by Noella Noelophile®
(Royalty-free image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay.)
Ordinarily, I’d be writing a post about all the special community events going on for Valentine’s Day.
But with an atmospheric river bearing down on California, focusing on indoor activities–and upcoming events for which you might like to mark your calendar–seems like a better idea.
How about we start with one of the major “loves” of my life: books.
A great read
(Royalty-free image by Jess Bailey from Pixabay.)
I’m only about halfway through The Women, by Kristin Hannah.
It’s already cost me more sleep (“just one more chapter!”) than I like to admit.
The year is 1966. Twenty-year-old protagonist Frances Grace “Frankie” McGrath has grown up in a life of privilege, on her parents’ estate on Coronado Island.
But her adored older brother, Finley, has just graduated from the Naval Academy–and is on his way to Vietnam.
A comment by Finley’s best friend that “women can be heroes” challenges Frankie’s perspective on her future.
As an honors graduate in nursing, she naively enlists in the Army, with the goal of joining her brother in Vietnam.
(Royalty-free image by Quang Nguyen Vinh from Pixabay.)
After arriving in Saigon, she experiences a major culture shock.
Amid filthy living conditions, limited sleep, constant arrivals of wounded and dying soldiers and the ever-present threat of coming under attack, Frankie grows into a stronger woman and a first-rate Army nurse.
She also forges strong bonds with her two fellow nurses, Barb and Ethel. The friendship between these three women from three very different backgrounds carries them through the tragedy, exhaustion and terror of war, as well as the indifference, ignorance–and, sometimes, open hostility–which they encounter upon returning home as veterans.
(Royalty-free image by Conger Design from Pixaay.)
Kristin Hannah puts faces on history and the headlines some of us may remember from ‘way back when. She has a gift for taking her reader into her scenes so effectively that we get a sense of dancing at the “O Club” or strolling through the crumbling grandeur of downtown Saigon.
In the process she shines a light on the rampant sexism and lack of awareness which characterized the American public’s mid-Sixties attitude towards the war.
This is the first of her books I’ve read, but I’ll certainly be checking out some of her earlier work.
And this became a much longer post than originally intended! Tomorrow’s post will be about two additional “loves”.
Lovely way to spend time, just reading. I’ll check out this book. Rainy days are meant to enjoy tea and read unless you have to work l. Then later when you come home. Enjoy your book.