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nderiley's review against another edition
5.0
I know I'm stingy with 5 stars, and I generally hate all forms of 2nd person narrative, but this book was so laugh out loud funny that it had to be done. The combination of ridiculous Victorian excerpts and Oneill's utter take down of their 'logic' and the period photos with her clever captions is a total winner.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
Read for Book Roast's Magical Readathon: NEWTs Exams. Subject: Ancient Runes, A Level. (Set in the Past)
Another reviewer here said that this author took the worst bits of Victorian history and rumor and dragged them out for this book.
To which I reply, isn't that the whole point?
Perhaps I'm being a brat. I picked up this book specifically because I wanted the salacious, outdated, utterly insane ways women acted and were treated in the 19th century. If I'd gotten anything less, I would've been sincerely disappointed.
Props to the author, I say. She compiled an enormous amount of information for this book, and presented it in a hilariously snarky way. This could certainly have gone very dry, and repetitive. But there's charm, and humor. If I'd read a physical copy of the book, I'd have flown through it. Ebooks really drag me down in speed.
I'm coming away with way too much useless information, including all of the ways 19th century women could come down with consumption. And, of course, hysteria. And also that masturbation turns women into vampire harpies. I'm going to remember that phrase for YEARS.
So much fun.
Another reviewer here said that this author took the worst bits of Victorian history and rumor and dragged them out for this book.
To which I reply, isn't that the whole point?
Perhaps I'm being a brat. I picked up this book specifically because I wanted the salacious, outdated, utterly insane ways women acted and were treated in the 19th century. If I'd gotten anything less, I would've been sincerely disappointed.
Props to the author, I say. She compiled an enormous amount of information for this book, and presented it in a hilariously snarky way. This could certainly have gone very dry, and repetitive. But there's charm, and humor. If I'd read a physical copy of the book, I'd have flown through it. Ebooks really drag me down in speed.
I'm coming away with way too much useless information, including all of the ways 19th century women could come down with consumption. And, of course, hysteria. And also that masturbation turns women into vampire harpies. I'm going to remember that phrase for YEARS.
So much fun.
lynnea713's review against another edition
5.0
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys non-fiction written in the same humor as Mary Roach! The author tells it like it is, without holding anything back, in a sarcastic and humorous tone. I LOVED this and hope to read more from her. I think my favorite phrase is 'sexual by-products' - or children as we call them. Ha!
Really - this is a must read to anyone who has romantic ideas of what the Victorian age was like or anyone who wants to know what a woman's life was like at that time. Informative and funny - a wonderful combination for non-fiction!
Really - this is a must read to anyone who has romantic ideas of what the Victorian age was like or anyone who wants to know what a woman's life was like at that time. Informative and funny - a wonderful combination for non-fiction!
lily_snyder's review against another edition
funny
informative
fast-paced
4.25
count ur days bridgerton everything just got a whole lot less sexy