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The Women: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged


"Kristin Hannah’s potent storytelling skills are brilliantly served by narrator Julia Whelan, whose limber, low-pitched voice moves nimbly from person to person, capturing personality and mood, her empathy palpable."—The Washington Post

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 overwhelmed 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.

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

KRISTIN HANNAH is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels, including The Nightingale, The Great Alone, and The Four Winds. A former lawyer turned writer, she lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
136,750 global ratings
This book will live with me for a long time
5 Stars
This book will live with me for a long time
Just finished and I'm trying to stop crying. What an amazing, brutal, heartfelt and real book. I really appreciate Kristin's style of writing, she always makes you feel like you're there. As a Canadian, I didn't have alot of knowledge on the Vietnam War. Only a few movies really. Im grateful to have read about it in such an honest and accurate way. She really did the Women of the War proud. 5 ⭐
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Top reviews from Canada

Reviewed in Canada on June 3, 2024
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From the first sentence, this novel drew me in and didn’t let go. Gripping, sad, heart pounding, funny, love-filled, emotional, infuriating, inspirational, and at the end, so much hope - a historic novel that tackles a subject greatly neglected to this day, and does it in a most engaging, believable and truthful way. The writing, the story, the ups and downs make for an excellent read and I highly recommend this book. Thank you, Kristin!!
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Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2024
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Well written and informative about a segment of the heroes in war that is often ignore. The Women gives a detailed description of female nurses in the Vietnam War and how it changed their lives.
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Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2024
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“The Women”, by Kristin Hannah

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
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Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2024
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I loved this book and finished it in 4 days! So well written and such a compelling story. The author pulls you in immediately and you can’t put it down! I have passed it on to my daughter to read as well. I would highly recommend this book!!
The only small complaint I have is the condition of the book when received. Some of the pages were ripped at the bottom and others were bent. That certainly doesn’t take away from the story though.
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Reviewed in Canada on June 30, 2024
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Such a strong book about the courage, resilience and strength of the men and women who served!! Thank you Kristen Hannah for an amazing read!!
Reviewed in Canada on April 23, 2024
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Vietnam was a war that happened but didn't loom large in our mind. We forgot the ladies that went to war and were reviled for it. This is a beautifully written novel. It illustrates the terrible and horrific loss of life and at the same time shows patriotism, courage and friendship. A really worthwhile read.
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Reviewed in Canada on March 19, 2024
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Frances (Frankie) McGrath left behind her privileged life in California to become a combat nurse in Vietnam. On the one hand, she found herself in what can only be described as a living hell, but she also felt challenged, needed, and alive.

After two tours, she would return home to a world of female subjugation where she couldn't get birth control or a credit card without her 'husband's permission—juxtaposed with a time of the civil rights movement, antiwar protests, countercultural movements, political assassinations and the emerging generation gap.

Returning veterans were experiencing severe medical and psychological problems, and Frankie was no exception. Still, any attempt to get help for her symptoms was met with the words 'There were no women in Vietnam." Yet, approximately 10,000 American military women were stationed there, which doesn't include the civilian women who were news correspondents and workers for humanitarian organizations.

Hannah did an excellent job telling the story of Frankie and all the military nurses serving in Vietnam. 'The Women' will raise awareness of their contributions and sacrifices for a new generation of readers. However, the reader is let down by the fact that after Frankie returns home, her story loses some momentum as plot twists become overdone and melodramatic.

The book is a good read overall and very well-researched. Hannah did not shy away from mentioning the real people and events shaping the world of the sixties and seventies, which brings us to November 13, 1982, the day that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was unveiled. Interestingly, the architect behind the memorial was a young woman named Maya Lin; in a book titled The Women, some mention of her would have been a fitting acknowledgement of yet another essential female contribution during those tumultuous decades.
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Reviewed in Canada on May 15, 2024
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Thank you for writing such an amazing story. I felt like I was there. Very thought provoking and enlightening. No idea what the Vets came home to.

Top reviews from other countries

LGH
5.0 out of 5 stars Heart wrenching, beautifully written
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2024
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I was so hesitant to read this…had heard from many that it was so beautifully written, but that it was also so intense, so gruesome. I wasn’t sure I was in the right frame to ‘go there’. But, oh my! It was riveting. I couldn’t put it down. Hard to imagine that this story could’ve been written by someone who wasn’t there.

I was 18 in 1968 & an Army ‘brat’. As a consequence of that upbringing, my location at the time, and being a young, privileged white woman whose peers lived mostly in the land of college deferments (except for the sons of my parents’ friends who went to West Point & narrowly missed going to war). I was relatively oblivious to the tumult all around me. I’m sorry for that now, sorry that I wasn’t more engaged…but I was busy living the life that Frankie’s parents wished for her & mine wanted for me. I can’t envision ever having had the courage to do what the women in this story did. Such unbounded strength. Read this…everyone should read this!
19 people found this helpful
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Jessica
5.0 out of 5 stars heartbreaking and inspiring
Reviewed in Mexico on May 3, 2024
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Omg, Kristin Hannah is the best historical fiction author! This book had me hooked since the beginning and had me sobbing! It was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. I loved this book
Helena Gurjão Pinheiro do Val
4.0 out of 5 stars Emotional
Reviewed in Brazil on March 16, 2024
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I admit I'm not an emotional reader. It takes a lot me make me shed tears while reading, but the ending of this book was surprisinly emotional for me. I love reading historical novels, but I knew little about the Vietnam War and its outcomes to the soldiers and nurses who ventured in there in service. A really good book that like many other that I've been reading, show the forgotten role of women in wars that marked a whole generation.
Alessandra
4.0 out of 5 stars Bel libro; piacevole lettura
Reviewed in Italy on June 15, 2024
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Libro scorrevole e di piacevole lettura.
Lillian
5.0 out of 5 stars women!'ä
Reviewed in Germany on June 11, 2024
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really well written. Bought this book for my brother