Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore

6 reviews

beth_s98's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

4.25

I did not get through the third chapter the first time I tried to read this one, mostly because I was not in the right headspace. However, on my second attempt, I devoured this book. The subject matter is very heavy at times, although it is also a story of resilience. 

Reading it almost feels like reading a novel, and it felt very well researched, with lots of evidence beyond just the main plot of the story. I thought the pacing and the way the story was divided really worked. Around the middle of the story it got hard to put down, I was so interested! 

There were a few things I felt were a little repetitive, but usually I could follow the justification. Overall I think this book was both very informative and very accessible, which means if you’re someone looking to get into reading more nonfiction, I think this could be a great place to start. 

I do want to stress that the topics of violence against women/mental patients, the total control of coverture, and the legal cases are throughout the whole book, and can get hard to read. I definitely had to take breaks as I was reading for my own mental health. Please take the content warnings seriously!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Eating disorder and Domestic abuse

cmbohn's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative sad slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Ableism, Confinement, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Slavery, Eating disorder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Excrement

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

5.0

I feel like everyone needs to read this book. We owe so much to this woman. I am both inspired and buoyed by this woman and appalled and disgusted even further by weak men. The amount of research the author must’ve done is impressive, but even more so is the way she wrote this story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Bullying, Confinement, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Torture

sofiasss's review against another edition

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

An inspirational feminist biography. 

I liked how the biography read as a novel. The writing was very gripping and took me on an emotional journey with Elizabeth. You really begin to understand the historical context and consider the different social perspectives. One of my favourite things about this book was how Kate Moore used historical sources for speech and seamlessly integrated her research.  

I think this book was a great commentary on the fundamental views on women based on the neurological differences between males and females and how this affects power. As a young women, it gave insight into the changes that have happened and the similarities that remain. It also provides insight into the importance of patients’ rights and how we as a society view people struggling with mental health, as well as the importance of evidence-based medicine. 

Kate Moore highlights how ‘a person’s powerlessness may lead to struggles with their mental health’. I find it fascinating how Elizabeth uses her faith to empower her, whilst others use it to suppress her. Her relationship with her faith was something that she used to push her past adversity. 

I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Mental illness

Minor: Blood, Suicide, Excrement, Sexism, War, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

laurenkimoto's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Elizabeth is a BAMF 
And we hate men

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Excrement, and Forced institutionalization

bethsbooketlist's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

🌟🌟🌟🌟 🌟 This was my first Kate Moore book and I was so impressed! I am getting into my memoirs more in 2022 but I generally struggle with non fiction writing and it's heaviness. But Moore made the writing so light for a heavy subject. Smooth and gripping - I couldn't put it down. This is before I even come to the subject matter - what an amazing woman Elizabeth Packard was! Kate Moore brings these incredible figures to centre stage like she did in Radium Girls (another I want to read) and enlightens us with their power. I was in awe and inspired by her determination, tenacity and resilience to everything thrown at her. The patriarchal society of the time crippled the strength of women - submission was all that mattered. And the lengths her husband and doctor went to in order to silence her was unreal. I am so glad I read her story, and really want to get my hands on The Radium Girls 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Torture, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Eating disorder and Suicide