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calarco 's review for:

The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
4.0

If your internal monologue is a guttural scream, then "The Yellow Wallpaper" is the story for you. While it is undeniably one of the most famous stories of postpartum depression, or more generally, "that story where that lady goes insane," it is also an excellent dark comedy. The very fact that it is so funny allows for a serious exploration of the protagonist's psychosis that does not belittle her condition or character.

Many of the stories in this collection include responses to gaslighting, and poke fun at absurdly restrictive societal norms. Gilman is all about turning assumptions upside down, something she does exceptionally well with the heartwarming "Turned." While the women of her time were often burdened with the consequences of not only their own actions, but also those of the men around them, Gilman allows for her female protagonists to be free in body and mind.

It is worth mentioning that different editions under the name "The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories" contain different short stories by Gilman. I would definitely recommend this volume, but I can't image an unsatisfying Gilman short story, so go ham with whichever version you want.