Natalie Zellat Dyen

I won a finished copy of this book (came signed by the author with a note from her--thank you Natalie!!). Parts of this I really enjoyed, while other parts kind of dragged a bit. Overall it was interesting, set pre-Civil war in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. I love historical fiction as it gives insight into some of the parts of history that are not taught in main stream history classes and books. This was no exception. The book "tells an emotional tale of suffering, survival and the healing power of love." Overall, I enjoyed the book and will be passing it on to my friends who enjoy historical fiction. Thanks again to Library Thing for picking me, and to Natalie for sending me a finished copy of her book with a personalized note.
… (altro)

Set in Philadelphia in the mid-1800s, this is a well-written account of a young, institutionalized woman imprisoned for a crime she cannot recall committing. Through her memories, we learn of her pre-incarcerated life including her involvement in the abolitionist movement, her romance with a well-to-do man, being sexually abused by her “master” and being emotionally abused by her mother. There is a shift halfway through the book, when the setting changes, and the storyline takes a different direction. I found that it lost some of its appeal at this point, as it morphed into somewhat predictable women’s fiction focusing more on motherhood and romance. But it is certainly not a light read. The book covers some big topics: slavery, abuse (child, sexual, emotional & bullying), violence, murder, insanity, racism, misogyny, the failings of the justice system, as well as challenges in motherhood, amongst others. So it gives the reader plenty to think about.
I won a free copy of this book (thanks to the author & publisher!) and am voluntarily providing an honest review.… (altro)

What first drew me to "Locked in Silence" was its setting in an asylum, and its focus on a woman consigned there against her will. I enjoy historical tales about real, less explored struggles, and unfortunately the nineteenth century did see more than one woman unjustly stripped of their rights in such a manner.

I did get my wish, albeit in a bit of a more twisted fashion. Our heroine's cell is sparse, but largely humane for the times, and the real prison is the one created by her own mind in her story of struggle, as well as that of the silence and judgement enforced by the officials of the asylum. In that way, I did appreciate this book for its focus on the psychological toll, as opposed to resorting solely to physical violence as a way of highlighting atrocity and struggle.

If I did have any issues with this book, it would be the values of the main character being a bit too perfectly attuned to modern standards and ethics. As a reader of historical fiction, I just have seen too many iterations of this trope, and it just can get a bit tedious seeing it again in this book.

Thanks to LibraryThing and the author for providing me a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.… (altro)