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chailady's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Confinement, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Forced institutionalization
jujubeees's review
adventurous
dark
informative
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Torture, and Mental illness
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
In my teen years I envisioned a career for myself as a globe-trotting investigative journalist. That would have been a terrible career choice for me. But it was perfect for Nellie Bly.
In 1887 Nellie arrived in New York desperate to find work as a reporter. But, despite her experience in Pittsburgh and Mexico, no newspaper would take her on. Finally she talked the editor of New York World into hiring her in order to get admitted to the Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s Island and write an insider’s account of conditions there. The Mad Girl’s of New York is a fictional account of Nellie’s life during this time. Conditions in the asylum are neglectful and misguided at best; brutal and barbaric at worst. The majority of the staff are cruel, callous and careless, while many patients appeared not to be insane at all. Nellie’s bravery in undertaking this assignment cannot be understated; especially since there were no firm plans on how to secure her release. However, something about the tone of this book didn’t entirely sit right with me. Nellie herself felt a little too jaunty and somewhat anachronistic - more akin to a woman from perhaps the 1940s than the 1880s. Although marketed as adult historical fiction, this book felt like it could have been YA. My final niggle was the inclusion of some entirely fictional scandalous plot elements. While these were clearly spelt out in the author’s note, to me they felt unnecessary, not adding anything of value to the story. Overall the tone felt too light for the subject matter for my tastes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Sexism
faduma's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Torture, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
megloveswords12's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Forced institutionalization
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