didn't add a significant amount to the storyline.

This book is about the women who were in Vietnam ...more

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May 06, 2024 Shruti morethanmylupus rated it it was amazing

Women can be heroes.

4.5 stars rounded up for GR

Once again, Hannah has managed to write an incredibly moving novel on a rarely-covered topic.

I thought the first part in Vietnam was really long given that the book is supposed to be about what happens when she gets home. However, as I kept reading, I could see why Hannah wrote it the way she did. The first part really sets the stage for Frankie's return and the way the impacts of the trauma of the war play out in her life. The characters were compl ...more

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Oct 08, 2024 Marie (UK) rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, 2024-reading-challenge

I received an ARC of his book via netglley. I have read several of this author's works and generally find them a good read. This book starts off at pace in developing a narrative about a war that raised as much Conflict in the country fighting it as in the arena of war itself. The idea of crafting the storyline around a small, often forgotten flank of female nurses was i thought unusual.. The initial unfolding of events in Vietnam, the development of the female characters both in their work and ...more

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Dec 24, 2024 Miriam Murcutt rated it really liked it

This book is an engaging and emotional read centered, as it is, on the impact of the Vietnam War on individual Americans as well as US society as a whole. The fact it focusses attention on the women who went to war and the women who stayed at home - rather than the men - gives another dimension to Hannah’s story. Post-Vietnam, I found the story a little dragged out. However, that may be because I’m old enough to be familiar with the story of the war and the impact of its aftermath on America.

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Aug 17, 2025 Susan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: pick-me-a-winner-book-shelf, discovery-booskshelf

This book was worth 5 stars and more. What an impactful story. Kristin Hannah is an amazing writer who can tell a war story like no other. I felt like I was right there in the middle of the Vietnam War. She writes so vividly that you can picture it so clearly.

I read The Nightingale years ago but don't remember very much. I think it's time to do a reread of that book and fall in love with it again. I do remember loving it.

I can't wait to read more from KH ...more

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