Scan barcode
knod78's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fascinating story and an easy read about how a woman committed herself to an insane asylum in New York to learn what happens. I was surprised to not only learn about this woman for the first time, but that a woman in this time period would be an investigative journalist. It was very cool.
Even though she was in there for only 10 days, it was sad to read the abuses she saw and conditions she experienced. It was saddening to see how easy she was committed by just staring and asking for her lost trunks. It was no wonder there were a lot of immigrants in there. And it was also no surprise that they got wind of the grand jury inspection to have everything cleaned and the girls mentioned in the story moved. I was actually surprised the grand jury full of men believed her in the end.
This is good example of why I vote as a woman no matter what, because the poorer suffragists who fought for our right to vote were placed in asylums like this around the country and deemed crazy or depressed. They were locked away sometimes never heard from again.
I don't know if it was because I read this on Kindle, but there were things missing or wrong. It was hard to follow if she was talking about her experience or someone else's, because quotations would be dropped. So, I didn't know if she ever got beat or if was another woman telling her story. There was also a section called Sketches, but never saw them. And I was not sure why the last two chapters at the end were even necessary. There was no transition or explanation, because they were short stories about her other investigative journalism stories. It was a bit confusing.
But this was a story I think people should read and know. It's not very long, which makes it great for a quick read on a slow day.
Even though she was in there for only 10 days, it was sad to read the abuses she saw and conditions she experienced. It was saddening to see how easy she was committed by just staring and asking for her lost trunks. It was no wonder there were a lot of immigrants in there. And it was also no surprise that they got wind of the grand jury inspection to have everything cleaned and the girls mentioned in the story moved. I was actually surprised the grand jury full of men believed her in the end.
This is good example of why I vote as a woman no matter what, because the poorer suffragists who fought for our right to vote were placed in asylums like this around the country and deemed crazy or depressed. They were locked away sometimes never heard from again.
I don't know if it was because I read this on Kindle, but there were things missing or wrong. It was hard to follow if she was talking about her experience or someone else's, because quotations would be dropped. So, I didn't know if she ever got beat or if was another woman telling her story. There was also a section called Sketches, but never saw them. And I was not sure why the last two chapters at the end were even necessary. There was no transition or explanation, because they were short stories about her other investigative journalism stories. It was a bit confusing.
But this was a story I think people should read and know. It's not very long, which makes it great for a quick read on a slow day.
badseedgirl's review
4.0
Nellie Bly was a woman before her time. She was one of the first investigative journalists. This expose of the Blackwell Asylum was one of the first of it's kind because Ms. Bly chose to go undercover, getting herself found insane and incarcerated in an asylum for 10 days. It was an interesting read and has made me want to learn more about this amazing journalist.
meghananne's review
4.0
A simple recall of events that were powerfully disturbing in and of themselves. A perspective needed to change the way we treat the mentally ill. How horrifying to think this treatment was the norm?
icantcontroltheweather's review
3.0
Watch the Lifetime movie with Christina Ricci instead, it’s much better