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The Women
From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes The Women--at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.
Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets--and becomes one of--the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.
But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.
The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm's way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.
These book club questions were prepared by Bookclubs staff.
Book club questions for The Women by Kristin Hannah
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
How did Frankie's decision to serve as an Army nurse in Vietnam impact her life trajectory? Do you think she would have had an easier path if she conformed to her family's expectations?
Discuss the bonds of friendship that developed between Frankie, Barb, and Ethel. How did their friendship help them survive the war and cope with its aftermath?
How did Frankie's views on war, heroism, and women's roles change from the beginning of the book to the end? What key events prompted these changes?
Discuss the treatment of nurses when they returned from Vietnam. Were you surprised by the lack of support and recognition they received as veterans? Why do you think that was the case?
What did you think about Frankie's romantic relationships throughout the book? Why did she repeatedly get involved with married men?
How did Frankie's PTSD manifest itself when she returned from Vietnam? Do you think her struggles with PTSD and addiction were portrayed realistically?
What role did Frankie's family play in her homecoming experience? Do you think they should have been more supportive of her? Why weren’t they?
Did you live through any of the Vietnam War? If not, how familiar with the era were you before reading this novel? How does the book capture the political and social climate in America during the Vietnam War era?
What did you think about the ending of Frankie's story? Was it satisfying? Realistic? Hopeful? Discuss.
What specific scenes or moments from the book made the biggest emotional impact on you as a reader? Why?
How does Frankie's story add to our understanding of women's experiences in 20th century wars? How does it compare to other war stories you've read?
The Women Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the The Women discussion questions