The Women

A Novel

By: Kristin Hannah

Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kristin Hannah

Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

"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.

©2024 Kristin Hannah (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

frankie.. you are dynamic

I loved this book and couldn't stop binging it after it's release. Frankie is such a dynamic character and I loved hearing her harrowing story of being a nurse in Vietnam. The author brings everything to life in such great detail that the image is so alive in my head. This would be a fantastic movie.

Excellent story of those who were lost

I loved this story. It exposed me to an issue I was never aware of with women in the Vietnam war. It put you there in war and in the pain of feeling hopeless back in the states. Needing help but not knowing where to go. When reaching out and being told you didn’t need it or didn’t belong there. A great story.

KH gets Better and Better

I loved Frankie from the very beginning. Then, Ethel and Barb, who taught her to be a combat nurse. I was afraid to start this book,and then I could not stop listening. Thank you so much Kristen. After I listen to this book a few more times, I’ll be waiting for the next one.

Could Not Stop Listening

The best compliment I could ever give an author is this…I feel educated…finally. Because enjoy and respect Kristin Hannah’s work-both an understatement-I preordered this book with complete trust that it would be wonderful. What I did not expect was to be thoroughly educated on a time that I heard about growing up, but never really learned about. It was not taught in school and I’m sure if had been it would’ve fallen grievously short of reality. So many young men and women from my rural small town are Vietnam Vets. While I did respect them, I had no idea the pain I was surrounded by my entire life nor the heroism, the inhuman strength they possess. I knew a man, a quiet, gentle man who had to “go away” for months at a time on occasion but I never completely understood why. He was a medic. I did over hear the adults saying his family would sometimes have to hide from him because he had nightmares and awoke to what he thought was VC. It was truly the war no one wanted to talk about-certainly not to children.
After hearing the plight of the women, who served in Vietnam I have a question. Is there a memorial for them in DC?
Kristin Hannah, thank you for your work! You are such an inspiration to this aspiring author. I hope that one day I can say I’ve left my mark in such a meaningful way as this. Well done!

I cried, duh.

This book was fabulous. I love and hate that Kristin Hannah breaks my heart with every book, yet I keep reading them. I am grateful she shed light onto less told stories and players in this war. Recommending to everyone.

Riveting

This book was epic. Sad. Realistic. Eye-opening. Really really great story. It made me very proud of the men and women who gave their lives in every way. 

A tribute to nurses, women, and those who served

As a nurse from a different time, who served veterans, and worked with healthcare combat heroes, this book meant so much to me. What an important time in history to capture the details of an undervalued group who persisted through it all and walked through the doubts and jeers of others and survived and stayed true to their core.
It’s a tale of facing vulnerability and digging deep to find the real source of the pain. It’s a story about finding your crew, never leaving them behind and sharing your strength when they are beat down. She captured it all beautifully!

Best book I have ever read.

Epic journey of women who served in Vietnam. A must read. Fantastic storytelling and narration.

Interesting

I loved the description of a time I lived through, but was to young to fully comprehend. There is a moment when the “love” story made me angry, but the end resolve is good.

Excellent and sensitive explanation

Without putting too much material in, Kristen was able to touch on all of the issues that the Vietnam vets had to deal with both in Vietnam, and stateside in a clear and gracious manner.
I thought the reading of the story was excellent. The various voices of the various characters were clear and distinct. The voices really helped form the personality of who I was listening to, and I appreciated that!