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seregelda's review against another edition
3.0
Despite the terrible terrible writing voice of Vicki Leon, I got a lot out of this book by comparing names with Judy Chicago's "The Dinner Party" art installation, and made notes in my book for not only those with a dinner plate setting, but also looked up the women on the heritage floor. I got these books cheap years ago, and I'm slowly getting through them. Wish I had the book about "The Dinner Party" instead! lol
prettydeadlady's review against another edition
5.0
You want a book that talks about women kicking ass and taking names? Then this is the book for you. From author Vicki Leon, this book recounts the tales of women of the medieval ages from Europe to Korea to Africa and beyond. Ms. Leon takes a humorous approach to recount the lives of these women who had a vision and did something about it and keeps your interested in the history.
Some may not like her by-the-cuff way of talking about the women, but I think it helps in getting to know the women she it letting us know about it without it sounding like a dry textbook. Regale yourself with the tales of Urraca of Aragon, Onorata Rodiana or Hroswitha. These women were merchants, sailors, queens, thieves, mothers, nuns and lovers. They tried their hand at everything from sewing to being a visionary to murdering their husbands.
This is a must recommend anyone who digs females in history. Vicki Leon also has a few more books in the series, Uppity Women of Ancient Times, Uppity Women of the New World, and Uppity Women of the Renaissance.
Some may not like her by-the-cuff way of talking about the women, but I think it helps in getting to know the women she it letting us know about it without it sounding like a dry textbook. Regale yourself with the tales of Urraca of Aragon, Onorata Rodiana or Hroswitha. These women were merchants, sailors, queens, thieves, mothers, nuns and lovers. They tried their hand at everything from sewing to being a visionary to murdering their husbands.
This is a must recommend anyone who digs females in history. Vicki Leon also has a few more books in the series, Uppity Women of Ancient Times, Uppity Women of the New World, and Uppity Women of the Renaissance.
hollyeula's review against another edition
1.0
I was under the impression that this book was published in the late 1970s or early 1980s until I checked the publication date and saw that it was instead published in 1997! The attitude of the author is very narrow-minded toward women, seeming to imply that all women enjoy shopping, clothing and cosmetics.
The author's chatty and overly friendly style of writing makes the book appealing as a "bathroom reader", an impression which is heightened by each of the passages on the featured women being no longer than a page or two. (Frequently featuring inset pictures that have nonsensical captions and no relation to the woman presented.) The editing job on the book is terrible, and dates and historical facts are wrong in many places.
The author's chatty and overly friendly style of writing makes the book appealing as a "bathroom reader", an impression which is heightened by each of the passages on the featured women being no longer than a page or two. (Frequently featuring inset pictures that have nonsensical captions and no relation to the woman presented.) The editing job on the book is terrible, and dates and historical facts are wrong in many places.
szeglin's review against another edition
3.0
This book is like a bag of potato chips. The history bites are quick and delicious, but the nutrition value is a bit questionable--I'm not sure if all the info is accurate, and nothing is put into context (or given a time period).
libkatem's review against another edition
5.0
Women rocked the Medieval era; they had to, the plauge wiped out more men than women!
larsinio's review against another edition
4.0
not bad. shes a really funny and intelligent writer. sometimes it gets in the way of historical retelling, but 90% of the time makes it enjoyable.
Full of medieval snark, reccomended for history nerds!
Full of medieval snark, reccomended for history nerds!
pm_ray's review
3.0
Fun but shallow. It’s a light read where when you have a little time, you can pick it up, maybe get a couple chuckles and find some names you might want to go learn more about.
To be fair I might not be the right target audience for this.
I read some of the other reviews. The treatment of humor by/for women has changed a lot since this was published and there were some times where I would say it hasn’t aged well. So if you are the type of person that will get bothered by that, I would not recommend.
To be fair I might not be the right target audience for this.
I read some of the other reviews. The treatment of humor by/for women has changed a lot since this was published and there were some times where I would say it hasn’t aged well. So if you are the type of person that will get bothered by that, I would not recommend.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review
4.0
One star off because some accurate dates would've been nice.
Things I learned from this book:
1. Leeches can help you fake virginity
2. Quinine knowlegde came in part from a woman
3. Women have always succed in business
4. Don't get Irish women mad
Things I learned from this book:
1. Leeches can help you fake virginity
2. Quinine knowlegde came in part from a woman
3. Women have always succed in business
4. Don't get Irish women mad
ashesmann's review
3.0
This will sound strange, but this is best treated like a bathroom reader. Such brief stories, it's hard to get into it. I really did enjoy the humor, but if you were hoping to really learn something, it isn't helpful. It muddles the message a bit really. I kept asking, Is this a joke? and What does that joke mean? In the stories, I would have liked it less eurocentric. She did include some stories from other places. I would just like it more even. And for not all the women to have slept around quite so much, though I guess the author can't help that. I wonder if we harm our sex by acting as if non before us were capable. By acting like feminists today are so unique and fighting like our ancestresses didn't, doesn't seem fair. Not when you read about what they were really like.
minesayrejoice's review
5.0
This is my ghdfhyhjv-nth time reading it. Mom bought a bunch of books like it when she was homeschooling me (4th-6th grade) and we were learning 'bout those periods.