Chapter 34B: "The people who you love the most"

"Father Knows Best" (1954-1960)

Henry offers Frankie the following advice: "Ask for help when you need it. Count on the people who love you and, mostly, count on yourself. One day at a time. Get a sponsor. Find your passion" (434)

Is all of this sound and helpful advice? Could it be argued that Frankie counted on some people she believed loved her--her parents, Rye, and, in an abstract sense, her fellow citizens, her country and her government--and they let her down?

How do you know who loves you most? If people let you down, does that mean they didn't love you?

And when she was disappointed by each of them in turn, didn't counting on herself, to the extent that it was isolating, worsen her problems?

For a time, wasn't Rye her passion?

Does Henry have something to offer Frankie that is more important than these words?

Chapter 35A: "The last best place."

Elizabeth Allen, a psychiatric nurse in Vietnam. History.com

Frankie dedicates her life to helping American women who served in the Vietnam War.

In an ideal world, if you dedicated your life to helping a group of people--other than you own family--what group of people would you like to help and why?

What kind of help do you think those people are likely to need?

Chapter 35B: "How did I end up here?"

Frankie finds that writing in a journal and later re-reading her journal entries have helped with her psychological health.

This challenge is for readers who aren't already are in the habit of journal-writing: buy a blank journal. Write in it each day for five consecutive days. Consider writing at the same time and in the same place each day.

Then reflect on the experience in the comment box. Was writing difficult? Helpful? What would it take to continue the practice? 

Chapter 35C: "The last believers"

July 20, 1969: Astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin poses next to the U.S. flag on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. NASA/Hulton Archive / TNS

Frankie characterizes her generation as "the last believers"(455). As she explains, "We trusted what our parents taught us about right and wrong, good and eveil, the American myth of equality and justice and honor"(455).  She then goes on to wonder "if any generation will ever believe again. People will say it was the war that shattered our lives and laid bare the beautiful lie we'd been taught. And they'd be right. And wrong"(455)

Would you say that the generation of Americans that are currently going to college are "believers" who trusted what their parents taught them about right and wrong, good and evil?

Do young Americans today believe that the American "myth" of equality and justice and honor is, in fact, a "myth"?

If you think that most Americans today are not "believers," do you think America's Vietnam War experience played an important role in that?

Are there other national experiences in recent years that have "shattered lives" and "laid bare the beautiful lie" Frankie invokes? (455). 

Chapter 35D: Remembering

Frankie is moved by her encounter with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and finds some healing there. 

The wall memorializes the names of more than fifty-eight thousand American men and women who served in the Vietnam War and were killed there.

Do you think it would make sense to memorialize other groups as well, such as those who suffered traumatic casualties? What about the South Vietnamese soldiers who fought alongside the Americans? What about the civilians who were killed in the War?

The Takeaway: The Women

So you've read The Women now. In 100 words or fewer, identify the part of the book that is most likely to stick with you the longest. What's your take away?

Don't answer this question until you've finished reading the entire book. Claiming to have read the book without having done so would be dishonorable. Far better to take a late penalty than to sacrifice your integrity for a grade. Owning your life choices can be the first step to enlightenment.

A Tip of the Hat: The Women

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981)

Reflect back on the comments other readers have posted on this website. Identify the one (or two?) that you found to be the most thought-provoking (identify the post title, the name of the author of the comment, and briefly summarize what they said) and explain how they got you thinking. This required answer is not a part of your word count.