I hope my review does this book justice.

I've been an Audible monthly member since 2000. That's almost 18 years of a book subscription. There are a very small handful that I return to, and THIS book has just shot to the top of that list. The trick to sidesplitting humor is cleverly finding and communicating certain truths. Our dear writer must've been in knots throughout the writing of this book. Her caustic wit expresses itself in such a way that illustrates absurdity PERFECTLY! The performer has proven herself to be the ideal match to this writer. Her inflections are spot on, and had me cracking up on a regular basis. If you've EVER thought that the 19th century was a romantic, dreamy era to live in, this will change your mind. I have no doubt that I've missed parts, so I'll be going back to make sure I catch everything. Again... and again... and again... Buy this book, you will not regret it! Oh, and the accompanying .pdf does not disappoint, either! I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

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29 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Starts out entertaining, grows tiresome

I was hoping for something far more historical in nature, and while I did find some interesting facts at the beginning of the book, the latter half became tiresome and hateful. Sarcasm is an excellent spice, but makes a poor main course.

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14 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Interesting and funny but, at times, repetitive

I enjoyed the book and can understand the choice for the narrator's tone but it became repetitive listening to her snippy comments. The point I most enjoyed was when she seemed to slip out of the Victorian character to express her disgust at one of the time's leading 'scientists'.

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9 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Humorous, Fun and Educational

I very much enjoyed how this book took the tone of speaking directly to a modern woman, instead of simply pumping out a multitude of facts.
It is rare to learn and be entertained - this book accomplishes both, without talking down to you.

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9 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Ladies, we have it so good!

We really have come a long way, baby! This was so interesting. While I knew life was hard back then, I didn’t know the details. So many rules! So many ridiculous rules! And the male doctors! Try not to throw a fit in disgust, lest you be labeled hysterical. Totally worth a credit.

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6 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

couldn't finish it!

Any additional comments?

Although the narrator does a terrific job with the material, the amusing novelty of the constant "ick" factor grows tiresome after the first several chapters. I couldn't finish the book, but I did scroll through the PDF and I appreciate how well-researched it was. I am SO thankful not to have been born at that time! If, like me, you adore period films and books, this book will definitely give you a hard slap into reality. Shudder....

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5 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Hilarious and Disturbing

Very interesting read, spares no details. Prose is a little over-the-top but lots of fun!

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5 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

So much fun!

I will happily await her next book! The irony is biting and the research, impressive.

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3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Great... until the Worshipping of Margaret Sanger

I REALLY really REALLY wanted to love this book. As a long time lover of historical novels but also a curious sort, the questions of how women used the toilet in all those skirts and what people wiped with were always poking holes in the illusions of “romantic victorian heroes and heroines.”

It was great... and then she started talking about eugenics. Fine, okay, it was an interest in the Victorian era - eugenics are the reason we have so many dog “breeds” as different as the Great Dane and the chihuahua.

Then she mentioned Sanger, a devout racist and anti-black reproductive activist. Yup, the woman responsible for all Planned Parenthood’s that eliminate more than half of the black American population every year. The author mentioned her a few times, but she also mentioned Kellog (responsible for the popularism of circumcision) so I didn’t mind. History is full of influential bad people.

Then came the line, “women being impregnated by drunk abusive husbands” and I was lost to any ability to enjoy the book.

Believe what you may but I for one stand with the true suffragettes of the Victorian age, like Susan B Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Victoria Woodhull, and Elizabeth Blackwell - women who viewed abortion as the crime against human rights that it is.

Modern leftists who value progress for the sake of progress would probably enjoy this book.

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2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Every woman should have this book!!

The story and narration were both amazing. I want to have every book by her.

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2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile