Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Ten Days in a Mad-House by Nellie Bly

26 reviews

lycheeteareads's review against another edition

dark informative sad fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Violence

Minor: Ableism, Death, and Medical content

princess_kay_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

emilyswift's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.5

Hauntingly enlightening 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Physical abuse

anhedonia_n_anomie's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

In 1887, 23 y.o. investigative journalist Bly easily gets herself committed to NYC's Women's Lunatic Asylum to report on conditions which are shockingly neglectful & cruel w/most patients not even ill

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual harassment

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark informative medium-paced

4.0

 Since the story of Nellie Bly and her expose of the the Blackwell asylum fascinated men after finishing a fiction book on the topic, I decided to pick up Ten Days in a Mad-House, a compilation of Nellie Bly’s newspaper stories on the subject. Her compassion for the women and her anger and frustration at their treatment shone through, as did her satisfaction with the fact that her stories resulted in a budget increase for the asylum and improved conditions there. I’m glad I took the time to hear her story in her words. I can only imagine the impact they made at the time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization

zamyatins_fears's review against another edition

dark informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

There are certainly are more extensive works on the subject, but this is a good read for anyone interested in it for the historic importance. The woman known as Nellie Bly (pen name) was one of the earliest investigative reporters. It's terrifying how easily she was able to get herself committed to an insane asylum. Just as it's heartbreaking to read about just the abuses she witnessed or heard many accounts of. Modern works may be a bit more in-depth on these kinds of abuses, but Bly was instrumental in getting more funds diverted to the care of those suffering on Roosevelt Island and was instrumental in the call for reform. A bit of a slow start, but a quick read once she is declared a "hopeless case" and shipped off to the asylum. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Written in WW1 originally for the papers, so the abuses mentioned are stated factually, but without graphic descriptions.

jasbeingjas's review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

2.5

In hindsight, I’m not sure what I expected to get out of reading this book. It’s short and I thought it would be interesting to read about a woman journalist from a century ago. I already knew about the poor treatment of women in these institutions so I didn’t get much out of reading a first hand undercover account. It’s mostly dragged and was depressing to read. I wish it had included a foreword or something that expanded more on Nellie Bly, her career, and the impact of the investigation. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse

exlibrissum's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting

danicaleblanc's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

pouringthemilk's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, and Classism