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Reviews tagging 'Violence'
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
20 reviews
sofiasss's review against another edition
4.0
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.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
laurenkimoto's review against another edition
4.0
And we hate men
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Classism
krysley's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
brigitte's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
mscalls's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bethsbooketlist's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Eating disorder and Suicide
reading_ladies_blog's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
lpdx's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Minor: Torture, Blood, Excrement, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
aiyam's review against another edition
5.0
The book goes in-depth from the beginning of her first confinement to the end of her life, with all of her accomplishments as a free woman. I found the outsider's point of view interesting. Knowing what the doctor was writing in his files, what her friends were advocating for, and what her husband was doing back home was fascinating, especially as Packard herself didn't know any of it. That decision from the author really highlighted for me just how isolated and in the dark Packard was kept.
Packard's story is one of injustice and anger, and I felt every emotion with her while reading this. If you call yourself a mental health advocate or a feminist then this story is an absolute must-read.
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abandonment
jamieleepilk's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those books that will 100% stay with me for a very long time. I finished it last night and was left dumbstruck at how phenomenal it was. Kate has written an epically researched book that grips you and is so compelling that you can't put it down regardless of the horrors you are reading about. The writing is so vivid, beautiful and heartbreaking at times it often reads as historical fiction and my god do you wish it was fiction all the stuff this incredible woman went through.
This book will make you rage, scream and want to through the book at the wall (sorry) in anger at what Elizabeth (and countless woman) went through merely for wanting more independence.
Even with the horrors that happen within these pages what shines through is Elizabeth's hope and strength no matter what was thrown her way, no matter how hopeless things looked she took it and formed her new plans. Whenever she was on a mission you can feel yourself willing through the years to do it, to succeed and cheering her all the way. A woman who went through so much hardships but can out the other side determined to make a difference so the married women of America wouldn't again have to suffer similar fates. Even with this happening 160years ago women today are still called "crazy" to cut them down to size and belittle them, mental health is still not taken seriously in many cases and women's illness' are brushed under the rug.
The quotes in the book taken from real life documents are incredible, showing Elizabeth's immense skill as writer, she was a force to be reckoned with.
As I say this book will stay with me for a long while after finishing it, the postscript was a gut punch and a striking example of why we still need to fight. I am in awe of Kate's work here, her sheer amount of research in incredible and her writing is so elegant. One of the best books I've read this year and I can't wait to recommend it to every single person I know. Breathtaking, I wish I could give more than 5 stars.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Abandonment