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blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I just finished MADWOMAN by Louisa Treger, a fictionalized account of Nellie Bly's childhood and her undercover investigation of the insane asylum at Blackwell's Island. Since I wasn't sure exactly what parts of that book were true and which weren't, I wanted to read a non-fiction account of Bly's life to compare/contrast and learn more about this one-of-a-kind woman. TEN DAYS A MADWOMAN served that purpose well. I agree with other reviewers that the title is misleading, though, because the book covers Bly's entire life, with her asylum experience as only a small part. I appreciated this since MADWOMAN focuses almost entirely on her time on Blackwell's Island. As interesting as that is, Bly did a lot more in her life, most of which I didn't know about. TEN DAYS A MADWOMAN talks about all of it in a straightforward way that is clear, concise, and compelling. The book is written for a middle-grade audience, but it doesn't talk down to the reader. It never gets graphic, but it doesn't shy away from discussing Nellie's abusive stepfather, horrors she saw at the asylum, etc. What results is a fascinating portrait of a trailblazing woman who worked hard to achieve her goals, experienced incredible things, and pushed for reforms that benefitted women, the impoverished, the mentally ill, and the working poor. I enjoyed the quick, informative read.
maryehavens's review against another edition
3.0
The best parts, for me, were her undercover work in the asylum and her war correspondence. I didn't care for the around the world adventure although that is probably what made her the most famous.
Definitely a tough lady: determined and full of grit!
Definitely a tough lady: determined and full of grit!
listen_learn's review against another edition
4.0
I was initially put off this book because of the dark cover and title, but I decided to give it a chance and am glad I did.
Recommend for those who like the topics of investigative journalism, women who are daring, or just like books that use varied formats to convey a real life.
Recommend for those who like the topics of investigative journalism, women who are daring, or just like books that use varied formats to convey a real life.
moonpie's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the info and writing style chosen for Ten Days a Madwoman, but really disliked the format. The main story is Bly's career as a journalist, and every few pages there is a huge sidebar full of information about another part of Bly's life, or a long note about contemporary events. I couldn't focus on any one part of Bly's life for long before being jerked back in time or thrown forward again. Noyes has included most of the info I'd want to see in a Bly biography, but I'd much rather see it put together in a more linear format, something easier to follow, especially since this book is intended for a younger audience.
djlanatron's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyable non-fiction - the author did a great job of weaving in how Nellie Bly might be perceived in our time. I also enjoyed that it wasn't written in a traditional chronological format and thought that was really effective for the story and engaging readers.
suzannedix's review against another edition
5.0
You have to admire her pluck! What a life story and very well told.
Great for middle schoolers in need of some girl-power inspiration.
Great for middle schoolers in need of some girl-power inspiration.
abigailbat's review against another edition
3.0
This nonfiction book presents the life and times of "Girl Reporter" Nellie Bly as she performed some of her most daring stunts in the name of journalism. Bly pretended to be insane to gain entrance to an insane asylum in order to report on the horrible conditions there. She also challenged herself to make her way around the world in less than Jules Verne's 80 days, a feat that was unheard of for a single woman at that time.
This was an interesting and engaging book, but sidebars are oddly placed and, in most cases, distract from the main narrative.
This was an interesting and engaging book, but sidebars are oddly placed and, in most cases, distract from the main narrative.