Отзывы читателей

• bookishtexpat

  (3/5)

  1 person found this helpful

  I love historical fiction about rabblerousers - in this case, women who don't fit into society's mold - so I was totally drawn into the idea of "Woman 99." California was a refreshing setting for this story - so often, books about wealthy young women and their families are set in New England or on the east coast, so California added a nice new element to this kind of story. I didn't love Charlotte as a character, and I think there could have been a lot more depth to the stories of a lot of the other women in the asylum, but overall it scratched my historical fiction itch.

  1 person found this helpful

• kbranfield-837433

  (4/5)

  Set in 1888, Woman 99 by Greer Macallister is an insightful and poignant novel which showcases that horrors of mental institutions.
  
  Twenty year old Charlotte Smith blames herself for her parents admitting her older sister Phoebe to Goldengrove asylum.  Following in the footsteps of reporter Nellie Bly, Charlotte devises a plan to get committed to Goldengrove in order to rescue Phoebe. The pampered daughter of a wealthy shipping magnate, Charlotte is ill-prepared for what lies ahead of her, but she is surprisingly adaptive to the situation.  She is completely shocked to discover that many of the women at Goldengrove are not mentally ill. Instead these women are shuttled off to asylums mainly because they are an inconvenience to husbands and extended families. With the odds against her, can Charlotte locate Phoebe? And if does, will she find a way to rescue both herself and her sister from Goldengrove?
  
  Charlotte is a dutiful daughter who never goes against her parents' wishes.  She is extremely close to Phoebe and she has never felt the need to make friends. She is fully cognizant of the fact that something is wrong with Phoebe who cycles through extreme highs and troubling lows.  Charlotte does everything she can to bring her sister out her dark depression.  And when Phoebe is not depressed, Charlotte is her willing accomplice for whatever daring adventure she is embarking upon.
  
  Charlotte's plan to be committed to Goldengrove is successful, but she is initially completely out of her depth. The treatment of mental illnesses at the time is crude, primitive and sometimes, quite dangerous for the patients. Charlotte suffers several indignities in her search for Phoebe but she must count on the fragile friendships she forges to accomplish her goal. Danger lurks among the staff and patients, but Charlotte never gives up trying to find, then rescue, Phoebe.
  
  Woman 99 is an interesting novel with a unique plot and interesting characters.  The storyline is engaging, but the pacing is sometimes a little slow. Charlotte is quite reflective after she is admitted to Goldengrove and she relies on her precious memories to survive her quest. Greer Macallister's research into asylums and various treatments for mental illness during the time period is impressive. These heartbreaking details are seamlessly incorporated into the storyline. The novel's conclusion is satisfying although a bit unexpected. A well-written story that will resonate with readers who enjoy historically accurate fiction.
• wordswithrach

  (5/5)

  Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres but thrillers...eh, not so much. I tend to get sucked into a well-written suspense novel, but most of them end up being a disappointment for me. WOMAN 99 is advertised as a combo of the two, a historical thriller.
  
  Greer Macallister's writing style drew me in and I was hooked until the very last page. This is not a fast-paced novel that I read in one sitting nor was it a slow story that I had to bite off in chunks. Like Goldilocks and the three bears, it was just right, the pace was perfect!
  
  This is also an interesting look at the treatment of women in the 1800s and it is heartbreaking. I am thankful for the modern medicine we have today. The author note says this is also inspired by the infamous Nellie Bly who spent time in an asylum to report on the injustices and horror women faced in her time.
  
  I loved the lengths that Charlotte was willing to go in order to save her sister. As someone with a sister, the sisterly bond throughout the story had my heart.
  
  Thanks to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
• janarose1

  (4/5)

  When Charlotte's sister is committed to an asylum, she feigns suicide in the hopes of getting her out. Charlotte is at first overwhelmed by life in the asylum, but quickly adjusts to its rhythms. Much to her surprise, she discovers that not all of the women inside are insane. The asylum's goal is to make money, not to help the inmates. This was an interesting read. Charlotte and her fellow inmates were well developed characters. Her naiveté was astounding at times, but it felt right for the time period. Most of the guards and doctors seemed stereotypical and could have used a bit more development. Despite this criticism, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more from this author.
• fredreeca

  (5/5)

  Charlotte and Phoebe are high society sisters in San Francisco. Phoebe just does not quite fit the mold. She has outbursts and long bouts of depression. Her parents send her to a famous asylum to recover. Charlotte takes it into her own hands to save her. Charlotte pretends to be insane to enter the asylum and find her sister. This, of course, turns into more than she bargained for.Charlotte is a lot tougher than she looks. She has a determination not many women have. Not sure I could have snuck into an asylum to save anyone. She encounters many different and unique women. Some offer help and some hinder. But, Charlotte is not a quitter and she has to use her intelligence to overcome many obstacles. There were places where I expected her to do something different than she did. So, she kept me guessing.I fluctuated between 4 and 5 stars. This story starts slow and is a bit wordy. But, as the tale moves along….I could not put it down. The history surrounding the asylum really creates a story which is unstoppable. And boy, the treatments they went through had me spellbound. Give me a story about a hospital, asylum or old house and I am hooked.I received this novel from Sourcebooks via Netgalley for a honest review.
• cathygeha

  (5/5)

  Woman 99 by Greer MacallisterCharlotte Smith is a young woman who has always tried to please her parents. It is 1888 and women really don’t have a lot of rights. She is interested in a young man but when her parents affiance her to his older brother and then her sister is sent to a mental institution and she wants to get her back...well...she takes matters into her own hand and does what she has to to get into the asylum. And, what an eye opener it was. While there she seeks her sister, meets women she realizes are not really insane, sees injustices, makes some friends and then when she is ready to leave realizes it might not be as easy to do so as she thought it would be. This is an intriguing story with twists and turns while giving an insight into the dark days of institutionalization of “lunatics”. Once inside they had no rights or recourse and often they were dumped there by family or society who didn’t understand them or want to deal with them any more. I sometimes wish that the person giving the treatment could experience it first hand but...that is not likely going to happen. Did I enjoy this book? YesWould I read another book by this author? YesThank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC - this is my honest review. 4.5 Stars