The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

 

Title: The Mad Girls of New York

Author: Maya Rodale

Publication: 26 April 2022

Format: Kindle eARC via NetGalley & Berkley

Amazon Description

An exciting novel based on the fearless reporter Nellie Bly, who would stop at nothing to expose injustices against women in early 19th century New York, even at the risk of her own life and freedom.

In 1887 New York City, Nellie Bly has ambitions beyond writing for the ladies pages, but all the editors on Newspaper Row think women are too emotional, respectable and delicate to do the job. But then the New York World challenges her to an assignment she'd be mad to accept and mad to refuse: go undercover as a patient at Blackwell's Island Insane Asylum for Women.

For months, rumors have been swirling about deplorable conditions at Blackwell’s, but no reporter can get in—that is, until Nellie feigns insanity, gets committed and attempts to survive ten days in the madhouse. Inside, she discovers horrors beyond comprehension. It's an investigation that could make her career—if she can get out to tell it before two rival reporters scoop her story.

From USA Today bestselling author Maya Rodale comes a rollicking historical adventure series about the outrageous intrigues and bold flirtations of the most famous female reporter—and a groundbreaking rebel—of New York City’s Gilded Age.

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

I was a bit worried about this one, to be honest. I majored in communications and studied Nellie Bly and her writings quite a bit way back when. I was worried that this would end being a bit too much like the Lifetime movie catastrophe "Escaping the Madhouse" ... and not enough like anything that actually happened.

Sure, this is fiction and liberties have definitely been taken when it comes to what we know and what we don't about Bly and the time surrounding the Blackwell's investigation. Characters have been added. Details imagined. When it comes right down to it, though, they were all added and imagined with what appears to be great care and I'm okay with all of it. 

Hell, if I can be okay with Jane Austen time travelling or becoming a vampire, I can be okay with just about any historical tweak ... as long as it's written well. Maya Rodale has definitely written Nellie well and I look forward to reading more. There's a little matter of a 72-day trip around the world that isn't talked about nearly enough ... as well as her novel-writing that is talked about even less.

 

****************************************************************

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews. 

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.