Tammy’s Reviews > The Women > Status Update

My heart is breaking on so many levels and so many times. I’m so glad I did not live during this time. I do not know what I would do. I really think Hannah did an excellent job of characterizing Frankie as not only a woman in the military but what it was like coming home.

The realities of war, fear, chaos, sadness, and heartache are all evident in this novel. It raises questions for me such as why we were there (was it because we were trying to get rid of Communism only?) and how I would react if I were in this situation. Would I be upset being the one at home that may be cheated on or understand? Would I be the other woman because I may not make it out of 'nam? This. Is. Crazy.

My heart is breaking, even though I knew it was coming... I love how honorable Frankie is. Usually in novels, they follow their heart and not their morals. This is refreshing to me.

I now know why anyone who was in Vietnam doesn't talk about Vietnam. It is so sad, lonely, disgusting... I didn't live during this time but I know that there are many things that I don't understand like why we were so upset about this war in particular and why so many bad protests were going on at home. Maybe I should learn about it.

The novel teaches much about war, especially for the women who served in Vietnam. I have always imagined what it is like but didn't even imagine all the horrors. Movies have not put me into the mindset of women, or soldiers when it comes to everything about war. We can see it, we know and understand the gore, but it doesn't do it justice. Kristin Hannah is putting me there.