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Excellent book with plenty of information about the living conditions of women during the Victorian age. Hallie Rubenhold tries her best to reconstruct the lives of the five women killed by Jack the Ripper, from their childhood to the day of their violent death. The focus is really on these women's lives, Jack the Ripper is barely mentioned, which I find refreshing.

Exhaustively researched, Rubenhold tells the stories of the five women known as the canonical victims of Jack the Ripper with great respect and impeccable attention to detail. Dismantling the perpetuating myth that Ripper preyed on “common prostitutes,” their stories shine a light on the role misogyny played in their deaths and in the societal narrative still surrounding their deaths today. An important read for any true crime consumer. 4⭐️

Cookbooks and true crime and Litsy. Oh my! #barnesandnoble #saturdaynight

First book for #womenshistorymonth is one of my super favs — The Five: The Untold Story of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold. I absolutely suggest this well researched and presented nonfic. It reads like a historical documentary you‘d hear on TV. Totally accessible to all levels of interest. Also a podcast! Great to learn about Victorian era + women‘s history in that time

I was surprised the author was able to find as much information about them as she was. I was extra surprised to read about Mary Jane Kelly, but I won‘t spoil it! I listened to the audio book and my mind wandered occasionally, but not much. I was interested enough a few times to rewind, as well, so as to not miss what was just said.

Book 2 for #NYWD22 - This has been on my TBR since it‘s release and @Patchshank ‘s list gave me the final push to pick this up. Rubenhold does an amazing job revealing the lives of Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary-Jane and gives us an accurate description of poverty in Victorian England. I listened to this in bursts, because the realties of these women were grim.

I just finished this audiobook (not typically an audiobook fan). I wouldn‘t call this an “enjoyable” book by any means , given its content, but it was most certainly worth the listen. I‘m glad to know these women‘s stories…even though listening to how they were treated was totally enraging.

I finished my December reading with the tagged audiobook, and it was a great nonfiction choice. With it, I managed to include at least one nonfiction every month this year. I had an overall great reading month with 20 completed books, making it my best #BookSpinBingo this year. That includes 5 #1001books, several MG/YA choices for the #TRS2021 list, and a few Christmas audiobooks as well.

#ReadingStats #MonthlyStats

I was amazed by the amount of information in this book about Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Kate, and Mary Jean. The author researched so many details of the lives of these women killed by Jack the Ripper and was able to tell fairly complete life stories of 4 of the 5. Hearing the details of their lives and life in general for many poor, working class women in Victorian London was both heartbreaking and infuriating.

#Nonfiction #audiobook

I now have an even greater appreciation for the positive impact birth control has on women‘s lives! 😌

Oh my gosh, this book is meticulously researched and includes excellent historical background, but I‘m only about 3/4 the way through the first woman‘s biography and the misery is relentless! I don‘t imagine it gets any lighter either. 😐

For #nonfictionnovember, I am reading about the lives of the women who are known as Jack the Ripper's 'canonical five'. It's fascinating that many of the things I thought I knew were actually hear say or fake news at the time. Really appreciate the author focusing on getting to the truth of these women's lives, which makes thier stories more tragic. Definitely a great read!

This was such a fascinating book. I really appreciated how it gave voice to the previously voiceless. #LMPBC #NFN21

This is in the mail!

It was almost sunset before I remembered to walk yesterday, but I got it done. I listened to on of my favorites, This American Life Act V. Here‘s the link if you‘re interested:

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/218/act-v

This one‘s deep. #NFN21

Today I learned: asthma wasn‘t understood as a disease until the 1960‘s. (From the tagged book.)

Yesterday was super busy so I just barely got my walk in and only read about 3 pages. Ugh. #NFN21

Today I learned that in the1850‘s blacksmiths often worked in the printing business because someone needed to hammer out the letters. Grateful for my laser printer!

Yesterday was another picture perfect blue sky day. I listened to the pictured podcast on my walk, and started the tagged book after work. #NFN21

Today I learned that although all of Jack The Ripper‘s victims were thought to be “just” prostitutes that actually isn‘t true.

If you‘re a fan of this particular book or just interested in the Ripper murders, this podcast is for you. The show is hosted by Hallie Rubenhold and debunks the myths surrounding the victims and goes much deeper than what Rubenhold wrote about in the book. You can find the show at your favourite podcatcher. https://www.pushkin.fm/show/bad-women/

I think this quote from the book says it all:

“It is only by bringing these women back to life that we can silence the Ripper and what he represents.................... The victims of Jack the Ripper were never ‘just prostitutes‘; they were daughters, wives, mothers, sisters and lovers. They were women. They were human beings, and surely that, in itself, is enough."

An excellent and moving read. I‘m not a big non-fiction fan, either.

Focuses on the victims rather than the killer, questioning long held assumptions about them being “prostitutes”. This book gives an eye opening glimpse of Victorian era London life for people (and especially women) who have fallen on hard times.

The narrator of the audio book was good, but there‘s photos and maps in the print/digital version, so you may want to check out both!

#screamathon @4thhouseontheleft

Doing some Hallowe'en #audiostitching with the tagged book for #screamathon. This is quite interesting so far - focuses on the victims of Jack the Ripper instead of trying to solve the mystery.

Good research - focus on victims - this book is a must read for people who read true crime books - the conditions under which women had to live/work, the type of “help“ that was available for women (and people in general) who had fallen on hard times (due to economics, lack of birth control or alcohol abuse) - the authors explanation of these things and background of each victim made this a very good book -

#TBR #ReadingUpdate #CurrentlyReading

Last October Litsy really helped me enjoy Halloween - the readathons and the Scarathlon -
Looking forward to fulling enjoying the month of October this year - with my old Halloween traditions and now my new Litsy ones!

Two Readathons - #Screamathon @4thouseontheleft and #SpookoweenReadathon @TheSpineView - that run from Oct 1-31!
This is my #ScarathlonTBR for #Scarathlon2021 #TeamSlaughter @Clwojick and @StayCurious -

Thanks Litsy -

1. Kenya, Alaska, New Orleans
2. Napping
3. tagged
4. family, friends and students
#WondrousWednesday @Eggs
I tag @Enchanted_bibliophile @marleed @AnneCecilie

Make a great day everyone -

Loved this one. Breaking the seldom challenged narrative and focus on the killer and ‘just prostitutes‘ to bring us the stories of the victims, their lives and the times they lived in. Victorian era London was HARD, especially if you were a woman.

A 5 star read focusing on the 5 main known victims of JTR‘s Whitechapel murders. Author combines a strong research skill and accessible academic voice to present the perceived stories of these women‘s lives. Combines historical, political, and social contexts to help better understand their circumstances and the impact/aftermath of the murders. Very interesting and informative.

She researched this book well, the only problem I had with it was that it bogged down. She personalized the Ripper's victims, which is the first time this has happened, I believe.

#MayCharacters - Murders: An account of IRL women who are murdered.
Evil! Wicked!
Murder most dastardly!

What a fun photo book challenge for the month of May! Very creative, Misty and Sherri!💕I hope that I can stay the course for the full month.

I'm enjoying this book very much. Primarily, because the focus is on the victims' lives and experiences rather than on the infamous Jack the Ripper. Secondly, the added historical narrative of the era paints a clearer picture on how vulnerable these women must have been.

I am amazed at the details Rubenhold uncovered about the five canonical victims of Jack the Ripper. Thanks to articles from the time (with the facts taken with a grain of salt & shot of tequila) plus census records, work & home documents, and an educated hypothesis drawing from the commonalities of time period, we learn that Annie Chapman, Polly Nichols, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly were mothers and daughters who each⬇️

Thanks a bunch for the tag @Klou 1. Actually, I‘m listening and reading along with the tagged book. 2. I select books to listening to during my commute to work.

Day 1 Prompt: Daffodils
One of my favorite flowers, and yes, the herald of spring.
#poetrymatters @thespineview

“There are two versions of the events of 1887. One is very well-known, but the other is not.” #firstlinefridays

My mom and I are doing another a buddy read this month and this is the book we picked. I‘m only in the introduction and I‘m already fascinated. The author didn‘t want a book about Jack the Ripper, instead she wrote this about the five victims. #buddyreadwithmom

The Five was thoroughly researched and told the important stories of the victims of "Jack the Ripper." Unfortunately, I found it a slog to get through. Her writing is dry and contains tons of contextual information so you could understand the situations in which these women found themselves, but unfortunately it just made the book hard to get through for me.

Thank you @mngraham for the lovely package!! Can't wait to jump in!!
#llss #litsylovespringswap
@Bookgoil @rsteve388

This may be a bail...

I'm #currentlyreading this lazy Sunday with a large cup of coffee and under a super cozy blanket.

I went into this with the idea that it was fiction. I am blown away with the amount of research, and the ability of the author to stick with the facts.
It is amazing how little we have really changed when it comes to the view of "unfortunates" in our societies. I appreciate Rubenhold's determination to make The Five real complex humans. Very well done.

My #libraryhaul of the week. Will start reading The Five today!

Crimes are often known by their perpetrators. We all know the names of killers like Jodi Arias and Charlie Manson, but how many people would recognize the names Travis Alexander and Leno LaBianca? Likewise, everyone knows of Jack the Ripper, but could you name his victims? Rubenhold does just that.

We learn of the lives of the 5 canonical Ripper victims. It was fascinating to see Victorian London unspool in each of their stories. Expertly done.

Here is my #februarywrap. I'm pretty happy with this month also. My months are always heavy on #audiobooks but I'm glad I have been able to get in more #kindle and physical #books. The Five was definitely my favorite of the month.

I'm so glad that I listened to this book. This book not only tells you these women's stories but gives a good look at life for the lower class during the Victorian era. There is so much to these women than history shares. It is very sad how much they are forgotten and looked over because of the nature of their deaths. #audiobook #scribd #historicalnonfiction

Starting February with a little #nonfiction for my next #audiobook. I have been a little obsessed with Jack the Ripper since high school but never really looked into the victims very much and believed what was always said about them. It will be interesting to know more about who these women really are and not just what the history books say. #scribd

This was incredible—not another book sensationalizing the ripper (it‘s not even about him), but rather a look at the lives of the five canonical victims.

“The victims of Jack the Ripper were never 'just prostitutes'; they were daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, and lovers. They were women. They were human beings, and surely that in itself is enough.”

Thoroughly researched, thought-provoking and infuriating. Rubenhold is a force.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely must read. Was blown away by how much misinformation and misogyny shaped what we think we know about what happened

This book is brilliant. Rubenhold teases fully rounded characters out of census records, work house admissions and testimony from family and friends. She shows how a failed marriage, alcoholism, betrayal by a lover, domestic abuse, tipped women down a spiral of poverty. Leaving them sleeping on streets stalked by a killer.
Its depressing because what has changed? All those things are still a disaster for working class women. Image Annie Chapman

No.9 #12BooksOf2020

First non fiction book on my list. I thought this was well researched & interesting to read. I‘ve read a lot about the murders so a book about the women behind the headlines was a welcome change.

@Andrew65

I loved it. It was very well written. I liked learning about the everyday life and customs of Victorian England. More importantly I learned about the lives of the five women who had their lives a dignity stripped from them due to the severe sexism and classism of the time. Rubenhold did an excellent job restoring their humanity after barely being treated human while they were alive and then becoming novelties in death.

Thanks again @Chrys.

#12Booksof2020 #Day8 Time for a non-fiction pick. I appreciated this book that took the attention off the evil doer and placed it on the victims where it belongs. Ms. Rubenhold did an excellent job of introducing us to each woman and showing us what her life was like.