Difficult Women: A Memoir of Three (New York Review Books Classics) Paperback – September 26, 2017

I had read and enjoyed this book when it first came out many years ago. It was a loving and generous portrait of extraordinary and difficult women in the author’s life - highlighting how extraordinary women need to be difficult to achieve their potential. A conversation with difficult women in my life happily led me to a re-read.

Plante does a credible job of bringing these three women to life on the written page. His best story revolves around spending time with Germaine Greer in Italy. At one point she carries her two cats into the kitchen to feed them. "What do I have for my darlings?" she asks, looking in the fridge. "What do I have for my darlings to eat Oh, darlings! You're so lucky! Here's a testicle!"She dices up the testicle on her wooden chopping block and her darlings are very happy indeed.

The “dish” on the women was lacking in drama and compassion. Actually was boring at times

the book was asadvertized.

Not clear why the writer chose to write about these women, given his clear dislike for them (excepting Greer)--Seems like a pointless exercise on his part, other than to display how "in" he was with some famous women--The episode with Rhys is utterly repellent, detailing her dementia and physical problems seems especially nasty--I suspect this guy to be a woman-hating homosexual (in the closet) attempting to deceive the reader about his real situation--Germaine Greer comes off best here, though for some reason, descriptions of her genitals seem to play a role--I would urge readers interested in these three women to avoid this particular memoir.

worth reading has brought me to laughing out loud

Anyone who follows 20th century English writing knows Jean Rhys led al life of financial hardship and was 'difficult' in old age. To describe the toilet mishaps of a woman in her 80's was unnecessary and indefensible.

best on Rhys

Loved it

I expected betterLike his take on Germaine.Jean is a waif.Sonia Orwell, well ,she will always just be the wife of....Regret spending money on this book.But he writes well.

Having read 2/3rds of this book, I need a good long soak in a hot bath to wash off the deep feelings of revulsion it's engendered. If this is what literary fame is, having some hack make his reputation on your still warm corpse, you can have it. So bad I don't even want to give it away: it should be burned and the ashes mixed with salt.