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The Women: A Novel Hardcover – February 6, 2024
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A #1 bestseller on The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times!
From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women―at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.
Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets―and becomes one of―the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.
But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.
The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.
- Print length480 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSt. Martin's Press
- Publication dateFebruary 6, 2024
- Dimensions6.65 x 1.45 x 9.55 inches
- ISBN-101250178630
- ISBN-13978-1250178633
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Hannah again shines her light on overlooked women in history" ―People Magazine (Book of the Week)
"Hannah is in top form here... Hannah’s real superpower is her ability to hook you along from catastrophe to catastrophe, sometimes peering between your fingers, because you simply cannot give up on her characters. She gathers women into the (Vietnam) experience with moving conviction." ―The New York Times
“The Women is historical fiction at its very best. So moving, so wrenching, and yet, in the end, uplifting. Brava! I loved The Nightingale and The Four Winds, but The Women is my favorite.” ―Nicholas D. Kristof, Pulitzer Prize–winning coauthor of Half the Sky
“One of the greatest storytellers of our time, Kristin Hannah, tackles one of the most cruel and despicable wars of the last century, the Vietnam War. The Women reveals the powerful contributions and horrific sacrifices of the American military nurses who served in a war whose agencies refused to acknowledge that they were
even there. Perhaps no words can bring closure to a nation still ashamed of booing our returning heroes, but the heroine, Frances McGrath, stirs a deep, overdue compassion and tears for every single soldier―and especially the forgotten women who sacrificed so much. Never has a novel of war metamorphosed so profoundly into a story of the human heart.” ―Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing
“Stuns with sacrifice; uplifts with heroism . . . an important, long overdue tribute to the brave women nurses who served in Vietnam.” ―Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry
"Hannah’s emotionally charged page-turner (after The Four Winds) centers on a young nurse whose life is changed by the Vietnam War. Before Frankie McGrath begins basic training for the Army in 1966, her older brother Finley is killed in action. Frankie excels as a surgical nurse in Vietnam and becomes close with fellow nurses Ethel and Barb. After Ethel’s tour ends, Frankie and Barb gets assigned to the base at Pleiku, near the Cambodian border, where some of the heaviest fighting occurs. There, she reunites with Navy officer Rye Walsh, Finley’s best friend, and they become lovers. When Frankie returns to the U.S., she’s met with indifference for her service from her parents, who are still grieving her brother’s death, and disdain from people who oppose the war. She leans on alcohol and drugs while struggling to acclimate to civilian life. Though the situations and dialogue can feel contrived (Rye, after announcing he’s re-upping, says to Frankie at the close of a chapter, “I’m not leaving my girl”), Hannah’s depictions of Frankie tending to wounded soldiers are urgent and eye-opening, and a reunion of the three nurses for Frankie’s benefit is poignantly told. Fans of women’s historicals will enjoy this magnetic wartime story." ―Publishers Weekly
"Many would say that the nurses who helped fight the Vietnam War were forgotten. Believe me, for those of us who were there, these women were never forgotten--and never will be. Kristin Hannah honors them with this novel." --Karl Marlantes, author of Matterhorn
"Hannah enjoys the authorial reach to educate legions of readers about the significant subjects she dramatizes. In doing so she demonstrates that, just like the women she writes about, she deserves to be recognized." -Minneapolis Star Tribune
"a moving, gripping tale that pays tribute to the under-appreciated skill and courage of combat nurses." --Booklist, starred review
"Hannah tells the story of real but unsung heroes" --Washington Post
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : St. Martin's Press; First Edition (February 6, 2024)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 480 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1250178630
- ISBN-13 : 978-1250178633
- Item Weight : 1 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.65 x 1.45 x 9.55 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author
Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels. Her newest novel, The Women, about the nurses who served in the Vietnam war, will be released on February 6, 2024.
The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore's bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.
In 2018, The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.
In 2015, The Nightingale became an international blockbuster and was Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People's Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week.
The Nightingale is currently in pre-production at Tri Star. Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.
A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.
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The relationships between Frankie and her parents showcase the era and denial many parents felt with their own children making non traditional decisions. Frankie signing up as a US ARMY nurse to gain recognition in her parents' eyes - become a part of The Family Wall of Honor, made me have compassion and a deeper connection with Frankie. I, too, spent years hoping to show my parents my gifts academically when they often encouraged me into the "Mrs." degree that Frances' parents would have found more pleasing.
Every page in the book held a twist, turn, pain, joy, or honest challenge to provide an opportunity to truly remind us all to live out our precious lives as honestly and with a much integrity as we can muster.
Beautifully written, Kristin Hannah!
Xo
I’m not exactly sure why I have always been so drawn to the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. Maybe because my mom was a young nurse during this era. Maybe because I proudly wore my POW/MIA bracelet for many years. Maybe I felt an unexplored connection when I watched the tv coverage of the soldiers returning home, always searching for Sgt. Thomas’s name. Maybe seeing yellow ribbons tied to trees is a profound memory for you as well. Thanks to Ms. Hannah I finally could digest with an adult perspective what the war had been to grade school me, to others so deeply affected by it, and to those today who might receive the gift of a deeper understanding of the women of the war.
In this long awaited new novel by beloved author Kristin Hannah, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a 20 year old nurse, has followed her adored brother to volunteer in The Vietnam War. As you can imagine, the combat and MASH unit scenes are explicit and insightful, but the second half of the novel, when some characters return home to the US, provided the more disturbing and shocking scenes. Players large and small circulate through the plot with surgical (forgive the pun) precision, and had this reader gasping and weeping through some chapters. Ms. Hannah delicately navigates the subject of the bonafide government misinformation campaign during this dark period of our history. Many of the themes remain incredibly relevant today and encourage us to explore the injustices of the past to move forward to a more informed future.
This novel, 20+ years in the making, will be on my BEST OF 2024 list, and I look forward to discussing it with other readers!
I’m not exactly sure why I have always been so drawn to the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. Maybe because my mom was a young nurse during this era. Maybe because I proudly wore my POW/MIA bracelet for many years. Maybe I felt an unexplored connection when I watched the tv coverage of the soldiers returning home, always searching for Sgt. Thomas’s name. Maybe seeing yellow ribbons tied to trees is a profound memory for you as well. Thanks to Ms. Hannah I finally could digest with an adult perspective what the war had been to grade school me, to others so deeply affected by it, and to those today who might receive the gift of a deeper understanding of the women of the war.
In this long awaited new novel by beloved author Kristin Hannah, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a 20 year old nurse, has followed her adored brother to volunteer in The Vietnam War. As you can imagine, the combat and MASH unit scenes are explicit and insightful, but the second half of the novel, when some characters return home to the US, provided the more disturbing and shocking scenes. Players large and small circulate through the plot with surgical (forgive the pun) precision, and had this reader gasping and weeping through some chapters. Ms. Hannah delicately navigates the subject of the bonafide government misinformation campaign during this dark period of our history. Many of the themes remain incredibly relevant today and encourage us to explore the injustices of the past to move forward to a more informed future.
This novel, 20+ years in the making, will be on my BEST OF 2024 list, and I look forward to discussing it with other readers!
What an emotional rollercoaster ride! In true Hannah fashion, she rips your heart apart and mends it back together but with this one she did it to me several times. In a span of two pages, mine was pieced together just to be shattered again. But the ending. Oh my goodness. That ending. 🥺❤️
Historical fiction has always been a favorite of mine, but the last year or so I haven't really focused on it. I knew when I saw this book releasing I was going to read it and with the high praise I saw right off the bat even before its release, I had a feeling I, too, was going to love it. But I also was hesitant, because Historical Fiction hasn't been my go to lately. It can seem daunting to me at times. They are usually based on true stories and real people, so you know it is going to be an emotional ride. You just don't know if you are ready to embark on that journey or not. If you know what I am talking about or have felt similar, I am here to tell you, do not let that hold you back on reading this book! This book has the emotions of a romance novel, the edge of your seat tension like a thriller, and it is an absolutely must read for everyone! Please don't let this one pass you by. Even if historical fiction is not your normal go to genre, I promise this one is worth it!
Hannah's writing is something magical. You are immediately hooked and transported to this world she has created on page one. In our world of reading books, there are good writers, there are bad writers, and then there are phenomenal writers. And Kristin Hannah, my friends, is a phenomenal writer!! When you read her books, you are seeing the words play out inside your head so easily, you feel like you are watching a movie. She is cinematic and that is how I know this book is going to translate so well to screen. How can it not with the foundation she has provided them?? (Yes, Warner Bros. has picked this up for a film! 🙌)
So many HF novels focus on WWII. I love those books just as much as the next person, but it is so refreshing to get a different time period, especially from a queen like Hannah. I know nothing of the Vietnam War. I do remember seeing footage of how some people reacted and their opinions of the war, but not to the depths this book takes you on. Or how women were treated that were veterans in this war. That was eye-opening and heart wrenching, but sadly not surprising.
Yes, this felt personally for me. As a nurse and a former ICU nurse, I love when we get a protagonist that is also in my field. But this book gutted me and made it feel like Hannah personally dug deep into my soul and stirred up feelings I had buried down deep with this one. I was wrecked. Like sitting in a Mexican restaurant with people all around with tears streaming down my face wrecked while reading this book. I can't tell you the last time a book emotionally wrecked me like this one did. Now I am not saying everyone will have that visceral reaction. In fact most probably won't, but I am just telling you that is the response this book got from me. 😅 As usual, I went in blind not knowing what this book was about. I saw high praise and great feedback so I was excited, but like I said earlier I wasn't expecting this response from reading it.
If you'd like to know a short synopsis of the book, it centers around a combat nurse, Frankie, who as recently graduated from nursing school, and despite her parents' protests and disappointment she has joined the Army to assist as a combat nurse in the Vietnam War. You watch Frankie transform from a naive, young girl who is in way over her head into a straight rockstar and that is something I think everyone in our field can relate to despite all of us not being in a similar predicament she is in.
It is divided into two parts. Frankie's experience during the war and when she comes home. That was another unique take that I appreciated from the author. So many books stay in the combat part of war. Rarely have I read one where you go with the protagonist when they come back home and deal with the "After" part. There are some triggers, so if you want to know more about those feel free to reach out!
I've never read a book centered around the Vietnam War, so I am extremely grateful Hannah chose this time period to write this amazing novel. And if you haven't gathered it already, I highly recommend this book for everyone. You are simply doing yourself a disservice if you skip over it. Period.
**Also fun fact and as if i couldn't love this book anymore, my name made an appearance in the book. Granted it was spelled different (Celine), but it was still a pleasant surprise. ☺️
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024
What an emotional rollercoaster ride! In true Hannah fashion, she rips your heart apart and mends it back together but with this one she did it to me several times. In a span of two pages, mine was pieced together just to be shattered again. But the ending. Oh my goodness. That ending. 🥺❤️
Historical fiction has always been a favorite of mine, but the last year or so I haven't really focused on it. I knew when I saw this book releasing I was going to read it and with the high praise I saw right off the bat even before its release, I had a feeling I, too, was going to love it. But I also was hesitant, because Historical Fiction hasn't been my go to lately. It can seem daunting to me at times. They are usually based on true stories and real people, so you know it is going to be an emotional ride. You just don't know if you are ready to embark on that journey or not. If you know what I am talking about or have felt similar, I am here to tell you, do not let that hold you back on reading this book! This book has the emotions of a romance novel, the edge of your seat tension like a thriller, and it is an absolutely must read for everyone! Please don't let this one pass you by. Even if historical fiction is not your normal go to genre, I promise this one is worth it!
Hannah's writing is something magical. You are immediately hooked and transported to this world she has created on page one. In our world of reading books, there are good writers, there are bad writers, and then there are phenomenal writers. And Kristin Hannah, my friends, is a phenomenal writer!! When you read her books, you are seeing the words play out inside your head so easily, you feel like you are watching a movie. She is cinematic and that is how I know this book is going to translate so well to screen. How can it not with the foundation she has provided them?? (Yes, Warner Bros. has picked this up for a film! 🙌)
So many HF novels focus on WWII. I love those books just as much as the next person, but it is so refreshing to get a different time period, especially from a queen like Hannah. I know nothing of the Vietnam War. I do remember seeing footage of how some people reacted and their opinions of the war, but not to the depths this book takes you on. Or how women were treated that were veterans in this war. That was eye-opening and heart wrenching, but sadly not surprising.
Yes, this felt personally for me. As a nurse and a former ICU nurse, I love when we get a protagonist that is also in my field. But this book gutted me and made it feel like Hannah personally dug deep into my soul and stirred up feelings I had buried down deep with this one. I was wrecked. Like sitting in a Mexican restaurant with people all around with tears streaming down my face wrecked while reading this book. I can't tell you the last time a book emotionally wrecked me like this one did. Now I am not saying everyone will have that visceral reaction. In fact most probably won't, but I am just telling you that is the response this book got from me. 😅 As usual, I went in blind not knowing what this book was about. I saw high praise and great feedback so I was excited, but like I said earlier I wasn't expecting this response from reading it.
If you'd like to know a short synopsis of the book, it centers around a combat nurse, Frankie, who as recently graduated from nursing school, and despite her parents' protests and disappointment she has joined the Army to assist as a combat nurse in the Vietnam War. You watch Frankie transform from a naive, young girl who is in way over her head into a straight rockstar and that is something I think everyone in our field can relate to despite all of us not being in a similar predicament she is in.
It is divided into two parts. Frankie's experience during the war and when she comes home. That was another unique take that I appreciated from the author. So many books stay in the combat part of war. Rarely have I read one where you go with the protagonist when they come back home and deal with the "After" part. There are some triggers, so if you want to know more about those feel free to reach out!
I've never read a book centered around the Vietnam War, so I am extremely grateful Hannah chose this time period to write this amazing novel. And if you haven't gathered it already, I highly recommend this book for everyone. You are simply doing yourself a disservice if you skip over it. Period.
**Also fun fact and as if i couldn't love this book anymore, my name made an appearance in the book. Granted it was spelled different (Celine), but it was still a pleasant surprise. ☺️
Top reviews from other countries
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another great work of fiction, inspired by firsthand accounts of the women who served in Vietnam.
This was my 7th book by this author and I read it in two sittings.
My favourites to date are “The Nightingale” and “The Four Winds”.
Although this book was melodramatic and the main character a bit unlikeable (and spoiled), I really enjoyed it.
The storytelling was terrific and heartfelt, especially when it came to PTSD.
The development of the story made this a compelling read, although some parts were a bit repetitive, but I wished that there were other voices (different perspectives or POV).
The writing was really good, as expected.
The conclusion was a bit chaotic (and rushed), but believable. Love can be so complicated for some.
My ratings were based on its entertaining level.
I may revisit this review later on, but for now this is all I have to say.
By the way, I simultaneously listened to the audiobook. Julia Whelan is a terrific narrator.
Hardcover (St Mark Press): 480 pages (2 parts, 35 chapters)
ebook (Kobo): 426 pages (default), 142k words
audiobook narrated by Julia Whelan: 15 hours (normal speed)
(and yes, I have all 3 formats)
PS. Don’t miss the author’s notes at the end of the book. This book was conceived in 1997, but the author felt she was too young and inexperienced at the time. It took her years to revisit her concept.
Further readings recommended by the author:
“Healing Wounds”, by Diane Carlson Evans & Bob Welch
“American Daughter Gone to War”, by Winnie Smith & William Morrow
“Home Before Morning”, by Lynda Van Devanter
“Women in Vietnam: the oral history”, by Ron Steinman
“A Piece of My Heart”, by Keith Walker
“After the Hero’s Welcome”, by Dorothy H. McDaniel
“The League of Wives”, by Heath Hardage Lee
“In Love and War”, by Jim and Sybil Stockdale
“The Turning: A History of Vietnam Veterans Against the War “, by Andrew E. Hunt