Naomi Weisman is a Canadian-Australian and mother of three who loves to ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
Kristin Hannah’s The Women reminded me exactly why I love historical fiction.
I love when a book brings history to life—especially when it’s something I only vaguely remember from my own childhood, like the Vietnam War. Growing up in Toronto in the 1960s and 1970s, I remember going to school with classmates who were new immigrants from Vietnam.
At the time, I never really thought about why they came. They were just my classmates, my friends. This novel gave me a whole new lens through which to understand that time in history.
Kristin Hannah’s story starts in the mid-60s and follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nursing student who joins the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War. Up until that point, Frankie had lived a pretty sheltered life in sunny Southern California. But when her beloved brother goes off to fight, she makes a bold move and follows him, trading her comfortable world for something far more brutal and real.
I love that this book doesn’t just focus on the war itself (though the parts set in Vietnam are intense and eye-opening). It’s also about what happens after—how women like Frankie come home to a country that doesn’t want to acknowledge their service. The protests, the silence, the erasure. And on top of that, there was a devastating lack of support.
At the time, there were few resources available to veterans dealing with trauma—especially women, who weren’t even considered eligible for mental health rehabilitation since they hadn’t served as combatants despite experiencing many of the same horrors.
What really stood out to me was how the story highlights the forgotten role of women in war. We don’t often hear these stories. Frankie’s journey is both personal and political, and it really made me think about how women's service has been underestimated and undervalued, even when they’ve literally been on the front lines.
Reading Frankie’s story made me reflect on those kids from my childhood—what their families must have lived through and how little I understood it then.
Hannah masterfully weaves deep research with vivid emotional storytelling, creating a narrative that feels both authentic and heartfelt. The writing is smooth and easy to sink into, but the impact sticks with you.
I came away not just entertained but educated—and moved. If you love historical fiction that makes you feel something and teaches you along the way, The Women is absolutely worth reading.
READ MORE > Nomi's Pics, Rambler Cafe Blog
Leave a comment