A must read! I could feel the rage, love, and energy that went into crafting this marvelous memoir. It is a moving and clever exploration of the intersections of silence, violence, and sickness that many women experience. It is also a despairing and important reminder of what it is like to be a woman in a society that seems to only care about men.

I was sold on the title and cover alone, and after reading the effusive praise from Roxane Gay on the cover, knew I had to read this. The blurb gave me chills as I’ve had similar experiences with headaches and other ailments all while being told by doctors that I’m “fine.” Thank you, Elissa, for using your voice to write this.

Mark your calendars for September 13, 2022, so you can grab a copy.

Thank you very much to Hachette Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Women make up 70% of chronic pain sufferers, and yet, are less likely to be treated by doctors for chronic pain.

Author Elissa Bassist herself suffered from chronic pain and had to seek the counsel of over 20 doctors in a two-year time span in order to find answers. It turns out the most poignant of these experiences came by way of someone who wasn’t an MD at all, but an acupuncturist, that told her that her pain was manifesting from an inner silencing. Miraculously, treating her voice actually did lead to reprieve.

Hysterical examines the ways in which women are silenced interpersonally and culturally, which leads to a silencing and internalizing of our pain. Worse, we’re often told that we need to speak up or make our voices heard in order to deal with mistreatment, abuse, or suffering. But all we have been taught to do is stifle our voices, leaving many women without the tools to advocate for herself.

This book is incredibly thought-provoking, provocative, and important. Roxanne Gay says as much, and when Roxanne Gay is endorsing a book, you know it’s worth reading.

Hysterical is currently available for pre-order and will be released on Sept 13. Thanks to @Netgalley and @hatchettebooks for the review copy!
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