Welcome to Litsy!

This book looks at 29 famous women who lived/live life unapologetically, moving forward the way they choose despite how society tells them to be. There are several I definitely wouldn‘t want to emulate, but there‘s something to be said for living the way you want to. My only quibble is that this could be a bit more diverse.

I wanted more about the women. I wanted less notable women. I wanted more than “this woman was loud”.
I was disappointed. Yes there were badass, amazing women in this book. There were also troublesome women in this book.
There were no life lessons either.
You could pass on this and look up the information on the internet honestly.

Started this one yesterday after finishing ‘The Rose Code‘.

I had to skip the entire first chapter, JK Rowling. I know there will be other problematic women in this book. Currently Amy Poehler is up. I know there has been some issues with her recently (I‘m not 100% sure what the issues are).
I love women that refuse to conform to the status quo, I do not love women who are problematic though.

“Sometimes a woman is considered difficult simply by pointing out the obvious; sometimes it‘s for drawing attention to something people suspect but wish to ignore.”

This was disappointing to say the least. I was so exited about this book, then opened it to find JK Rowling as the first woman talked about. I should have known then that I was not going to enjoy this book. I finally gave up after reading the chapter about Coco Chanel. “Praising” a literal Nazi was just to much for me.

I tried-I did. And this had such promise so I was disappointed. I put up with the slur of hearing “Eskimo” I put up with hearing one of the “heroines” saying she wanted to adopt “a white, black, yellow and a red” child 🤦🏽‍♀️after which she was very upset not finding a “red” meaning my indigenous people. But I drew the line at some of the heroes. Chanel?? She was literally a Nazi spy! Lena Dunham? Eva Peron? I‘ll find my own list of strong women

⭐⭐⭐ (3)

Not all these women necessarily deserve praise, but they were all very interesting to read about.

Didn't love this book, but I enjoy Karbo's writing style.

#VirtualMtTBR2020 #Overdrive

Finished this late last night. This will fulfill my library challenge prompt of reading a book from a library display. I kept having deja-vu during this one, but I know I haven‘t read it before. The set-up & artwork is similar to Gumption, so I think that‘s what caused the feeling. A couple of the essays felt too long, but I enjoyed learning about women that I didn‘t know much about like Eva Peron and Frida Kahlo. 3.5/5 ⭐️

My coworker took a break out on the sun porch today. I‘m busier today than I have been all week but can‘t do telehealth outside. Hoping to read more of the tagged book later on the porch & take a walk. And I love my daffodils.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

There were aspects of this book that I absolutely loved, hence the three stars.
I loved that it felt like a mini celebration of 29 famous women for ALL of their accomplishments and roles they play in their lives.
I loved that with each chapter, and therefore woman, there was potential to learn something new, even from the women I‘ve heard of before.

That said, the long chapters felt very long and the APA writing format really threw me.

That‘s a difficult woman talking right there. She claims her power in her actions, not in the perceptions of others.

“There‘s only one very good life,” Diana wrote, “And that‘s the life you know you want and you make it yourself.”

To be appreciated and accepted by the first man in our lives gives us confidence to march that self out into the world, to feel that we will not be shunned for being both woman and a complex human being.

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”
~Amelia Earhart~

We‘re afraid that if we honor and express our true selves, and if that true self is not as self-sacrificing as society demands of women, we will chase everyone we love away.

Originally set this one for March 31st when my local library‘s winter reading challenge originally was set to end next Tuesday.

I‘m pretty pleased to have accomplished this just over a week early, even though amid the COVID-19 outbreak the challenge has been extended to the end of April.

My current reads audiobook is automatically returned tomorrow around 3pm, so I‘d really like to finish that plus 5 more physical books by the end of April. 📚

Please commiserate with me and tell me I‘m not alone and shit.....first world bookworm problems, am I right?

Sometimes a woman is considered difficult simply by pointing out the obvious; sometimes it‘s for drawing attention to something people suspect but wish to ignore.

The most difficult women are the angry ones. The ones who refuse to “let it go”, think happy thoughts, or eat their feelings. For reasons I will never understand, men are given a free pass when it comes to anger. But women are expected to figure out a way of disposing of theirs, as though it was a dirty diaper.

Don‘t waste time trying to change your anger into something that makes you likable; you will only wind up disliking yourself. Write your rage, paint it, film it, dance it, lyricize it, poeticize it. You don‘t have to be good, just honest.

Went to the library today before it closes down tomorrow. I have lots of books to read at home but couldn‘t resist a visit. Got the 2 movies that seem to be my go-to comfort movies during the last few years. Still working on my library challenge & decided to get books I don‘t already have for 2 prompts—a book on a library display & one they recommended on their podcast. The tagged book sounded really interesting. Thankful for my awesome library!

An interesting collection about 29 women who dares to break the rules. I liked that she covered their flaws as well and didn‘t just gloss over their lives.

Happy Independent Bookstore Day! Here‘s my haul from my local indie, which had 20% off all hardcovers. I would have bought even more, but it‘s a small store. 😂 What did you get at your indie today?

Some of us write books inspired by one amazing woman -- Karen Karbo's latest was inspired by 29! Read her #womenshistoryreads interview for Karen's thoughts on the importance of historical context, reading recommendations, and a famous banana skirt that's only a sliver of the story. #difficultwomen greermacallister.com/blog

For those who are difficult women, and those of us who aspire to be, Karbo gives a quick bio of 29 women she considers to be difficult and the reasons for each woman‘s inclusion. Some really great quotes appear throughout the book (I highlighted a few in previous posts I made). Fascinating read!

Love this!

❤️❤️❤️

Looking at my library check outs today made me realize that this is due Tuesday and has a waiting list. Yikes! Starting this tonight.

"Difficult women are not all swashbuckling extroverts who shoot off their mouths and shout down their adversaries. Sometimes they just sit quietly and refuse to pretend to be agreeable."

I loved this collection of short bios/profiles of women who have been considered "difficult" for one reason or another. For each one, she highlighted a particular trait. She doesn't sugar coat anything, she portrays these women as they are/were -- but makes sure you see how they were true to themselves. Bonus points for building my desire to know more about each -- I bought bios of Josephine Baker and Martha Gellhorn before I finished this.

"Difficult women aren't all swashbuckling extroverts who shoot off their mouths and shout down their adversaries. Sometimes they just sit quietly and refuse to pretend to be agreeable." -- from the section on Jane Goodall.

A perfect night out -- a fireplace, a diet coke, and a great book.

So excited to have received this as an ARC. It‘s so me. 😜