The Women

Heartbreaking and inspiring, this tale of the women who served in Vietnam as nurses provide some eye-opening accounts that help illustrate the horrors of the Vietnam war both in country and when veterans came back home. I had very little idea of the nitty gritty of the Vietnam war, much less of the women who served.

It's gritty, graphic, full of horrific scenes, but intertwined with lot of heart and hope. I didn't feel it glorified the war and didn't shy away from criticism of the American government or describing the injustices and horrific acts the Vietnamese people had to endure.

This wasn't an easy read. Please look up trigger warnings for this novel, but off the top of my head keep in mind there are graphic descriptions of injury, death, mentions of children dying, infidelity, miscarriage, addiction, PTSD, and suicide. Nonetheless, if you feel able to read this story, it will be worth it. It's beautifully written and shares important aspects of the history of this conflict.