Read With Me: April Bookshelf

It started off so strong, and then, for me, it all fell apart.

This is probably the first Kristin Hannah book I’ve managed to get into, and I was HOOKED for the first part of the story, absolutely invested in Frances McGrath heading off to Vietnam as a combat nurse, and becoming a part of a horrific war that never should have been. Hannah wove a beautiful, well-paced narrative, that absolutely seemed to nail the trauma, chaos, and conflict, with interludes for friendships, heartbreak, and clinging to humanity.

But then McGrath came home, and after a few chapters of her settling into her life, I felt the strength of the story dissipated. It’s hard to capture the ugliness of post-Vietnam America, and I’m sure even harder to get inside the minds of the men and women who suffered there, but everything felt a little glossed over to make room for a storyline and ending that wasn’t 100% satisfying for me. 4/5 stars.

I started this book last summer, got distracted, and returned to it this month.

While the narrative sometimes wanders, and it can get difficult to sort through the adjacent storylines, I found McBride’s novel beautiful and well-written. The complex layering meant that I had to take my time as I worked through the characters and conflicts, and as a result, this one took a while to read.

I also loved the attention to the cultural mosaic in the Chicken Hill setting, and watching the community divide and come together to combat those who would do them harm, even in times when they didn’t get along themselves. It was a powerful ode to community and humanity and the message will stay with me for sure. 4/5 stars.