The Women set in Vietnam – Kristin Hannah

Submitted: 16th February 2024

The Women of Kristin Hannah

I love a good story about women in tough situations. Or women’s voices from history that have been silenced or lost. Kristin Hannah is the author to tackle this kind of story too. So, all in all, a great mix!

There are plenty of stories about why men go to war and what happens when they do. But this was a story about a woman, women in general and it really caught my attention.

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The Women set in Vietnam - Kristin Hannah

Boarding Pass Information :

Destination : Vietnam

Author guide: Kristin Hannah

Genre: Historical fiction/war

Food and drink to accompany: rations

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A novel to transport you to Vietnam

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This is one almighty read. Epic in scope and ambition but boy am I pleased Kristin Hannah persevered! Impeccable research and compelling characters, I feel a better person for having read this and learned so much about women who fought in Vietnam. I’d never thought about them before.

This book lingered with me for ages. I dreamed about it, I thought about in during Remembrance Sunday ( I read it a while ago yes). Perhaps that was a good time to read it as it really brought home the struggles and sacrifices that war heroes went through. Have I ever heard stories of women fighting in Vietnam? No I haven’t. There were lots if this book is anything to go by – both in civilian posts and military ones. Both are commended here.

Kristin Hannah takes us back to the mid 1960s America and JFK has just been assassinated. Now, think about what unsettling times they must have been. The fight against communism starts with a vengeance and soldiers are sent over to Vietnam to do their bit.

This is one heck of a moving, gripping and utterly heart-breaking read. I wouldn’t advise reading it in public unless you want strangers to ask you what on earth is wrong. Frankie is an amazing lead character and I felt honoured to follow her through her story. From the moment she realises her father is proud of her brother for signing up and she stands in his office looking at the family’s male members who have served in previous wars, my heart broke for her.

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She applies to the Army Nurse Corps to follow in her brother’s footsteps. Before long, she is working deep in the Vietnam jungle. Her family don’t see her wishes as worthy ones and certainly not honourable. As I say, my heart broke for her so keep those tissues handy. There were so many twists and turns to her story – I was a nervous wreck so goodness knows how she must have been feeling. I just wanted to jump in there and pull her out giving her a hug and telling her that I was proud of her at least. She became so real to me. Her fight became my fight.

The book covers many years and so I got to travel with Frankie and really get to know her and her inner thoughts. When she came back home (not really a spoiler as she is the main character), it soon becomes apparent that she has a whole other fight on her hands.

Honestly this book will break you. I am thinking about it months after reading it. I am wrecked but it was totally worth it.