I really want to read this book. Each time I try, I’m not in the right headspace for its voice. It’s called Hysterical - so that should not be surprising (appreciate books that are titled appropriately). Still, I have found it so jarring that I cannot sink into it.
At this point, it’s been on my shelf for way too long and I’m afraid that I have missed the appropriate window to review on NG. I will be sure to leave a review when I read it!

This book reminded me of Glennon Doyle's books, in that both of them talk about society's quieting of girls and women and make you laugh and cry in the process! Bassist isn't as honey-tongued as Doyle, but lovers of Doyle's books will enjoy this book as well.

I really enjoyed Bassist's story, because it is the story of me, and my friends, and my family, and women all through history who have been told that our view of the world is wrong, and to just be quiet rather than rock the boat.

My book review and feature of this book on my insta https://www.instagram.com/p/CisZfnorE8l/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This book just wasn't for me. Basically the only thing I liked about it was the gorgeous cover art. The author felt like she was just complaining too much about her "hard" life. It was very predictable and annoying to say the least.

I felt less alone after reading this book, and wondered why it isn't required reading for all women. Actually, I wonder why it isn't required reading for any doctor who has to deal with women.

Timely, important, and all too relatable. A recommended purchase for collections where memoirs and medical titles are popular.

Unfortunately I didn’t connect with this book. I typically like feminist pieces and books about medical conditions, so this should have been a winner, but it wasn’t. It got a bit too in the weeds about how women are silenced and socialized and I wanted more about her personal story.

The night I started Elissa Bassist's HYSTERICAL, I intended to read the introduction and then go to bed. More than 70 pages later, I finally stopped reading for the night. HYSTERICAL is an excellent book, thoroughly researched and deeply felt. The combination of personal experience and research is powerful; it makes Elissa's very specific experience feel all the more universal. I pre-ordered my copy of the book first thing the next morning.

I am especially eager to share HYSTERICAL with several of the young women in my writing classes. Many of them are trying to find themselves as writers and define their voices. With HYSTERICAL as one of their inspirations, I am confident this is the year these young writers will unleash their voices.

Review of Hysterical by Elissa Bassist

I really enjoyed the writing in Hysterical. I felt like Elissa was honest, raw, unflinching, and self-deprecating (but in a funny way) throughout the book. I think that I struggle with the classification of this book as a memoir because while this was largely about Elissa's experience, there was a lot of wide sweeping commentary about the patriarchy, misogyny (particularly in media), and medical discrimination of women in regards to their symptoms, pain, etc. being real vs 'imagined'.

There were *so* many essays in this book that I could relate to. It felt like Elissa was reaching through the page and speaking directly to me, especially when discussing the 'saying yes when you mean no' phenomenon and commenting on how, when, and why women take up space. Also the perpetual dead girl phenomenon and how TV shows, books, movies, media, everything is obsessed with killing girls and women or showing violent assaults on women and femme presenting folks. I was thinking about this especially after the news of GoT reboot House of the Dragon announced that this installment in Westeros would feature "less sex" but they wouldn't shy away from sexual assault as it is "accurate to the time period". How can something be "accurate to a time period" when the world it exists in is pure fantasy?

The essays about Elissa's experience with an abusive relationship, being breadcrumbed by shitty men, and her recovery from sexual assault were *chef's kiss* I really felt myself reflected in these essays.

Even though I think that this is a fierce book, that I overall did enjoy, I did have some issues with the framing of the book. I was the most interested in the intersectional approach of how women are discriminated against in the medical field, that is where I felt like I learned the most and had so many more 'ah-ha!' moments. The rest of the book, while validating, emotional, and infuriating (but like in a good way) seemed a bit of an echo chamber. I think I would recommend this to people who are just learning about some concepts of feminism. This is a critique I grapple with because it is billed 'as a memoir' and it doesn't feel totally right to critique someone's lived experience.

I would also say another critique of this book is that it was not very intersectional and I do worry that, because it doesn't approach feminism and issues surrounding the patriarchy from an intersectional lens, that it might fall into the harmful bucket of 'white feminism' or feminism that really only discusses and critiques issues that impact white women and not necessarily BIPOC women, gender non-conforming and trans folks, and disabled people. Again, I struggle with this critique because it is billed as a memoir and therefore is discussing Elissa's own experience, but I feel like you can comment on your lived experience and also make a deliberate effort to include other marginalized groups and not just tack on statistics that a particular issues impacts X group more.

Finally, at the end of the memoir Elissa does find a sense of relief from her physical pain by realizing that her pain is stemming from silencing herself, which to me, reinforced this idea that maybe physical pain can stem from mental illnesses, environmental stressors (which is totally valid). However, I'm not sure that this notion does a lot to dissuade the perpetuation of the very harmful stereotype that women, and femme presenting people, are 'faking' chronic illnesses.

A memoir built from essays, Hysterical is a feminist tome that made me laugh, as much from Bassist’s deadpan humor as from that instinct to laugh off your outrage. But, as I learned from this book, I’d do better to find a way to vent my anger. The author didn’t, choosing to stay silent, or to say “yes” for years, which played a role in her insoluble, long-term pain. Misbelieved by doctors, she sought a diagnosis for a long time before finding solutions through alternative means.

I remember reading Bassist’s essay in the Roxane Gay edited collection “Not That Bad: Dispatches on Rape Culture.” Here, she tells the tale of sexual assault, as well as gender-based harassment and discrimination at work, a challenging parental dynamic. Also affecting are her journalistic unpacking of the way women are mistreated, unseen, unheard, or in other ways treated as “less than” in media, medicine, and other arenas.

Highly recommended. Be ready to feel enraged.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A book about the consequences of society's constant push to silence women. This memoir starts out as a medical mystery - Bassist is experiencing chronic pain that doctors are struggling to diagnosis. Unlike a lot of other memoirs that delve into gynecological problems, this one focuses more on various moments/themes throughout her life that exemplify the ways that society seeks to silence and oppress women. There were so many interesting insights here and lots of great accompanying research and sources. Ultimately, the author learns that her pain is linked to this need she feels to say yes (or rather to not say no). I really recommend this book!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A combination discourse and questioning of womens' place in this culture, and a memoir of physical issues that, despite a career of doctors' appointments and varying healing modalities, there seems to be no resolution for.

Bassist takes the reader on her journey of trying to find comfort in her life- physically, emotionally- and the conflicting messages she receives from the 'healers' during her journey. She finds out that in both work environment and doctor's office, many of the same attitudes towards women prevail. She endeavors to get to the source of the disregard women receive when asserting themselves, and the silence they impose upon themselves when the pushback becomes too daunting to accept.

Combining her own frustrating and humiliating existence inside the "boys' club" while establishing supportive contacts and finding her own voice, the author highlights the sorry state of women establishing a viable presence in the work world. While trying to establish a crucial dialogue with male co-workers
, vacillating between silence and speaking out, she finds her own voice.

I really enjoyed this and could relate to this on so many levels. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC!

Thanks to Hachette and Netgalley for the early copy of this for a review.

I really loved this one and could relate to it completely. As women we are taught to be quiet, that men have the "important" things to say and constantly made to doubt ourselves. This book goes into the feeling of that and why it seems like women are not taken seriously in many aspects of their life. This made me angry and I had to step away a few times thinking about situations in my own life. I am really glad I read this though.

A fascinating book with a clear, direct voice that the world needs to hear. I so appreciate the close examination of personal detail and gender here--we need more books about this experience.

This book is a perfect blend of memoir and cultural criticism. It links the emotional, physical and sociological in ways I never thought about. Powerful stuff.

An astonishing hybrid book that manages to be part medical mystery, part feminist awakening, and part hilarious personal essay, Elissa Bassist illuminates the causes and effects of a life tamping down her own voice. By using both her own story and pertinent research, Bassist weaves a compelling and convincing tale of how society can convince women to dial the volume of their own voices down until they can barely be heard at all. The fact that there are so many laugh-out-loud lines mixed in with the serious subject matter is a testament to the author's grasp of tone and the reawakening of her own personal writing voice. A potent mix of reporting and personal experience, HYSTERICAL is a must-read for anyone feeling muted by our current society.

The cover of this heart wrenching memoir Is eye catching drew me right in to this painful memoir.Elissa Bassett shares with us her painful search for help with her chronic illness.The way the male dominated medical world deals with womens search for answers to their pain and other ailments willl infuriate you.This is an important book perfect for discussion will be recommending.#netgalley #hatchettebooks
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The premise of the book is interesting, and I think it will draw a wide audience. The topic kept me reading, but the writing was a bit dry and made it hard to read through. Overall, it was a good book just not one I was continuously interested in.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Woooohoooo. As a woman with health concerns, I found myself screaming in solidarity with this book! I am so glad chronically ill women are finally getting a voice. I am going to buy this for every feminist woman I know living with health concerns. It may not solve the problem immediately, but at least we know we are not alone. Thank you for this book