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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!🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

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. 💜💜

Wow, just wow!!

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

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...

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. ⬇

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.

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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

#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.

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.

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.

Love a story about a bad*ss woman.

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

😱 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!

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

Excited for all of these books! Ready to March Bingo Madness it up!
#bookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

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.

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.

2-1-22: January Book Wrap Up! It was a good month of reading! 📖⭐️🔟

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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣🔟

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. 😍

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.

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. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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.

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⭐️

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.

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.

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

a must read .

Ending my Labor Day weekend the same way it started ☺️

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.

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

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.

#weekendreads

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

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.

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.

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.

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

“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

“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

#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!

#TrickyCat loves nestling next to @BookishMarginalia as she reads #CatsOfLitsy