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Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women
Author: Elizabeth Wurtzel
Publisher: Double Day
ISBN 0-385-48400-3

I've purchased used copies of this book for a few of my closest friends now -- other "difficult" women whom I am friends with because of their inner bitch.

Let it be known, most women really do not like being called a bitch, but I've really never let it bother me. The people I know and love in my life would never do so in a derogatory manner, and anyone else who does gets laughed at. Sure, I can be a bitch - and I'm proud of it. To me that means I know what I want and I get it. That doesn't always jive with what other people want, especially if the "other people" are looking to take advantage of me. It was my years of being a bar owner that really taught me to laugh at being called that name. More often than not - whether it was employee or customer - it meant I was doing my job well.

For those women who are still a bit unsure of why they should embrace being called bitch, Elizabeth's book is for you. This is a series of essays comparing modern day "difficult" women to those who played similar roles in the Bible. Wow. Elizabeth is highly educated and speaks with big words the classic neo-feminist schpiel.

I don't always agree with Ms. Wurtzel, but if you only like to read books which you agree with every word, you probably are not going to be interested in any of my library. She should make you think. After every paragraph, I find myself asking myself these questions:

What was it she just said?
How does that apply to my life?
Do I agree, disagree or not really care about that?
How will this idea change my life, attitude or beliefs?

I guess I do that with all my reading. I'm sure there are some who look at my virtual or real bookshelf here and wonder how anyone can put their mind around all this varied information. Its all good.

My advice on reading this book is to read the introduction, then the last chapter. You get a real sense of who Elizabeth Wurtzel is and her perspectives as she approaches modern and biblical feminist "characters." Many reviewers I have found call her "whiney" and that her words are too big for her topic. Whatever. Why don't they just call her a bitch and get it over with.

Great read. If you can get a first edition copy with this picture on the dust jacket, it will be worth the price you pay just for the reactions you get while it is sitting on your nightstand or coffee table. Elizabeth's a hot looking lady, and the cover makes me feel proud to be a bitch too!