The Five: The Lives of Jack the Ripper's Women by Hallie Rubenhold

4.18 AVERAGE

kerryanna2709's profile picture

kerryanna2709's review against another edition

4.5
dark emotional informative sad medium-paced
Fascinating to read about the lives of Annie, Polly, Elizabeth, Kate and Mary Jane. Despite the subject matter, it was a very quick read and I learnt a lot about the women and Victorian London. 

At times the writing felt like assumptions with lots of "would have" statements. But I am so pleased I read it and learnt a bit about the lives of women in East-End London in the late 19th century.

raven_goodwoman's review against another edition

5.0
Now that I think about it....

Is it really surprising that it took a woman to look into these five that history has written off for over a hundred years?

miss_lorino's review against another edition

5.0
Now that I think about it....

Is it really surprising that it took a woman to look into these five that history has written off for over a hundred years?
mshultz89's profile picture

mshultz89's review against another edition

3.5
informative slow-paced
This is one of those books that are hard to rate. I'm glad I read it, and the message after the facts was really important. 

_notava_'s review against another edition

5.0
100/10

Everybody should read this book

funnyfeeling's review against another edition

4.0
dark informative reflective medium-paced

nikinixit's review against another edition

4.75
challenging emotional informative sad fast-paced

greatlibrarian's review against another edition

4.5
dark emotional informative
lynnieharper's profile picture

lynnieharper's review against another edition

4.0
dark emotional informative sad fast-paced
This story gives a voice to the women who were dubbed prostitutes and undesirable, so therefore, they have become a sensationalized version of themselves. Really they were just women doing their best with the constraints society placed on them. Their stories were not happy ones, but necessary ones, so that we might remember those hard parts of history and do better for those in future. This one I listened to on audio while finishing a hardwood floor, and I think it's absolutely the right kind of read for completing chores or other projects while you listen.
gslqueen's profile picture

gslqueen's review against another edition

5.0
challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced