The Women

Wow. This was a great book about a topic about which I knew very little. 

In the first half of the book, Frankie McGrath goes to war, volunteering to become a nurse in Vietnam. This was by far my favorite part of the book. It was believable and heart-wrenching. I felt like I was right there with Frankie as she became immersed in the horrors, the purpose, and even the occasional joys of her days in Vietnam.

The second half, which took place after Frankie returned home, didn't resonate as much with me. I felt like it tried to represent every woman who went to Vietnam, and in doing so somehow diminished each of their experiences. It was no longer Frankie I was reading about, but a “woman who went to war,” who experienced every possible outcome upon her return. Nonetheless, it was an amazing story—and I cried at the ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.