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'I am more sane than I have ever been in my life. And yet, I look like a madwoman'
Behind a high stone wall on the outskirts of London lies Lake House, a private asylum for women. Tricked by her husband, Anna Palmer becomes its newest patient just weeks into her marriage.
Ravaged by the cruel treatments of the time, Anna struggles to prove her sanity, despite some surprising allies: Talitha Batt, a longtime inhabitant who seems to be as sane as she is; Lucas St Clair, a visiting physician who believes that photography may reveal the state of a patient's mind; and Catherine Abse, the proprietor's highly-strung daughter. Yet the longer Anna remains at Lake House, the more she realises that no one and nothing is quite as it appears. Not her fellow patients, her husband, her family -- not even herself.
Will Anna discover the freedom she seeks, or plunge so far into the recesses of the mind that she might never escape?
My thoughts:
Omg, poor woman. Men are such asshats!
Anna did not make the best of choices, but she just wanted to help. And for that, and cos he was embarrassed her husband sent her to an asylum! Because he does own her after all. And asylums in those days, well let's just say I would go insane there. Any sane human would go insane by their treatments.
I did wonder in the beginning, is she a bit mad after all? Who knows. Her husband sure kept saying it, but then you saw her and she just wanted to go home.
And we do learn things about the husband. Asshat!
And we do learn more things that made me wonder about her.
In the asylum we meet other women too. And hey they are not crazy either. Stupid era! Arghhhh!!!! Women are people too, not property.
Conclusion:
A good book. A slower pace that let's you get into her head.
My thoughts:
Omg, poor woman. Men are such asshats!
Anna did not make the best of choices, but she just wanted to help. And for that, and cos he was embarrassed her husband sent her to an asylum! Because he does own her after all. And asylums in those days, well let's just say I would go insane there. Any sane human would go insane by their treatments.
I did wonder in the beginning, is she a bit mad after all? Who knows. Her husband sure kept saying it, but then you saw her and she just wanted to go home.
And we do learn things about the husband. Asshat!
And we do learn more things that made me wonder about her.
In the asylum we meet other women too. And hey they are not crazy either. Stupid era! Arghhhh!!!! Women are people too, not property.
Conclusion:
A good book. A slower pace that let's you get into her head.
Paperback, 386 pages
Published 2013 by Simon & Schuster UK (first published May 24th 2012)
Historical fiction
Own
I don't think sending women to asylums for next to nothing was uncommon back then. This sounds good!
ReplyDeleteSad but true!
DeleteI wouldn't have wanted to be in that time period.
ReplyDeleteMe neither
DeleteHmm you have me wanting to reverse it and put him in the asylum. Hope she wins out.
ReplyDeleteHear hear
Deleteyeah this sounds like something that I can see happening at that day and age
ReplyDeleteIt sure makes me mad
DeleteGrrr men, I'd go crazy in there too
ReplyDeletePoor women
DeleteYeah men are asshats just ask any woman in broadcasting lately
ReplyDeleteSrsly, every day! Why are men idiots?
DeleteGlad this was good. Men are asshats I agree. Asylums back then though- eek.
ReplyDeleteI would sure not would have wanted to be in one
DeleteYep, men can be jerks.
ReplyDeleteMelanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads
Oh, I hope this turned out happy by the end! What a terrible situation!
ReplyDeleteSpoiler alert...it did ;)
DeleteYep, she definitely married an asshat!
ReplyDelete~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
For sure
DeleteIt sounds like a good one- as a story, not as a right thing to do to someone. Scary times back then.
ReplyDeleteWomen had no rights at all :/
DeleteSounds interesting. Sad to see how women were treated back then.
ReplyDeleteGlad to be here now
DeleteAt one point in history, sending people to an asylum at the drop of a hat was pretty common practice.
ReplyDeleteIf you were different. If you had a pink hat. If you said men are asshats, away you go
Deletewhy not? I didn't know about this one
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in HS a loooong time ago I had to work in a place like that and even 20-ish years ago it was hellish.
ReplyDeleteFor What It's Worth
Hell anytime
DeleteThis sounds really good! I am amazed by how men could so easily lock up their spouses not so long ago. Terrible.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I know, horrid
DeleteOMG... I think I would get really mad when reading this one.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, mad alert
DeleteThis sounds sad in a way. I always think it is sad when this happens. Not crazy woman gets sent to a house of crazy people. :/
ReplyDeleteEveryone sucks!
Delete