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The Woman They Could Not Silence
The Woman They Could Not Silence: The Timeless Story of One Woman's Journey to Be Heard | Kate Moore
66 posts | 55 read | 97 to read
From the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journalbestselling author of The Radium Girlscomes another dark and dramatic but ultimately uplifting tale of a forgotten woman whose inspirational journey sparked lasting change for women's rights and exposed injustices that still resonate today. 1860: As the clash between the states rolls slowly to a boil, Elizabeth Packard, housewife and mother of six, is facing her own battle. The enemy sits across the table and sleeps in the next room. Her husband of twenty-one years is plotting against her because he feels increasingly threatened--by Elizabeth's intellect, independence, and unwillingness to stifle her own thoughts. So Theophilus makes a plan to put his wife back in her place. One summer morning, he has her committed to an insane asylum. The horrific conditions inside the Illinois State Hospital in Jacksonville, Illinois, are overseen by Dr. Andrew McFarland, a man who will prove to be even more dangerous to Elizabeth than her traitorous husband. But most disturbing is that Elizabeth is not the only sane woman confined to the institution. There are many rational women on her ward who tell the same story: they've been committed not because they need medical treatment, but to keep them in line--conveniently labeled "crazy" so their voices are ignored. No one is willing to fight for their freedom and, disenfranchised both by gender and the stigma of their supposed madness, they cannot possibly fight for themselves. But Elizabeth is about to discover that the merit of losing everything is that you then have nothing to lose... Bestselling author Kate Moore brings her sparkling narrative voice to The Woman They Could Not Silence, an unputdownable story of the forgotten woman who courageously fought for her own freedom--and in so doing freed millions more. Elizabeth's refusal to be silenced and her ceaseless quest for justice not only challenged the medical science of the day, and led to a giant leap forward in human rights, it also showcased the most salutary lesson: sometimes, the greatest heroes we have are those inside ourselves. "The glowing ghosts of the radium girls haunt us still."--NPR Books for The Radium Girls
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BookmarkTavern
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Pickpick

The story of Elizabeth Packard & her journey from forced institutionalization at her husband‘s insistence to activist for women‘s rights & protection for mental health patients.

This was at times inspiring & infuriating to listen to. Elizabeth endured numerous injustices throughout her life, but also accomplished extraordinary things. A little dense & a little dry, but absolutely worth the read. Putting a hold on Radium Girls now!🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

BookmarkTavern General warning for forced institutionalization, medical experimentation and torture, all the TWs for asylums of the 1860s; Specific warnings for Part 3, Chapter 29, suicide, Part 5 Chapter 39, domestic violence, Epilogue suicide by hanging 5mo
EKonrad I read Radium Girls years ago and still think about it to this day! So good! 5mo
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ChaoticMissAdventures I really enjoyed this, I still reference it sometimes when thinking about women and how much control husbands had (and sometimes still have) over perception of them. 5mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 5mo
TieDyeDude Glad you like it. She is an amazing writer. Radium Girls is very similar in being infuriating/inspiring. 5mo
69 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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GondorGirl
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Pickpick

Today I had the honor of hearing Kate Moore speak on the steps of the Wood Country Lunatic Asylum (c.1885) about the tagged book. It was a phenomenal place to be talking about the struggles of a sane woman who was committed less than 10 years prior to this building being used. We got to tour the asylum afterward, as well as get our books signed.

HUGE thank you to @WildAlaskaBibliophile for picking this as one of my 12-in-12 reads this year. 💜💜

Leftcoastzen I have this one in my TBR. Wow, what an event. 6mo
Suet624 This book was so tough to read. 6mo
GondorGirl @Leftcoastzen It was so good, but a tough read. 6mo
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GondorGirl @Suet624 It was so rough, but worth it. It's terrifying how something happening in the late 1800s is still relevant to how women are discredited today. 6mo
Suet624 The power that men had over women was devastating. 6mo
WildAlaskaBibliophile I LOVE this! 💗 6mo
Zuhkeeyah Ahhhh that‘s awesome! The book was a powerful read. The idea a woman could be locked away just for loving books (among many other problematic reasons) gives me shivers. Have you read Radium Girls? 6mo
GondorGirl @Zuhkeeyah Yes! It was also a great read (but a terrible piece of history). At the event today she say she's working on another book that's American history, but also very relevant today. She couldn't say what it's about, but she's really excited and writing it. 6mo
tpixie @GondorGirl this was a powerful book!! How exciting you got to go to this incredible event!!! 6mo
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jackilynn
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Pickpick

Wow, just wow!!

14 likes1 stack add
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xicanti
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A friend started the tagged book a day ahead of me and had mostly bad things to say about it, but I like it a lot so far. I think it‘s gonna be a harrowing and insightful read.

In a less harrowing mode, here‘s a preview of my Greek street with the third wall attached and the lights hooked up! It‘s hard to tell in the photo, but the mirror against the back wall means you can see all the bookstore‘s angles. #audiocrafting

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So cute 💙🤍 9mo
tpixie I loved the book! An amazing woman and story. It is a hard read at times so I can see why not everyone would like it. I‘m amazed by your workmanship!!! 9mo
dabbe Amazing! 🤩🤩🤩 9mo
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Traci1 That is lovely. 9mo
AlaMich I love that! (edited) 9mo
xicanti @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @dabbe @Traci1 @AlaMich it makes me happy every time I peer into it! 9mo
xicanti @tpixie my friend‘s big complaint is that she finds Elizabeth unbelievably naive about her situation, which isn‘t an issue for me because I think it makes sense that someone living in 1860 wouldn‘t be as informed about wrongful asylum incarcerations and patriarchal abuses as we are here in 2024. She says she does find the book interesting in general, though. 9mo
tpixie @xicanti 👍🏻 they were so much more isolated then- no TV, internet, radio… (edited) 9mo
41 likes8 comments
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TieDyeDude
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For anyone who read the tagged book, this should be very heartening news 😍

https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2023-08-09/he-oppressed-her-and-state-takes...

EKonrad Love this! ❤️ 1y
Suet624 This book and her life story was relentlessly difficult to read. I can‘t tell you how happy I am to hear this news. Thank you so much for sharing it. 1y
37 likes2 comments
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Suet624
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The true story of Elizabeth Packard, placed in an insane asylum by her husband. Six children, sane as the day is long, but stuck inside for years along with other women who had no business being there. All because her husband didn't agree with what she had to say. I read 3/4's of it last July, couldn't handle the ups and downs of this woman's life, put it down. Relentlessly obstructed by men who controlled her life. Finally finished it. ⬇

Suet624 The book is fairly long-winded but maybe the subject matter required it. How Packard managed to continue her fight to get released and to advocate for women's rules of commitment to asylums to change is beyond me. I think my despair came from wondering if I would have the strength that she had to continue the fight. 2y
AmyG That sounds like one sad story. Ugh, men. 2y
Suet624 @AmyG each victory seemed to be followed by defeat. Until the very end. Brutal. (edited) 2y
Tamra This was an amazing story, though in equal parts infuriating & sad. 2y
Suet624 @Tamra yes, perfect description. 2y
55 likes5 comments
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Shievad
Pickpick

Moore‘s non-fiction feels like fiction because she has a way of focusing in on the feelings and thoughts of the person at the center of the events. The book included quotes from Elizabeth Packard‘s own writings and other first hand accounts of the events of the time.

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wideeyedreader
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Pickpick

Finished this stunning book last night, just in time for book club this week! This book made me angry, made me sad, and ultimately gave me hope ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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AmyK1
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Pickpick

I love Kate Moore‘s writing. It sucks you into the story and doesn‘t feel like non-fiction. This book will make you angry but is also inspiring with several instances when you want to yell “Go Elizabeth!”. Elizabeth Packard was a remarkable woman who went through a lot with more grace, forgiveness and kindness than I probably would have.

AmyK1 I read this for book club. We had an amazing discussion on the first half 2 weeks ago. Can‘t wait for our next meeting on Saturday! 2y
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Addison_Reads
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#adventrecommends @emilyrose_x

I haven't read as many nonfiction books this year, but most of the ones I've read were excellent.

This book made me so angry while reading it, but I learned so much. Kate Moore presents information in a way that reads almost like fiction. With everything going on now with women's health, I think that makes this book even more important.

BarbaraTheBibliophage The novel I‘m reading now has repeatedly made me think of this one. (edited) 2y
RainyDayReading Her other book is excellent as well! One of my favorites and so well written 2y
Suet624 I can‘t even put into words my outrage while reading this book. I finally had to put it down for a while. 2y
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Addison_Reads @BarbaraTheBibliophage I love Alias Grace! And I can definitely see the connection between the two. @RainyDayReading I agree. Radium Girls is excellent as well. @Suet624 While reading it I had to keep myself from snapping at my husband because the book was making me so frustrated. 2y
wanderinglynn This is in my TBR bookcase. I need to move it up on the list! 2y
Suet624 Just gong to say that it‘s the worst book to read on a beach while on summer vacation with your entire family. (edited) 2y
Linsy I loved Radium Girls, def need to check this one out! 2y
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Gladly
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Pickpick

Wow, every woman should read this. Let it inspire us to draw on our strengths and fight back. Every man should read this who isn't afraid to take an honest look.

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OrangeMooseReads
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Pickpick

A woman that fought for freedom and autonomy. Moore is an excellent writer.
I liked this I love a history of women that refused to submit to the status quo. Elizabeth Packard forced into a “mad house” by her husband. She fought to be released and then fought for her fellow sisters locked away by husbands or male family members simply for being disagreeable.
Another badass woman to add to the list.
Recommend.

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OrangeMooseReads
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Love a story about a bad*ss woman.

Loved Moore‘s ‘Radium Girls‘ I hope this is as good and informative.

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Karisa
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😱 Chart above shows what were thought of as reasons for insanity in the 1800s such as NOVEL READING! 😤

The book is an interesting and heavily footnoted recount of a woman who was committed to an asylum when her husband felt challenged by her intelligence. Thanks for the recommendation, @Lauranahe ! It‘s fascinating, frightening, and so sad. Never again!

kspenmoll This sounds tough but good! 2y
Lauranahe Such a fascinating book! I got so angry sometimes reading it. And frustrated we aren‘t as far along as we should be. And also thankful for how far we‘ve come, and my husband can‘t commit me for disagreeing with him! Or reading lots of books. 2y
Karisa @Lauranahe Yes! 💯% agree 2y
DivineDiana Novel reading! 😲 Coincidently, just read a section in Anne of Green Gables when Marilla cautions Anne that reading novels was harmful to her character. 2y
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Lauranahe
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Pickpick

This was so good! What an amazing follow-up to Radium Girls. Elizabeth is committed to an asylum by her husband because she…thought for herself. This is her fight to free herself, and free other women who are powerless to men. An incredible story.

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BookNAround
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I took a short, lovely wander to Narnia today and took so many good pictures. This one is just the most iconic one. I‘ve gone back to the tagged book per my previous post asking for votes on what to pick up and read. (And yes, this area is locally called Narnia. I‘ll post some more pictures.)

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Adventures_of_a_French_Reader
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Pickpick

Locked up in an asylum by her husband in 1860, Elizabeth Packard witnesses firsthand the wrongful imprisonment of sane married women, but also the mistreatments of the mentally ill. As soon as she managed to get released, she put all her efforts towards having protective laws passed. Excellent biography by Kate Moore on an extraordinary woman.

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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

If you haven‘t read this book yet you should. Kate Moore does and excellent job of bringing Elizabeth Packard to life and her battle to be free and heard. This is terrifyingly sad that this is how women were treated and how being called “crazy” was a way to erase a person.

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Graciouswarriorprincess
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Tonight, I met Kate Moore. Her book talk about Elizabeth Packard, the woman they could not silence was fantastic!

I enjoyed Radium Girls and read this latest book last year with the #litsybookclub as we were a @sourcebooks sponsored bookclub.

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crazyspine
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Pickpick

An interesting story about a woman deemed insane because she fought for what she believed and didn't submit to the men around her. Creepy that although this story takes place in the latter half of the 19th century, it reads like it could happen today.

jessjess Ooh, I'm stacking this one! 3y
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CaitlinByTheBook
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Pickpick

I read this book last year for bookclub and really enjoyed it! It was also infuriating to read about how Elizabeth Packard and so many other women were treated by their husbands, the medical establishment and the law during this time period. The book looks intimidating in length, but it read quickly. Highly recommend!

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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Pickpick

Soft pick 3.5 ⭐
A bit too much overdramatized style of writing for a non-fiction. I also wish the ending wasn't so rushed. Packard got bills passed in many states by personally lobbying and maybe even writing the bills - I am unsure b/c this interesting part is skimmed over with no details.
Interesting and quick paced this woman deserves more recognition then she gets and I am glad I read this.

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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If she screamed, she sealed her fate.
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#firstlinefriday
@ShyBookOwl

CoverToCoverGirl 🤭🤭 3y
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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Excited for all of these books! Ready to March Bingo Madness it up!
#bookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
18 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
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I‘m not sure whose idea this is and I never followed or “knew” @sharread but in memory of a Litten who passed earlier this year, I‘m hoping to read two books from her TBR. RIP, Sharon. And to all who are missing her, I offer my sincerest condolences.

TheBookHippie ♥️ 3y
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

Elizabeth Packard is a hero. I can't believe before reading this amazing book that I had never heard her name. Her resilience is inspiring. Although I will admit this book really pushed my buttons and I had to keep reminding myself that not all men act, or acted, like the ones in this book. Sadly, so many women suffered simply by having their own thoughts.

Excellent read that's thoroughly researched, well-written, and very informative.

Addison_Reads @Riveted_Reader_Melissa #Nonfiction2022 I'm using this for I'm a Basket Case because that's how Elizabeth was treated. 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa This one has been on my list for awhile. I really need to move it up soon! 3y
49 likes1 stack add2 comments
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GidgetsTreasures75
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2-1-22: January Book Wrap Up! It was a good month of reading! 📖⭐️🔟

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GidgetsTreasures75
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Pickpick

1-27-22: My 10th finished book of 2022! A fascinating look into the life of Elizabeth Packard. When she started to realize that she had thoughts and ideas that were her own, not her husband‘s, she started to express them and he threw her into an insane asylum. She remained there for 3 years! Once out she made it her mission to help women like herself. She wrote books, she helped write bills, and she fought for women‘s freedom. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣🔟

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Jenken1998
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Pickpick

Loved this! Non fiction historical account of Elizabeth Packard and her fight for the rights of women and mental health reform.. i alternated between book and audio. I enjoyed the author reading her book. 😍

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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

In 1860, Elizabeth Packard was put in an asylum for forming her own opinions and expressing them despite the fact that they disagreed with her husband. Clearly, she was insane! This excellent narrative nonfiction details her story and her fight to gain rights for women so that we might speak for ourselves on such matters as institutionalization.

Tamra I enjoyed this, as tragic as it was though. 3y
Texreader Great review. I‘d stack it but it‘s already on the tbr 3y
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FelinesAndFelonies
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Pickpick

This is one of my favorite non-fiction books ever! The author also wrote Radium Girls. This is the story of a woman committed to an Insane Asylum in Illinois by her husband. She was committed at her husband's request after he tired of her having her own ideas. It is a horrifying, curious, disturbing story that is like an eerie echo of the societal issues surrounding gender at present. I literally said Wow when I closed this book. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

NikkiM5 Oh wow, sounds heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time. 3y
EKonrad Such an interesting read! 3y
FelinesAndFelonies @NikkiM5 the part that got me was the discrediting of women's voices and how that is seen now but in different situations. The description of women as crazy for being bold or emotional. Really disturbing. @EKonrad it was very eye-opening. 3y
87 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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MaggieCarr
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Pickpick

Can I give a book five stars and be flustered as all get out at the opposition she had to face as a result of having a brain, common sense, and a desire to be heard just because she was a woman, wife & mother? Well, it seems I can. Hot dang if this didn't get me all sorts of riled up and she's long since been dead and buried but her legacy lives and her fight was not in vain. Can't wait to get my hands in Radium Girls.

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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
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Pickpick

Moore again dazzles with a narrative nonfiction detailing Elizabeth Packard‘s commitment to an asylum by her husband, her fight for freedom, and the unrelenting advocacy she performed on behalf of women and the mentally ill. I was particularly struck by Moore‘s postscript where the parallel between Packard‘s experience and modern women‘s continued fight against those that dismiss us as “crazy” is drawn. Well, “just look at what crazy can do.” 5⭐️

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Victoriahoperose
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Pickpick

This is such an important story from history. It was very well researched and genuinely interesting to listen to. I‘m glad I stuck through it and finished it. The writing is good, but sometimes a bit dry. Overall, I thought it was interesting and something we should definitely be aware of and listening to about things that we should be aware of as women to make sure our history doesn‘t repeat itself.

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keys_on_fire
Pickpick

This was an amazing insight into how much influence one person can have just by never giving up. It is disturbing how easy it was for husbands to discard their wives by committing them as insane. For me, this was a heavier subject than Radium Girls and took me longer to get through, but I really love Kate Moore's ability to tackle such a tough subject with compelling storytelling.

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Aims42
Pickpick

A tough to read at times book, but worth it!! I got an Erik Larson vibe from Kate‘s writing; informative, factual, but never boring 👍🏻 I‘m definitely giving her first book a read

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SpookyMazeOfBooks

a must read .

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Aims42
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Ending my Labor Day weekend the same way it started ☺️

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TieDyeDude
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Pickpick

Essential reading! After being blown away by Radium Girls, I put this on hold as soon as I was able to, and Moore does not disappoint. As I read Ms. Packard's story, I might not have loved every page, but honestly, with all the shit she goes through, I felt obligated to push through and hear her whole story. And it's a doozy! One of the earliest fighters for women's rights, her ordeal would break the ordinary man, let alone other women.

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everlocalwest
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Mehso-so

With Radium Girls the story was gripping and tragic but the writing just serviceable, this book suffers even more strongly for that. Moore did a fantastic amount of research but it bogged down her narrative. A difficult balance, wanting to serve the legacy of someone while telling a compelling story in such a way that modern readers will grab tight to them. Moore tips too far in trying to get the details in Worth the read but sometimes an infodump

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TheBiasedBibliophile
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Pickpick

To seamlessly combine Packard‘s own words with Moore‘s prowess as an author is an outstanding feat of talent! There were so many moving parts to this story, it was clear that a lot of research & skill were necessary to transform it into a masterpiece. While I could ramble on about so many fantastic aspects of this book, the part that stirred my heart the most was the beautiful way that Kate Moore conveyed Elizabeth Packard‘s sense of sisterhood.

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DarkMina
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#weekendreads

1. Song of Achilles and Sky Without Stars on audio.
2. Both depending on the story
3.Tagged

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EadieB
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Pickpick

1860. This is a true story of the historical battle for women's mental health rights. Elizabeth Packard's husband of twenty-one years feels increasingly threatened by Elizabeth's intellect, independence, and unwillingness to stifle her own thoughts. He makes plans to put his wife back in her place by committing her to an insane asylum. There are many rational women on her ward who have been committed in order to keep them in line.

EadieB Elizabeth's refusal to be silenced and her ceaseless quest for justice challenged the medical science of the day, and led to a giant leap forward in women's human rights. I enjoyed this book but thought it could be shorter as it repeated facts too many times. If you enjoy stories about forgotten women of history, then you will enjoy this book. 3y
DarkMina This sounds good. I really liked The Radium Girls. Stacked! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y
47 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Daisey
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Pickpick

I received a hardback copy of this book through @Sourcebooks for a @litsybookclub read and started it at the beginning of July. However, life got busy and I didn‘t have the time or focus to finish it. My #audiobook hold came in a few days ago and I finished it while working and driving. It‘s a frustrating and fascinating story of a fight for women‘s rights. I didn‘t get as caught up in this as Moore‘s Radium Girls, but it was well worth the time.

keys_on_fire This is next on my list; I have put it to the side I order to read book club obligations and I‘m not doing that this time!! 😂 3y
Daisey @TheAromaofBooks This is my August #BookSpin book 11! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
Daisey @keys_on_fire I completely get it. Additionally, this is quite a long book to fit in amongst others as well. 3y
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Jgotham
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Mehso-so

This started out pretty well and I was invested but soon it started to draaaaag. The story and the premise was good but I honestly think the book could‘ve been half the size. It soon became monotonous and I didn‘t need every single detail over and over. I don‘t want to dissuade anyone from reading because I think it is an important piece of history. Just wished it was shorter.

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abookishbutterfly
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Pickpick

I do not think a single fictional horror story exists that can outdo the things that have happened and will happen in this world. We live the ultimate terror daily. The story detailed in this book is truly a terrifying one and while it‘s part of history, it‘s something that did happen - something that could happen again in different ways.

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3993966712

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abookishbutterfly

“Truth… may for a time be crushed to the earth, [but] it shall rise again with renovated strength.” ~Elizabeth Packard, as quoted in The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore

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abookishbutterfly

“You can cage a bird and thus keep her down a level with her serpent-mate, but just give her the use of her powers, its freedom, and she will rise.” ~From Elizabeth Packard‘s journal, as quoted in the book The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore

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BookishMarginalia
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Pickpick

#Recommendsday This is the true story of #ElizabethPackard, who was committed by her pastor husband to an insane asylum in 1860 for being too independent-minded. But Elizabeth would persevere and win not just her freedom, but changes in the laws, benefiting all people deemed “insane” and most importantly, married women. This book is a testament to the power of one strong, energetic individual with a mission. Very relevant to our times!

103 likes8 stack adds2 comments
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WanderingBookaneer
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#TrickyCat loves nestling next to @BookishMarginalia as she reads #CatsOfLitsy

BookishMarginalia I think he thinks he‘s a puppy! 3y
RaeLovesToRead So cute!! 😍 3y
Gissy 😻❤️❤️❤️ 3y
75 likes3 comments