Member Reviews
I'll admit that I knew nothing about Nellie Bly before reading this book. But, after reading this dramatization of her story, I'm so glad that it's based on a the true story!
I loved Nellie's growing friendship with the other women reporters, the drama of the society elite, and the glimpse into New York of the late 1800's, but the star by far is Nellie herself and her grit and determination to get the story. The conditions she describes happening on Blackwell's Island is appalling and seeing her determination to make changes was motivating.
While I was able to figure out the mystery of one of the patients pretty early on, I still enjoyed following Nellie's journey from the island back to the news room.
I was quick to request this historical novel featuring the famous badass female reporter Nellie Bly. Bly basically pioneered investigative journalism in the late 19th century in New York when she went undercover, pretending to be insane so she could be sent to the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island to investigate reportedly terrible conditions. This book mostly focuses on that assignment, with a bit about what led up to it (Nellie trying to make her way on Newspaper Row in New York at a time when papers had maybe one female employee in the newsroom), and a little about what came after, but mostly a slightly fictionalized account of her ten days at Blackwell's. I liked this overall but I was a little thrown off by the inclusion of chapters from the perspectives of different secondary characters. It ended up making some sense, but I was a little thrown off by it and felt like it took me out of the story briefly each time.
This book’s subject matter infuriated me. Women, throughout history, have been oppressed, abused, and murdered. While things are changing, they are at far too slow a pace to suit my tastes. Nellie Bly must have been furious too, not being able to find a job as a reporter though her experience surpassed the men who got the jobs, being labeled as “hysterical” or “too emotional” if she or her friends got upset, and the treatment of the inmates, ugh, ugh, ugh. The author conveyed a lot of these emotions very, very well and I enjoyed reading more about this historical experience.
Although this engaging novel isn’t branded as such, this is a great 13+/YA option as well.
In 1887 New York, journalist Nellie Bly can't find a newspaper willing to hire a woman for anything other than the society pages. Her luck changes when an editor challenges her to write an exposé on the notorious Blackwell's Island Insane Asylum for Women. Feigning insanity, she gets herself committed. She discovers that the conditions are even worse than she imagined. When seven days pass and the editor doesn't come to seek her release, how will she escape?
This is an intimate and well-researched dramatization of Nelly Bly's book "Ten Days in a Mad-House." The writing is smart, the characters relatable, and the story gripping.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
In 1887 New York City’s Gilded Age, all the rights belong to men while women are considered girls. Enter Nellie Bly - girl reporter. Nellie had already made her mark at the Pittsburg Dispatch, but she wanted more. However, the NY papers do not want Nellie. Many already had a token woman reporter for the Ladies Pages. Women were the fairer sex, unfit for crime scenes or court rooms, and not as accurate as men. As Nellie faces more and more obstacles, she becomes determined to succeed, even risking her life as she enters the infamous Blackwell Insane Asylum to get her story and ultimately a job.
Nellie Bly is a famous name in history. This book’s detailed account of her struggles and her first success in New York will inspire young activists as they struggle against today’s inequities.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Nellie Bly has herself committed to Blackwell's Island not to help the women who have been sent there but for her own career but she finds a sense of responsibility toward them once she's on the ground. Set in 1887, this is a well done fictionalization of one of the most famous "stunts" pulled by Bly in order to get inches in the New York World. Seen as an annoyance by the male editors, she finds that some of the women on the Island were also seen as annoyances and now are stuck in a cycle of horrors. Conditions at Blackwell's are horrible, which only contributes to the state of mind of the women. Bly's rival Sam Colton has his say as do some of her female colleagues (although these chapters are less compelling than Nellie's). It's good to see light shined on how women were treated during the Gilded Age. Rodale brings Bly to life and has created other good characters as well. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Good storytelling makes this a very good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the e-ARC of this book.
I absolutely loved this book. Nellie Bly was a fascinating woman, and I knew a little bit about her going into this book, but not a lot. Now I want to know so much more. This wasn't always the easiest book to read because the subject matter gets a little heavy when Nellie is in the asylum, however, it is an important think to read about, and makes you righteously angry about the treatment of women throughout history, but especially in the 1880s when Nellie was working. I loved the other female reporters, as well, and how they competed but also sometimes helped each other, because the men wouldn't. I did find Sam Colton to be a bit obnoxious throughout most of the story with his male privilege, but he ended up being alright in the end. Like Nellie, I hated that she needed him and other men to help keep her story standing, but I am glad she was able to do the work she loved and make a difference to others.
Overall, this book was wonderful, and dark, and funny. I can't wait to hopefully read more by this author.
Nellie Bly is by far one of my favorite historical people. I love reading about her, and when I heard about this book, I knew I needed to read it.
The Mad Girls of New York blew away my expectations in the best way! Maya Rodale did a fantastic job of bringing Nellie to life. She was bright and bubbly, strong-willed, and a genius! I loved her spontaneity and her compassion for others. Nellie's career was filled with amazing stories to help get the stories of women heard, but her 10 days in the madhouse is probably the most famous. I loved getting a play-by-play view of this experience. It was so well-written and basically impossible to put down.
Nellie's experience on Blackwell Island is awful. The treatment of these women was horrendous, and her courage to be committed to be able to shed light on this was amazing. I absolutely loved reading about it!
The author added actual excerpts from Nellie's writing, and I appreciated that. I also enjoyed the fictional characters that were added. The author's note at the end does a wonderful job of separating the fact from fiction for the reader.
I would highly recommend this if you are looking for a fun historical fiction that focuses on the rights of women or if you want to learn more about Nellie Bly!
I don't think the cover does this book justice. It looks like a regency romance and it's such an important story, I hope it's not overlooked by readers that are looking for historical fiction. It's a beautiful cover, I just don't think it matches the story.
I will admit I had not heard of Nellie Bly before receiving this book from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review. I am so glad I know a little about her as this book is based on a real story about a real woman who was determined to be a journalist despite the views of the time. It amazes me that she was so passionate she was willing to get herself committed to a dangerous insane asylum meant to lock up difficult women forever. I liked the story a lot, but there were moments that it dragged a little. The characters were compelling and I was very invested in what happened to them. I didn’t need the hints of romance and was glad they weren’t more than hints. This story is about women’s rights and while we have a long way to go just how far we have come. I am encouraged this book is described as book one in a series about Nellie Bly because I would love to read about more of her adventures.
I’m having a hard time getting my thoughts together for this review. There’s just something about this book that is at odds with me. But it is definitely a case of reader incompatibility rather than a bad book.
Because this is a well-written book, and the characters are very interesting. The events covered were horrific, and I was inspired to do some serious Googling after I started reading. I learned a lot of important and interesting things. The notes in the back of the book about the historical people the characters were based on were especially appreciated.
It’s a book definitely worth reading. If you are curious at all about the time in history, or the real life events and people this story was inspired by, you should definitely give it a try.
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher. My opinions are my own.
The Made Girls of New York by Maya Rodale is a fantastic historical fiction read. The writing is modern, snappy, and clear in this fast-paced and sometimes horrifying blend of fact and fiction. Personally, I have been really into these time piece reads thanks to the shows Bridgerton, The Guilded Age, and Sanditon. This read like I was watching to the TV show Guilded Age and gave me a whole other perspective. New York's Guilded Age and the late 1800's is this book to a tea and I would have kept reading but I ran out of book. Highly recommend it!!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Maya Rodale continues her exploration of Gilded Age heroines, this time with the historical fiction novel The Mad Girls of New York, about Nellie Bly’s first major work of investigative journalism in New York, where she went undercover in an asylum, something I knew a bit about tangentially, but had never looked into directly from her perspective.
Nellie is a compelling historical heroine, coming from humble beginnings, and struggling to be taken seriously. But that’s ultimately what makes her the perfect candidate to go “undercover” and investigate the suspicious nature of Blackwell’s Island. I admired her bravery, determination, and resourcefulness, especially once she entered the asylum.
What she ended up uncovering speaks both to the misunderstanding of mental health care at the time and that the “inconvenience” the inmates posed to their families and society varied wildly, from legitimate mental health issues to being seen as too radical in support for women’s suffrage, or even being married to a man who wanted to be rid of her to marry someone else.
The supporting cast is a mixed bag of compelling and just ok. I generally felt for the other women, especially those whose stories were fleshed out, given how each of them reflects the grim reality of the asylum’s true purpose. The other reporters, Sam and Marian, were interesting in that it allowed for other journalistic perspectives of the same case, but I didn’t feel as connected to their POVs as I did to Nellie’s.
This story is fast-paced and compelling, and I read it mostly in one sitting. I do think the other POVs did hamper the pacing slightly, but it also further creates a sense of urgency on Nellie’s part to get the story before others can leak it first.
I really enjoyed this, and I hope that Rodale is indeed planning to write more (Goodreads and some retailer sites indicate this is the first of a series)! And anyone who loves historical fiction centered around badass/fearless women of the past will definitely not want to miss this one!
I became engrossed immediately and read through to the end because of the author's gripping narrative and rich character portrayals. The writing is modern, snappy, and clear in this fast-paced and sometimes horrifying blend of fact and fiction. I highly recommend The Mad Girls of New York to lovers of historical fiction and New York's Guilded Age. A gem!
THE MAD GIRLS OF NEW YORK is an entertaining and engaging retelling of the exploits of Nelly Bly, the pioneering reporter who, in the 1880s, had herself committed to the notorious insane asylum, Blackwells, for the sake of an exposé story she hoped would make her career. In many ways, this book is about the struggles that women face, and have faced, in every facet of society. Nelly struggles to be taken seriously as a reporter in the male-dominated news industry, just as she struggles against the appalling treatment experienced by women committed to asylums. Even as these terrible systems of inequality and injustice bear down on her, though, Nelly remains plucky, confident, and outspoken. Rodale expertly crafts a likeable main character who experiences bias and marginalization even as she acknowledges her privilege, granting the reader a complex and nuanced portrait of the age she depicts. Heartily recommended for fans of journalism, historical fiction, and indefatigable women!
The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale is a 2022 Berkley publication.
This is a fictionalized account of Nellie Bly, who carved out a career for herself as a journalist despite the odds against her. Her bravery in getting herself admitted into an ‘insane asylum’ to report on the conditions put her on the map, and launched her successful career in a very male dominated career. She survived ten days in the asylum and proved the skeptics her critics wrong.
Rodale has done a fabulous job of telling Bly’s story, as well as incorporating a few other trailblazers into the story. The book also details another scandalous story, based on facts, that Bly’s only female rival covered, which was also quite a sensational headline grabber.
The ‘mad girls’, many of whom were not insane, just ‘inconvenient’, poor or sick, with no options, are well drawn and sympathetic. Their mistreatment is appalling and having their stories told was groundbreaking investigative journalism.
Rodale brings their voices to life, while chronicling the tenacity of those who helped open doors for women, proving that yes, they can get the story… and so much more!!
4 stars
1887: Rodale imagines the real-life exploits of Nellie Bly, intrepid reporter in the days when women were relegated to the women's pages in reporting. Determined to change that, Nellie pushes for an assignment to get herself admitted to a woman's asylum called Blackwell's. The horrors she finds there will be beyond what she could have imagined. Called "stunts" by some, Nellie's undercover exploits will be a force for change.
First in a series featuring the renowned reporter who opens doors for women in journalism, this is filled with period-accurate research and cultural mores that bring the era to life. A fascinating read based on Bly's narratives .
Thank you Berkeley for the ARC to read and review.
The Mad Girls of New York is a departure from historical romance for Maya Rodale. She spins a tale of historical fiction based on Infamous Nellie Bly who was a female reporter in the late 1800s.
Rodale paints us a picture of Bly as a spunky, brave go getter, destined for greatness in a man’s world.
Review: I have always found Nellie Bly to be a fascinating historical figure, so when I saw there would be a series of fictional books based on her life, I just knew I had to read the first book. And I'm happy I did! This was a fantastic novel, and I quite enjoyed the authors' not at the end, where she talks about what parts were based on real life, and which were fiction, plus about the real people who inspired other characters in the book. Overall, this is a historical fiction book I would definitely recommend reading!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
I'd heard good things about this one, but honestly the writing struck me as wooden and incredibly plain. I didn't really get a sense of the time and place, other than the rampant patronizing from men toward Nellie and other women. Also, I know this is an uncorrected proof, but the digital copy had actual editing notes (ie "insert line here") and was oddly formatted. I really didn't feel compelled to finish this. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
The Mad Girls of New York
A Nellie Bly Novel
By Maya Rodale
The Writing is Clever and Captivating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SUMMARY
In 1887 Nelly Bly was an ambitious reporter for the Pittsburgh Dispatch newspaper when she left a note for her editor that she was headed to New York City to make her mark. Once there, she struggled to find work, facing rejection after rejection on newspaper row. After four months in New York and out of money, Nellie insinuated herself into the office of the editor of the New York World newspaper. There she pitched a story that only a woman could cover. Nellie proposed to fake insanity to be admitted to the women’s lunatic asylum on Blackwell Island. Once there, she would investigate reports of brutality and neglect rumored to occur.
To be committed to Blackwell, Nellie had to convince a police officer, a judge, and a doctor of her insanity. Once committed, Bly experienced the cruelty and deplorable conditions first hand. Her biggest fear: she would go insane before her editor was able to get her released.
REVIEW
THE MAD GIRLS OF NEW YORK is a poignant and revealing historical fiction novel based on the tenacious Nellie Bly. Bly will never be forgotten for her fight for justice for women. It’s always a pleasure to read about women like Bly who are full of strength and character. She is undoubtable the most famous American female reporter of the 19th century.
You can’t help but be enamored by the setting of the story. Seeing the island of Manhatten in 1887, through Nellie’s eyes is special. Nellie’s vivid descriptions of the Hall 6 on Blackwell Island will positively make you shiver.
Author Maya Rodale’s writing is clever and captivating. While the story is based on the facts of Nellie Bly’s writing and personality, she has taken liberties with Nellie’s time in Manhatten and at the asylum, to make the story even more compelling. Several characters are fictional but they are fashioned after real life persons who had lived either before or after Nellie’s time in New York.
Rodale’s portrayal of Nellie’s character is delightful, as well as her portrayal of three of Nellie’s fellow inmates, Prayer Girl, Tillie, and Princess.
Rodale writes funny, feminist historical fiction and romance novels. In the middle of the pandemic she was reading an out-of-print book published in 1965 about famous American women who defied conventions, when she became intrigued by the idea of a book about Nellie Bly.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Berkley Publishing Group
Published April 26, 2022
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com