The Women Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, The Vietnam Women's Memorial and our BookBrowse Review of The Women.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. "Women can be heroes." Frankie believes her future as a wife and mother is set in stone until Rye says this. It is a small comment that tears a big hole in Frankie's perception of the world. These words, and her brother's enlistment, inspire Frankie to join the Army Nurse Corps. It is a decision founded on the patriotism of the post–World War II era and her family's proud history of service. Why do you think Frankie's parents were so appalled by her enlistment in the Army? Was it simply her sex? Or was there more to it? Discuss how the "conformity" of the 1950s caged women and the "freedom" of the 1960s changed the perception of where women "belong." How do you think Bette and Connor's own family history of service impacted their opinion of her choice?
2. Frankie arrives in Vietnam filled with idealism and hope. She wants to "make a difference." But almost instantly, she is thrust into the truth of war: the trauma, the heartbreak, the fear. She thinks that she is too inexperienced and that she has made a mistake. It is Ethel who talks her through this and gives her comfort. How does this friendship change and grow over time? How do Ethel and Barb change Frankie's view of the world?
3. Throughout the novel, characters listen to the pop music of the 1960s by such bands as The Beatles, The Doors, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Cream. Classic rock is now more than fifty years old, and artists from that era continue to tour and sell out arenas. Why do you think the 1960s music that reflected the counterculture and changing mores continues to appeal to so many generations of fans? Are the lyrics of these songs and the stories they tell still relevant in the twenty-first century? Are you a fan of classic rock? Which songs? Which artists? What do they mean to you and why?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Pan Macmillan. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.