The Women by Kristin Hannah

Soon to be a motion picture; 480 pages; Published by Macmillan - hardback - 15/02/24; Dimensions: 16 x 4 x 24.2 cm

At the time of writing this review this beautiful story has been out for just one month. I really enjoyed the last book I read by Kristin Hannah which was The Four Winds, two years ago, both stories will stay with me.

I received The Women last Sunday for Mothering Sunday and with many of us on the spectrum, days such a these can be rather tricky but we muddle through. Along with my uni studies I managed to read The Women this week in about four days as I just couldn’t put it down! I have always had an interest in women’s roles in society in historical events such as what the book is based on.

Immediately from the cover, I can tell that this book is going to be based in and around the Vietnam War. I have watched many incredible documentaries and films on this subject over the years wall. I was really looking forward to hearing Kristin Hannah’s well researched story, and to give the women a voice.

At the end Kristin Hannah tells us this too, has been an interest for her and decades into coming to fruition. I highly recommend reading the author’s note at the end where Kristin Hannah starts off with the following: “This book has been a true labour of love, years in the making. I first conceived of it in 1997 but as a young writer I wasn’t ready to tackle such an important and complex subject. I didn’t feel I had the skill or the maturity to achieve my vision. It has taken me decades to circle back to the Vietnam war era.”

I personally was hooked from the first page to the last and could visualise it all playing out in my head like a movie. I am thrilled that it will be a motion picture.

This is a book I could not wait for to come out in paperback. I think I felt this based on how much I enjoyed The Four Winds. I will certainly recommend this to anyone interested in stories based on real events.

From a sensory experience for myself red is my least favourite colour however this did not put me off. I could tell from the glorious sunset, the helicopters, the vegetation and lookout tower I could tell this was Vietnam.

I am comfortable right now with reading about graphic and harrowing effects of war. Other readers may find certain chapters difficult to read. I don’t think we should ever shy away from such accounts and if you like a book to have an emotional and thought provoking effect on you Kristin Hannah is extremely good at achieving just that.

I read this in just a few days only due to hectic life however, if I had the opportunity it would could easily be an all-nighter or spend the day on it as the writing style keeps its pace.

Handling if the book, the dust cover sits nicely and didn’t become difficult to read whilst on, but if you’re moving around with this book the top of the dust cover may get a little worn or damaged. You may wish to remove. I always like to have a peek and a hardback’s jacket/cover and see if any hidden surprises…

This hardback, we just have red hardback with the spine with the authors name and book title in gold which works so well with the red. The inside cover is very pretty with flowers. I didn’t find this hardback too big or heavy but like all hardbacks of this many pages I probably would if I was on it for longer and carrying around.