The Women is an absorbing, affecting and emotional story of a woman who was a nurse on the frontlines in the Vietnam war and her struggles after she returns home to America. It’s brutal at times, but an accurate representation of history.

Frankie has always been a good girl in her well-off family. She’s never really thought about women having the power to do and change things but at a going away party for her brother, an offhand comment changes that. She plans to follow him to Vietnam as a nurse and is soon on her way. Vietnam isn’t what Frankie thought, and her training helps very little. It’s learn on the job, and learn fast as the wounded keep appearing. Frankie makes some good friends and learns quickly. But Vietnam is also an emotional rollercoaster and the staff do nearly anything to forget. Frankie falls in love, but soon that is taken away. When it’s time to return home, America has changed a lot. The tide has changed from America saving the world. People are against the war and actively hostile to those who took part in it. For Frankie, there is no debrief or ongoing help. She spirals out of control multiple times, only to be refused help because ‘there were no women in Vietnam, dear’. It’s frustrating to watch as Frankie tries and fails to cope, made harder by all the curveballs thrown at her. Can she ever truly move on from Vietnam?

The novel is highly emotional and to be blunt, Frankie has all her darlings killed and then some. There is a lot of overt sexism with women being put in their place repeatedly (the only place it doesn’t happen is Vietnam, where the nurses pull their weight). PTSD, illegal drug use and mental health are explored as are the consequences of war from the battlefield to the memories afterwards. It isn’t helpful for Frankie that her parents are unable/unwilling to help her, thinking ignoring her time in Vietnam and downgrading it to a European holiday is helpful, or by buying her a house and car. Agent Orange is touched on, but I would have liked to have seen more described about the long-term effects. Frankie is left with her friends to help shoulder her trauma, and they are the best at it, as they are the ones who understand. The majority of others don’t seem to be able, or choose not to. A strong theme throughout the book is the power of friendship, and just being there when needed.

The writing is sound. It’s not the type of novel where you pause and savour every sentence, this is the kind of novel about the story and drama. It’s a little cheesy at times, but the strength of the fast-paced story makes up for it. The story is one that hasn’t really come to attention in fiction. I guess that’s because humidity, mildew and war aren’t overly romantic but it’s still a story worth telling, particularly in the current political climate. War isn’t pretty, and has a multitude of long ranging consequences.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com ( )

There were indeed women in Vietnam, and this novel focuses on that by telling the story of nurses who were there. I was young when this war was going on, and it wasn't discussed in history class, so I learned a lot thought the the author's description in the first part of the book. It was quite graphic in places, and while the book was often hard to read, I understand the reason behind it. The second part of the book lagged towards the end. Some of the story ended too neatly to be believable, plus I don't believe the reader saw the true plight of some of the veterans since Frankie's wealthy family kept her from suffering as many did. ( )

A fast read for a long book. Interesting story and angle: a nurse in Vietnam. It was a bit predictable and thin, but the point, to remember the women who served in the Vietnam war, was interesting enough to make a good read.

Loved it!!! ( )

Spectacular audiobook narration by Julia Whelan.
Young Frankie McGraw enlists in the Army Nurse Corps and goes to Vietnam with very little experience or knowledge of what she’s getting into! Heartbreaking, gripping and informative.. I loved it! ( )