Reviews

The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Writings by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Lynne Sharon Schwartz

alienn's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

daniellemarie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

davefilkins's review against another edition

5.0

Leave it to a sociologist to create such a brilliant insight into the perseverative nature of the intrusive thoughts that create what clinicians call "mental illness." From where do these thoughts come? Is their origin internal or external - or a combination of both? This story reminds me of Bergman's classic film "Through a Glass Darkly," a troubling look at a young woman's descent into a cycle of madness. Though set in very different times and places, both tales describe terrifying situations where escape seems impossible and hope is constantly just out of reach. If we are to help those with debilitating mental illnesses, it is crucial that we all are able to appropriately empathize with the person and their suffering. We must avoid the common pitfall of blaming the victim, which only further stigmatizes an already misunderstood population and fails to have any positive benefit.

cement_tree's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

ratgirlreads's review against another edition

2.0

I'm struggling to finish this book--it contains one very good story, The Yellow Wallpaper, and then a couple hundred pages demonstrating why the only thing anybody's ever read by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is The Yellow Wallpaper. None of her other stories (and certainly none of her nonfiction) hold a candle to that story, and, while socially relevant to her time, are so specifically directed at people of a certain social class at a specific time period that they lose the general relevance necessary for something to be readable beyond its time. 

dutchcrunch's review against another edition

4.0

3.5

aliciasbookshelf's review

challenging reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

ec_tyche's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

moony_reads_'s review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

gertrude314's review against another edition

4.0

I really love Charlotte Perkins Gilman's works. Before I read this book I read her Wikipedia page and learned that she was a feminist who got a rare (in those days) divorce and dealt with depression when people didn't really understand what it was. Learning about her first colored the way I perceived what I was reading. Obviously, The Yellow Wallpaper is a classic but I think it's lessons still hold true today with feminism and human rights being so important right now, and always.

I didn't read the entirety of this book because it included excerpts of other books she's written, like [b:Herland|531509|Herland|Charlotte Perkins Gilman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403189138s/531509.jpg|83484], which I want to read from start to finish all at once. I can't wait to read more from her.