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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2022 7:12:45 GMT -5
DAY 4
1) Was there anything in the book you wish you knew more about?
2) What did you think of the number of releases that occurred at the hospital right before the facility came under scrutiny? How do you think the patients who were released integrated back into society?
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Post by bumblebuzz21 on Apr 7, 2022 7:34:29 GMT -5
I was glad the number of releases came under scrutiny. It made McFarland look bad and I'm all for that.
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Post by peacemama on Apr 7, 2022 7:39:36 GMT -5
I'm guessing that much like today it didn't go smoothly since there was an inadequate safety net of community mental health services to support the formerly institutionalized patients.
When I did the Bing search about women on juries, the "when did women first" sentence stem brought up a long list of firsts that have occurred in the not-so-distant past. Definitely spurred my interest to see what books the library might have on women's rights and trailblazer biographies.
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Post by bernelli on Apr 7, 2022 8:03:09 GMT -5
I was wondering the entire time when the other states joined Illinois with the change in committal policies. I know that up until the 60's parents could still commit their teens for being rebelious...so there was probably not a whole lot of great change right away. ...Girl Interrupted is a true story based on a teen girl being committed for being problematic, for example. I agree with peacemama, about the difficult transition back into the real world...especially if the women had to return to their husbands who put them in the asylumns in the first place. In Patient Rehab (which is much different, but still a good comparison) and transitioning back to life is so incredibly difficult for people TODAY. They have to change so much about their reality and having a strong support group is important. This is in a world where mental health is given space & more respect than in the past. So I just think in the 1800's, it's a recipe for failure for those poor women. It just seemed so bleak to me once someone was committed.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2022 9:24:13 GMT -5
When I retired in 2019, just months before Covid lockdowns, etc…, I was going to try to volunteer for a group helping victims of sex trafficking. Because of Covid restrictions and my own desire to limit contact, I never followed through. Just this last week, a new local group that is close to my home, was at my church. So, while it’s not identical to this story, I have been led to contact them and see what I can do to help.
Also, for further reading, a woman named Dorothea Lynde Dix made tremendous strides in changing mental health just after Elizabeth’s experience. I haven’t googled for any actual reading yet.
I just shook my head as they emptied their facilities with cases they knew were questionable. I can’t imagine the circumstances they went back to. I would have liked to read something about that. Although the book was already LOOOOOOOONNNNNG. LOL
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Post by zoomingzebra on Apr 7, 2022 11:44:06 GMT -5
1. It does make me very curious about other women that blazed the trail for us that follow. You know there have to be hundreds more that fought battles over the years.
2. I think those releases were absolutely because they knew they would not be certified insane. They were absolutely covering their asses. It was actually infuriating to me that it was so blatant. Those poor women.
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Post by gemster on Apr 7, 2022 12:21:39 GMT -5
Sorry I missed yesterday, just been offered a new job so was out to celebrate From yesterday I think that the judge chickened out of making the decision on his own, hence the jury. Obviously the jury did the right thing on this occasion but I’ve long wondered if a jury made up of your average citizen is the right way to go, we have more or less the same system here as in the US but a lot of other Western European countries don’t have trial by jury though I’ve not done enough research to understand if they have more or less miscarriages of justice than the US/U.K. From today I’d have liked to know a bit more of the women that befriended Elizabeth in the asylum and also the ‘good’ staff who helped her and what became of some of them. I was glad about all the releases but agree they likely got no support and many would have just gone back to being controlled by the men who’d had them put away. Also agree there is still little support today, bit of a different situation but it’s one I’ve witnessed first hand - a friend’s daughter went through court mandated rehab for heroin addiction, came out clean ready to start a new life. Neither she nor her family got any kind of follow up help or support at all, 6 months later she’s back on the drugs
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2022 7:39:32 GMT -5
Day 5
Last day! Thanks everyone for participating.
1. Which of Elizabeth’s many accomplishments do you think she was most proud?
2. If this book were to become a movie, who would you want to play Elizabeth, McFarland, and Theophilus?
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Post by bernelli on Apr 8, 2022 7:51:19 GMT -5
I think her main focus was always getting back to her children. After that, though, I'd say she was most proud of advocating for other women wrongly committed, and for fighting for women's rights. It's got to be so wearying to fight for what you know is right and be met with such negativity and corruption fighting to tear you down. I'm so impressed with her tenacity and ability to stay sane through it all! What an impressive and strong woman. And through it all she kept her kids her priority.... I'm in awe of her.
I'm terrible at casting movies, and I don't know the young actors anymore. I would watch a movie about this though.
Thanks for leading this discussion and for recommending this very excellent book, @fairazzbueller. Very very good!
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Post by bumblebuzz21 on Apr 8, 2022 8:21:15 GMT -5
I think she was most proud of her book (although it kind of sounded like a hot mess to me). I would cast Seth Rogan for McFarland, Topher Grace for her husband and Kate Beckinsdale as Elizabeth.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2022 8:47:11 GMT -5
There were so many accomplishments. I agree with the book, getting back to her children and I’ll bet she was thrilled when the bastards starting emptying the facility before the investigation. I don’t remember how to do links here. I’m gonna try so you can see my picks. My movie is a Netflix production. My picks ar Paul Giamatti as Theophilus. Soft but cunning. TheoDani Kinds as Elizabeth. (Canadian Actrees on Workin Moms) ElizabethGlenn Fleshler as McFarland. BAD Doctor
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2022 8:50:16 GMT -5
On a side note, two of my actor picks are from the Showtime production called Billions. OMGosh. If you haven’t seen this, (now streaming on Amazon Prime), start it now. Riveting. It’s so fast paced, you can’t be distracted while watching or you’’ll be constantly hitting rewind.
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Post by peacemama on Apr 8, 2022 9:38:22 GMT -5
So many choices rattling around in my head for responses about her accomplishments and the casting.
1. I think I'll pick her book. She ended up self-publishing it... Right?
2. Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), McFarland (Michael Fassbender), Theophilus (Tom Hiddleston)
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Post by peacemama on Apr 8, 2022 9:50:51 GMT -5
Thanks, @fairazzbueller, for nominating this book and facilitating the discussion. Yet another one of those book club picks I didn't vote for, but am so thankful that others did because it was an amazing read.
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Post by gemster on Apr 9, 2022 6:17:43 GMT -5
Sorry I’m a day late and a dollar short again! I agree Elizabeth’s main focus was her children otherwise she’d never have gone near her hideous husband again. Same as bernelli, I’m clueless with actors but I could see Kate Winslett as Elizabeth, I would love to watch a movie or even better a TV series based on this book though I’m sure the asylum scenes would be harrowing Thank you so much @fairazzbueller, for nominating this book and leading the discussion
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sal
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Post by sal on Apr 23, 2022 19:54:39 GMT -5
I got SO BEHIND on this book, and just now hit the part where she freaking departs the train in Tonica.
The dinko town of 700 where I went to high school.
To stay with her cousin, who lived in Granville, where my eldest sister lives.
I am not used to small towns I know being in books, but then, they were all over Radium Girls, too (Ottawa, LaSalle-Peru).
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