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Reviews tagging 'Rape'
The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of the Wrongs of Men--and the Rights of Women by John Sweet
7 reviews
hayley_nz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.5
For an informative, heavily-researched book, it was an extremely enjoyable read. The voice used to narrate the story was generally impartial when giving the historical background and facts, but I really enjoyed the reflective tone used to elaborate on particular aspects of the book to link Lanah Sawyer’s story to society at the time of the case, to where society stands today. A great read!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicide
thatchickengirl23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Suicide, Sexism, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Physical abuse
Minor: Slavery, Kidnapping, and Racism
emdohco's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
donaldleitch's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
The Sewing Girl’s Tale is a masterful look at attitudes towards women and the justice system in 1790s New York City. Author John Wood Sweet accomplishes a rare feat in writing an academic history book that is highly readable while engaging the reader with suspenseful outcomes.
Sweet’s book tells the story of a young woman, Lanah Sawyer - the “sewing girl”, and the subsequent rape and seduction trials that she endures to defend herself while seeing through the prosecution of the upper class man accused of the offences. Sweet takes the reader to the streets and into the buildings of New York City in the decade after the revolution. Scenes are described in detail setting the mood and furthering the reader’s understanding of conditions of the time.
The Sewing Girl’s Tale combines well researched, documented history with a compelling narrative and suspense to present a fascinating glimpse of an aspect of life in post-revolution New York City.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Rape, and Sexual assault
sgjohnson2001's review
challenging
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
mari1532's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
The synopsis of this book sounded very interesting to me, so I checked both the hardcover and the audiobook out of my local library. Although I did eventually complete the book I did struggle through the beginning of it. Part of the struggle was due to the subject matter and another was due to the writing style. Overall this book was very interesting because it highlighted a sexual assault case from the beginning of the United States, but what drew me to the book in the synopsis was not a comprehensive review of what this book focused on.
Synopsis: Lanah Sawyer was a seventeen-year-old girl in post-revolutionary America with dreams for her future and aspirations of love. One faithful evening while trying to complete some of her business as a sewing girl she meets Lawyer Smith when he saves her from the unwanted catcalls of men on the street. Little does she know that this meeting will change her life forever and draw her to the center of the new American court system.
Thoughts: I wanted more of Lanah in the story. I understand that part of the reason she did not make as big of an appearance was that the time in which she lived the lives of women were not documented as thoroughly. However, Sweet continues to discuss how the men in Lanah's life became the focus and proponents in certain parts of her story. I did appreciate that Sweet tried to make me as a reader understand why she might have made certain decisions throughout the process and also what her psychological state may have been,but it was so disheartening to hear that she attempted suicide and then was made to withstand a civil case and even several years after her assault her assailant was still attempting to play the victim. It also feels so unresolved that because there is no record of her after 1800 that we do not know what became of her other than she married and moved to Philidelphia.
The historical information that the book presented about the early days of the country was interesting and the tidbits of information concerning Alexander Hamilton were also fascinating to learn. All the information made me think even less of him as a person than I already did which was impressive.
I think the worst part about this book is the way in which Lanah and those who supported her throughout were treated in much the same way survivors of sexual violence are still treated today. I'm not sure if Sweet's original goal was to outline how so little appears to have changed, but that is what I took away.
Synopsis: Lanah Sawyer was a seventeen-year-old girl in post-revolutionary America with dreams for her future and aspirations of love. One faithful evening while trying to complete some of her business as a sewing girl she meets Lawyer Smith when he saves her from the unwanted catcalls of men on the street. Little does she know that this meeting will change her life forever and draw her to the center of the new American court system.
Thoughts: I wanted more of Lanah in the story. I understand that part of the reason she did not make as big of an appearance was that the time in which she lived the lives of women were not documented as thoroughly. However, Sweet continues to discuss how the men in Lanah's life became the focus and proponents in certain parts of her story. I did appreciate that Sweet tried to make me as a reader understand why she might have made certain decisions throughout the process and also what her psychological state may have been,
The historical information that the book presented about the early days of the country was interesting and the tidbits of information concerning Alexander Hamilton were also fascinating to learn. All the information made me think even less of him as a person than I already did which was impressive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Domestic abuse
gusreads's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
A remarkable historical account of a long forgotten crime in the earliest days of the republic. The book documents that America has always had two justice systems and that the burden on women seeking justice for rape and sexual assault has always been greater than that of the accused. The book is an exhaustively researched and detailed yet very readable narrative. (There is no “fictionalized” portion as one apparently confused reviewer claims).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
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