A lot happens in the first few chapters of this book, and then hardly anything happens in the rest of it. Even though the book blurb and summaries give a clear idea of what this novel is all about, it still fails to give a clear picture of the central theme. As a result, there are too many events taking place, incidents happening, and characters introduced, then written off within the first few chapters, while the last chapters (almost one-third of the book) move with a sluggish pace.
Although the book’s title is The Women, it essentially portrays the story of a woman called Frances “Frankie” McGrath. She was born and brought up in an affluent southern Californian town near a famous naval base. Besides the naval base, the town is famous for its picturesque beaches and vacation vibes.
Frankie has grown up in an influential upper-middle-class family that consists of her parents and elder brother. Her father has achieved the American Dream by working relentlessly and excelling in his business ventures. Her mother is the typical charming wife supporting her family and community while leading a glamorous existence. Her brother, Finley, on the other hand, has grown up listening to the familial stories of heroism and service to the nation, which inspires him to join the Navy for active duty in Vietnam.
Vietnam during this time, the late 1960s to early 1970s, was in the midst of a war fought between two factions of its country, but supported by rival superpowers, namely the USSR and the USA. The USA was not only supporting the chosen faction but also actively participating in the ongoing war by putting boots on the ground. Finley becomes part of this active force in Vietnam, but unfortunately, gets killed in the action.
However, his sacrifice inspires Frankie to join the action by training to become a wartime nurse. Despite resistance and disappointment from her parents, she decides to enrol in the Army Nurse Corps. That eventually leads her to wartime nurse duty in a field office in Vietnam; thus, the story follows her experiences during and after the raging war.
And this is the part where Kristin Hannah’s writing shines through. Her narrative flows through many gruesome and gory details of Frankie’s job, right from her initial training days to her gaining expertise as a surgical nurse. The author doesn’t shy away from presenting the realities of war and its impact on all those who are involved. Still, her pen doesn’t leave the humane side of it while talking about the innocents suffering as an unavoidable casualty of the war.
Thankfully, Frankie doesn’t have to suffer loneliness along with homesickness and trauma. She develops an enduring and trustworthy bond with her colleagues, Ethel and Barb. Even though all of them have come from different American realities, their professional responsibilities bring them together to forge a strong bond of lifelong friendships. Besides them, Frankie comes across multiple servicemen who somehow (inexplicably) fall head over heels for her.
But Frankie falls for only two men- Dr. Jamie and Rye. Even though she develops strong feelings for Jamie, she doesn’t let them progress towards a love affair. On the other hand, she crashes into the throes of passionate love with Rye, who coincidentally happens to be her brother’s best friend. This headlong dive into a torrid love affair almost destroys her sanity, her life, and family. But that comes later, much later.
What comes before is a severe bout of PTSD. It’s interesting to read and understand the historical context of how she didn’t get all the help she needed when she required it the most. The author stresses the unpleasant reality of the neglect and shame faced by the nurses once they returned home from Vietnam.
This is where the novel stumbles by somehow diverting the story from historical fiction towards a romantic one. The story loses its earlier shine, appeal, and potency by diluting it with too many romantic cliches and coincidences. Thankfully, it gains a decent footing in the last couple of chapters to end on a somewhat better note.
So why should you read it? You should read for the historical context woven through a fictional story, to understand how the veterans were treated post their traumatic return from Vietnam, and especially to learn about the historically neglected wartime nurses who served near the frontline. For these redeeming factors alone, this book is worth your time.