“The Women” is about a woman named Frankie McGrath who volunteers to be an army nurse in the Vietnam War following her brother’s enlistment. The book focuses on the role women played in Vietnam and how they were treated when they returned home, as their duties abroad greatly contrasted the “typical” duties of women in the 1960s. The first half of the book tells the gut-wrenching story of Frankie’s service and the bonds that got her through, and the second half explains the effects of the war on Frankie’s later life.
This book made me angry, it made me cry, and it made me proud. It deserves all of the hype it has gotten this year. Something that I liked about the book, which I see has also gotten the book lower ratings, is that Frankie is depicted in a very real way. So much about Frankie’s character changes from the beginning to the end of the story, and she makes a lot of poor decisions. This is due to trauma — this book was not written to be a lighthearted read.
Three words that describe this book: Informative, Frustrating, Thought-Provoking
You might want to pick this book up if: You like historical fiction and want to learn more about the role of women in Vietnam.
-Ashley
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.
