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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Elissa Bassist is an agile wordsmith. Her story is powerful and relatable.
Wow! When your high school friend writes a memoir that is smart, funny, and oh so raw. Bravo, Elissa! May you stay so brave and vocal.
WOW-- to say I am speechless after readying a book about reclaiming your voice as a woman would to against the purpose of the book. All I can say, is that it really makes you think and I feel it should be a mandatory read for women of all ages.
A chaotic affirming of the chaotic mind of a woman suffering from the illness of patriarchy… both a psychological and physical chronic illness, that will continue to spread if we keep denying how viral it is.
Almost poetic in places, and a creative use of footnotes that feels a lot like how talking with a close friend does when you’re telling a story and need to go back and add a little anecdote somewhere but don’t want to lose the plot.
Almost poetic in places, and a creative use of footnotes that feels a lot like how talking with a close friend does when you’re telling a story and need to go back and add a little anecdote somewhere but don’t want to lose the plot.
I wanted it to focus more on her mysterious illness and less on the many teachings of the patriarchy and how women are kept silent
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I put this one down for awhile and finally came back to finish it. Well researched and footnoted, with a mix of memoir and personal essay. I appreciated the addition of women of color perspectives in the latter half, but it took awhile to get there and I didn’t always feel like the book was “for” me. The author does speak to a universal experience many women/non-male individuals face, and the systemic patriarchy around us.
I love this book. You can read my rave review at the NY Journal of Books. https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/hysterical-memoir
"Part memoir, part cultural critique, part manifesto, Hysterical is a tour de force, a powerful response and critique of the subjugation of girls and women across all aspects of our culture . . .”
"Part memoir, part cultural critique, part manifesto, Hysterical is a tour de force, a powerful response and critique of the subjugation of girls and women across all aspects of our culture . . .”
"It wasn't my voice that would obliterate me. It was my silence." Infuriating and important -- if you're a woman who's been assaulted, who's been sick or in pain, if you've been disbelieved, if you've been silenced, or if you just want to understand.