A review by mari1532
The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of the Wrongs of Men--and the Rights of Women by John Sweet

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.


 
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