Welcome to Litsy!

starting this tonight… UPDATE: another one that i enjoyed by kristen hannah… #readinglife #readinggoal #audiophile

Kristin Hannah has not been my favorite author, historically. I loved this book.

I was gifted this book by a friend and told I would enjoy it.Hannah does a good job of helping us to understand PTSD. I know that we (the US) did a very poor job of acknowledging the service of our soldiers after Vietnam, but it never dawned on me that the women who served were so marginalized as to be denied even mental help afterwards. I truly enjoyed this story.

What an emotional rollercoaster ride. 3/5 ⭐️ Not the most enjoyable reading experience but I see why almost everyone likes it.

71% done. My first Kristin Hannah book. I have "The Great Alone" queued and on standby.

#currentlyreading #historicalfiction

I've only rated 3 books 5⭐️ this year, but the one that has stuck with me the most has been The Women.

#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern

I love historical fiction that either reminds me of important stories & events or teaches me something new. The Women does both. I knew that as a nation we treated returning Vietnam soldiers horribly, I did not realize what this meant for women that served and then were ignored. ‘Frankie‘ enlists in the army to make her father & Navy brother proud. There she learns the terrible costs of war and the unbreakable bonds of friendship it can forge. 4⭐️

Heartbreak- devastating- horrific- these words aren‘t enough the describe this book. While this is a historical fiction piece- it does describe the experience so many Americans experienced in the Vietnam war. It‘s powerful and devastating.

Frankie never knew she could be a hero until an acquaintance at a party told her she could be a nurse in Vietnam. That decision changes her life in so many ways that she will never be the same. I thought this book was good but I felt like the sad parts were not evocative enough and the uplifting parts kind of fizzled. Hannah‘s book can usually generate a tear or two from me but this one fell flat in that aspect for me but still a great story.

Several of my friends are Kristin Hannah fangirls and I had to admit I have never read any of her books. Since I was looking for another audiobook figured I would give her a listen. They suggested I start with The Women as it is a favorite. I know this book was loved by many but I was not enthralled at all. Did not finish, however someone told me to try The Great Alone which takes place in Alaska. I just may try it.

Books like this get devoured in a few days. With my heart in my throat and bated breath, I was turning pages. Terms like MASCAL and napalm are now seared in my brain. There *were* women in Vietnam and their courageous, heartbreaking, life changing stories have to be told. Before they are forgotten. This is the best author for such a task. Highly recommended, but beware of the risks! #recentlyread #nospoilers #bookofthemonth

I read thanks to a recommendation from the Piki app community.

The story of three women supporting each other through struggles and growth was so moving! the message of solidarity really stayed with me.

I‘m grateful to Piki for helping me discover such a great book. The community is active and thoughtful, making book sharing even more fun. Highly recommend both the book and the app:)

#The Women #Piki #SNS

148/100📖🎧🔖
2nd Kristin Hannah: The Women
⭐⭐⭐⭐
TBR: The Nightingale

#thewomen #kristinhannah #historicalfiction #ebook #audiobook #goodreads #bookworm #goodreadsreadingchallenge #crossstitch #preciousmoments #totebag #totefairie

Proud of myself for getting this book read waaayy before my book club deadline for a change. I‘m glad to have read my first Kristin Hannah. It might also be my last though. A soft pick, it was readable and not too badly written, but overall not really my jam.
Anyone care to try to convince me otherwise? Any books from her considerable cannon that fans think I should give a go at?

Oh my goodness, this book! 😢
I was not sure what to expect; I definitely did not expect for me to yell and cry throughout the book. It gutted me!

Frankie is my new favorite character. I absolutely loved her strength, loyalty, and growth. I wanted to hug her and say thank you for her service. She deserved better.

My heart goes out to all of the men and women who served during the Vietnam War.
5⭐️

#BookspinBingo #clubread

I was about ready to give up on this book. I‘m so glad I didn‘t. I was getting annoyed and weary of the endless nature of Frankie‘s depression, addiction, self-loathing and issues. But sticking with it, I realized that is exactly what was needed for the story to have the impact needed. PTSD, true trauma-you can‘t limit or make it pretty. It‘s worth it to stick with this book to the end.

Starting this one to see what all the hype is about.

I could see the characters Barb or Ethel saying this in the tagged book.

“Life was like that, she guessed; it was all wrong until suddenly it was right, and you didn‘t really know how to react in either instance.”

The lives of American nurses serving in Vietnam 🇻🇳 was often a #RockyRoad😢

#JuneSpecials

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Didn‘t particularly like the protagonist at the beginning, I found her a little annoying if I‘m honest. Warmed to her as the book went on. Kristin is never afraid of writing about strong women and this one is no exception. Raw, honest account of a woman‘s war and struggles with PTSD. #pick #thewomen

Excellent Historical Fiction

👍

1. Yes... please don't make me count how many hundreds 🤷‍♀️
2. Tagged- so good!!
Thanks @TheSpineView @Kshakal #two4tuesday

Giving women their due, Kristin Hannah explores the life of women serving as nurses both during the Vietnam War and the aftermath.
There were moments where I felt a lack of subtlety when it came to the historic high points of the story, but overall, a moving and compelling read with some surprising twists along the way.

Big feelings about this one. I loved the scenes in Vietnam, and the descriptions felt so real to me. But once the main character, Frankie, returned home, I found her love stories to be melodramatic and exhausting. I felt like she was constantly taking from her friends Barb & Ethel. I do think the picture of PSTD & addiction were heartbreaking & realistic, but it was all just so exhausting. I couldn‘t stand the character and her innate selfishness.

Absolutely loved this book. It made so angry sometimes, but the story was so good.

After her brother‘s death, Frances decides to join the Army & serve as a nurse in the Vietnam war. She discovers a camaraderie w/ the other nurses that she needs when they return from war.

I get the hype, but it didn‘t land completely for me. Frankie‘s struggles are real, & the stories of service members returning from war to a lack of support or outright hatred need to be told. But I think this would have been stronger as a multi POV. 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Loved it! #roll100 @PuddleJumper

1. Well I loved book 3 and 5 of the ACOTAR series but tagged might take the lead!
2. None so far this year!
Thanks @TheSpineView @Kshakal #wondrouswednesday @Eggs

Wow! What an expansive, heartbreaking, informative, and thoughtful story. Immersing you in the story of a young nurse who goes to Vietnam to honor her brother and serve her country, it explores what veterans of this terrible war went through overseas and when they returned home. The unique POV of an army nurse was powerful and while it is tough to get through, I‘m so thankful to have read it. Amazing on #audio by Julia Whelan. Highly recommend!

While reading about the nurses who served and how they weren‘t seen afterwards was worth the read, I anticipated everything that happened.

This historical fiction uses a different perspective in describing the horrors of war, a young, sheltered woman from California. Frances McGrath enlists in the army to serve in Vietnam War with heroic notions of serving with her older brother. She learns quickly of life and death, fear, friendship and love. The story continues as she returns home to face internal trauma and an unwelcoming family and country. Prepare for tears.

Smaller group this go round for Book Club - but average was around around an 8 out of 10 for the tagged book. (I gave it a 6 🤷🏻‍♀️.)

Maybe happy now, happy for a moment, is all we really get. Happy forever seems a shitload to ask in a world on fire 🪖🚁🇺🇸

I had mixed feelings about parts of the plot, but I have a lot of respect for the topic. Overall, I'd give it four stars for making me think of the women who served in the Vietnam war.

Have reached the halfway point in the tagged book and feeling…indifferent?

I get why so many people like this author because she really paints an evocative picture but in terms of plot…it just feels soapy? I think I want it to feel denser.

Points for the focus on the hardworking women during the horrors of the Vietnam War. I wish that was more the overall focus rather than the flimsy love stories.

I'm going to an IRL book club meeting for this book soon. My 1st time at a book club in almost 7 years (since I sold my bookstore) & the 1st time I'll be at a book club & not leading the meeting. I really wish I'd liked the book more! The 1st part was like Cherry Ames Goes to Vietnam, then there were far too many romances & the plot twists...good lord. I felt like it went on far too long. And what's with the cover art cribbing from Miss Saigon?

Mixed feelings on The Women:
Pro- readable, I learned a bit about the Vietnam War, book club attendees love Kristin Hannah, lots to discuss
Con- melodramatic, over-the-top/too much happens to one individual
So, in all, a mixed bag. I see why Hannah is so popular and I honestly don‘t dislike it, but she‘s not an author I would pick up on my own. Spoiler in comments ⬇️

Shifting gears and queuing this up - my next in person book club pick and my first Kristin Hannah novel. So many friends wax so poetic about her writing.

I think I‘m ready to cry. Wow me, Kristin! 😅

19.2025

I‘m a hater for this but I only liked this book a little. I wanted more of the army nursing story and got tired of all the plot twists at the end. I‘m also a hater because I just want Kristin Hannah to write a book set in Washington State, a girl can dream.

“Thank God for girlfriends. In this crazy, chaotic, divided world that was run by men, you could count on the women.”
#March2025

5✨ It took me a while to sit down and really digest all that this book had to offer. We follow a grieving sister as she follows her late brother to the Vietnam war front. As a nurse she sees her fair share of the violence as she tries to encourage and save the men in her care. Making friends, falling in love, and coming home broken are all part of the heart wrenching pages of a book that tears your heart out repeatedly and you keep coming back…

This novel is full of heartbreaking historical fiction based on the experiences of a young nurse and her peers during the Vietnam War. The characters all had battles they faced while serving in country and more when they returned. The unpopular war was difficult for all the soldiers and those back at home. Returning to the US was difficult. PTSD was a huge part of daily life for many. This book touched me in all ways. 4.75/5

Big month! I get to pick a free birthday book and a free one from the top 5 of 2024 in addition to my monthly pick. Woo hoo! #BOTM

I already own the hardback. But this was far too gorgeous to leave in the bookshop 😍😍😍

I was wary of reading this, having had issues with other Hannah novels. But the premise pulled me in, especially since it felt so reminiscent of a play I was in during college (A Piece of My Heart).

I wish I‘d skipped it. A bad soap opera masquerading as historical fiction, it forfeited the depth & nuance the topic deserved in favor of cheap & tawdry “twists.”

I know she‘s a popular author, but I just can‘t take the melodrama.

Omg I‘m broken now. This book broke my heart, I actually borrowed it from the library just to read the end, I‘ve been listening to it on audible. So beautiful. So tragic.

I‘m listening to this on audible whenever I‘m in the car. I‘ve sat in a LOT of parking lots 🤣 I still have 5 hours to go, and I‘m worried about the ending 🤣 this girl cannot catch a break, she needs a shrink to help her with her ptsd, and she has the worst luck with men! Her parents also suck. Everyone sucks. Ugh! It‘s so good

I borrowed this book from the library and I waited for months to get it. But now I‘m not in the right frame of mind to listen to this story. This is not a review of me saying that I bailed. I didn‘t make it very far in this book at all before realizing that I‘m looking for something lighter. I‘m just returning it to the library and I‘ll borrow it again later when I‘m in a different frame of mind. However, if anyone is interested in (cont)⬇️