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ashpanda88's review
2.0
This book had a good premise but really fell flat for me. The author just rants on and on about various cultural references from the 90s involving controversial women and never really comes around to an actual meaningful point. I might have appreciated it more if I was older when the events talked about happened... but maybe not. I'll admit... I also didn't get through the last 100 pages.
redriver7's review against another edition
3.0
Where to start? Regarding the other reviews, I have to say that the stream-of-consciousness writing didn't bother me (in fact I liked it) and I also found a lot of sarcasm that might have been construed as affirmations. She does have a habit of exposing something through the eyes of society followed by her own views, which might be confusing for some. However, she does go on a bit on each subject and it does become a bit tiresome. Instead of an essay about the way society regards "difficult" women (aka "bitches"), it is more a list of her own personal oppinions, a written account of her venting, a journal of her thoughts, ideas and frustrations. She's a good writer though, and it is a real shame that the editing of this book was practically non-existent : from factual inaccuracies to constant typos, not to mention the rambling paragraphs, it looks like they could have done a better job at cleaning this up a bit. As a draft, this book shows great potential, but it needs much more work. Regarding the "feminism" of the book, there are some good points BUT it is mainly a very white, very upper class kind of feminism, which was also disappointing. Another thing that I found annoying was the author's obsession with a woman's allure, with her sex power, obsessing over aspects of sexuality and sensuality but in the most superficial of ways. And she seemed to think that her view of the subject was avant-guarde, when in fact she's just valuing the same old standards of beauty.
Indeed, as other reviews have described, she also ends up putting women down, instead of "celebrating difficult women", she celebrates some, criticises others and judges all, nitpicking at every little aspect of their beings while offering her reader her own opinions. Some of these opinions are actually quite astute and insightful, but her "celebration" feels more dependent on her personal views than on any feminist theories or other objective point of origin.
To sum up: there are some interesting gems in the book, it's just a shame they are so well hidden.
Indeed, as other reviews have described, she also ends up putting women down, instead of "celebrating difficult women", she celebrates some, criticises others and judges all, nitpicking at every little aspect of their beings while offering her reader her own opinions. Some of these opinions are actually quite astute and insightful, but her "celebration" feels more dependent on her personal views than on any feminist theories or other objective point of origin.
To sum up: there are some interesting gems in the book, it's just a shame they are so well hidden.
meredithmegan87's review
5.0
I read this book in high school and got so many useful quotes out of it. Very feminist, VERY good. I wish I had my own copy!!!
jjcbelle's review against another edition
1.0
I feel like I deserve a medal for actually finishing this book; I have never tried so hard to read something in my life. It was basically 400 pages of hypocritical drivel, where much of the time I had no idea what point she was trying to get at. If I could give this book 0 stars, I would.
erkefiende's review against another edition
4.0
I love this because my friend Mike gave it to me. Rest in peace, little Mikee. Still miss you.
celtfem's review
2.0
This is a bit of cheat, since I didn't finish the book. While I think her concept is good one, it was poorly executed, unfocused, and over-written. It couldn't hold my attention and when it did I was either mocking it or cheering it. I had hoped for much, much more - intellectually, stylistically, content-wise - than what was here. After nearly 100 pages (and barely 2 chapters!), I gave up. I couldn't force myself to slog through it at the expense of reading other books I'll enjoy more.
pattydsf's review
3.0
“I don't think it's really about being bitchy or demanding or cold or calculating: those characteristics, after all, can be attached to most women with even the paltriest of evidence. I think, quite frankly, that the world simply does not care for the complicated girls, the ones who seem too dark, too deep, too vibrant, too opinionated...”
At one time, Wurtzel was quite the sensation. At 26 she wrote Prozac Nation and it seemed like everyone was reading it. The same was true with this book. In 1999 when it was published this got a lot of press. Of course, I never got around to reading either of these books when they were hot.
Sometime in the last couple of years I encountered quotations from this book like the one above. References were made to Bitch in some of the other books I was reading. There were enough times that I ran across Wurtzel or her book that I decided it was time to read it.
This is a little dated. For someone younger than me, it might take Wikipedia to explain who some of the women referenced are. However, others keep coming to the surface just like Wurtzel. I wonder if Wurtzel ever thought that Clinton would become a presidential candidate.
Even though this book was written almost twenty years ago, I found parts of it fascinating. I am not sorry I read it. Wurtzel makes some good points. Her beliefs about how the world sees women are still valid. Her examples are old, but the world is still mostly a man’s world and women who don’t fit the “proper” roles are still a problem. If you want to know more about bitchy women this is a good place to start.
At one time, Wurtzel was quite the sensation. At 26 she wrote Prozac Nation and it seemed like everyone was reading it. The same was true with this book. In 1999 when it was published this got a lot of press. Of course, I never got around to reading either of these books when they were hot.
Sometime in the last couple of years I encountered quotations from this book like the one above. References were made to Bitch in some of the other books I was reading. There were enough times that I ran across Wurtzel or her book that I decided it was time to read it.
This is a little dated. For someone younger than me, it might take Wikipedia to explain who some of the women referenced are. However, others keep coming to the surface just like Wurtzel. I wonder if Wurtzel ever thought that Clinton would become a presidential candidate.
Even though this book was written almost twenty years ago, I found parts of it fascinating. I am not sorry I read it. Wurtzel makes some good points. Her beliefs about how the world sees women are still valid. Her examples are old, but the world is still mostly a man’s world and women who don’t fit the “proper” roles are still a problem. If you want to know more about bitchy women this is a good place to start.