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In Praise of Difficult Women
In Praise of Difficult Women: Life Lessons from 29 Heroines Who Dared to Break the Rules | Karen Karbo
32 posts | 17 read | 40 to read
From Frida Kahlo and Elizabeth Taylor to Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher, and Lena Dunham, this witty narrative explores what we can learn from the imperfect and extraordinary legacies of 29 iconic women who forged their own unique paths in the world. Smart, sassy, and unapologetically feminine, this elegantly illustrated book is an ode to the bold and charismatic women of modern history. Best-selling author Karen Karbo (The Gospel According to Coco Chanel) spotlights the spirited rule breakers who charted their way with little regard for expectations: Amelia Earhart, Helen Gurley Brown, Edie Sedgwick, Hillary Clinton, Amy Poehler, and Shonda Rhimes, among others. Their lives--imperfect, elegant, messy, glorious--provide inspiration and instruction for the new age of feminism we have entered. Karbo distills these lessons with wit and humor, examining the universal themes that connect us to each of these mesmerizing personalities today: success and style, love and authenticity, daring and courage. Being "difficult," Karbo reveals, might not make life easier. But it can make it more fulfilling--whatever that means for you. In the Reader's Guide included in the back of the book, Karbo asks thought-provoking questions about how we relate to each woman that will make for fascinating book club conversation.
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review
OrangeMooseReads
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Panpan

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.

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OrangeMooseReads
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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.

Bookwomble JKR would have been to difficult for me to stomach, too 😝 1y
29 likes1 comment
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Sharpeipup
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“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.”

37 likes1 stack add
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JenReadsThings
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Bailedbailed

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.

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Jgotham
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Panpan

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

Jgotham I know women don‘t have to be perfect but I would say not profiling Nazi spies or sympathizers or sexual abusers is prob an easy fix 🤷🏽‍♀️ 3y
12 likes1 comment
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SleepyDragon
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Mehso-so

⭐⭐⭐ (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

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Scochrane26
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Pickpick

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 ⭐️

25 likes1 stack add
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Scochrane26
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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.

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Chelseabillups30
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

43 likes1 stack add
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Chelseabillups30

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

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Chelseabillups30

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

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Chelseabillups30

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.

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Chelseabillups30

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

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Chelseabillups30

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.

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Chelseabillups30
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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. 📚

wanderinglynn 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 That‘s awesome! 🎉 4y
magyklyXdelish What app or site is that? 4y
See All 6 Comments
magyklyXdelish Thank you! 4y
PaperbackPrincess19 I did a Bookly trial, do you think it‘s worth the subscription? 4y
Chelseabillups30 @Paperback.princess19, absolutely!! I‘ve never regretted getting the full version! Do it! You‘re going to love it! 4y
44 likes6 comments
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Chelseabillups30
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Please commiserate with me and tell me I‘m not alone and shit.....first world bookworm problems, am I right?

Scochrane26 I don‘t think it really bothers me because there often seems to be different amount of pages listed depending on the edition. 4y
SW-T Sometimes, depending on the book. Nonfiction ones seem to be worse at that. You think you have 450 pages...but between the intro and notes it‘s just under 300 🙄 4y
GHABI4ROSES YESSSSS, that happens with my Barnes & Noble Classics. About 40 pages of intro. Informative, but I want my page credit! 4y
Branwen I am absolutely so relieved to learn that I'm not the only one who feels this way! 🤣📚💕 4y
36 likes4 comments
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Chelseabillups30

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.

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Chelseabillups30

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.

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Chelseabillups30

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.

BookDragonNotWorm 💙 this! Why do we as women need permission to feel/experience any of the less pleasant emotions we have? Are we too concerned with other people's comfort? 4y
24 likes1 comment
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Scochrane26
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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!

TheAromaofBooks I love Austenland so much! It's one of the few where I can't decide if I love the book or movie more. 4y
Scochrane26 @thearomaofbooks I‘ve read the book & the one based on Northanger abbey. I think I like movie a bit more, mainly because of the “it‘s getting hot in here” performance. 4y
TheAromaofBooks I think the only thing I liked better in the book was the way that Jane gets sent to Austenland to begin with - in the movie her obsession with Darcy comes across as a smidge creepy haha 4y
Scochrane26 @TheAromaofBooks She does have a major obsession. 😂 4y
30 likes4 comments
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Krose1
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Pickpick

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.

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Hooked_on_books
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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?

emilyhaldi Great stack!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
mrozzz My favorite but today is a little Out of Print pouch with a Colson Whitehead quote on it ☺️ 6y
Soubhiville I didn‘t get to shop 😩. I had company all weekend, which was wonderful and fun, but I did feel pangs for missing indie day. 6y
72 likes3 comments
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theladygreer
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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

23 likes1 stack add
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Librarybelle
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Pickpick

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!

mrozzz 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻 6y
Tadams4 This sounds intriguing! 6y
100 likes11 stack adds3 comments
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Librarybelle
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Love this!

batsy 💜 6y
DivineDiana Yes! 6y
74 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Librarybelle
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❤️❤️❤️

peacegypsy Love this. 6y
71 likes1 comment
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Librarybelle
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Looking at my library check outs today made me realize that this is due Tuesday and has a waiting list. Yikes! Starting this tonight.

83 likes2 stack adds
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Beth.La
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"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."

3 likes2 stack adds
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lauralovesbooks1
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Pickpick

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.

mrozzz Glad to see a good review! I love the topic. 6y
bnp Intriguing, & I like the page you highlighted. 6y
lauralovesbooks1 @bnp This one made me interested in learning more about almost every woman she profiled. I really enjoyed it. 6y
32 likes7 stack adds3 comments
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lauralovesbooks1
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"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.

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lauralovesbooks1
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A perfect night out -- a fireplace, a diet coke, and a great book.

25 likes1 stack add
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Samplergal
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So excited to have received this as an ARC. It‘s so me. 😜

76 likes3 stack adds