Rating: 
Summary: Women in charge or idealized superwomen?
Review: At first, I couldn't wait to read Elizabeth Prioleau's book. I thought it would be the type of reading that would enlighten women's views of men and how to avoid being "the victim" in intimate situations. I expected it to be a HUMAN account of those women that she idealizes and pictures as "femme fatales" who "made it happen" and "got it all" without being contaminated by the slightest shadow of self-doubt or even paranoia. After all, almost every single one of them, according to the author, were at some point in their lives called "witches" or women who recurred to magic in order to obtain the man/men they wanted.I found myself losing patience at the short, rushed and glorified biographies of the "successful seductresses" the author has chosen. Were they really so detached and in charge of the world that they could -without so much as moving a finger- become the center of not one but several of the most socially/artistically powerful men of their times? And, if so, was it because they knew "what to do"? Or, was it because sometimes fate works wonders and it is true that some are born with a silver spoon in their mouths? Can it be that there have been an infinite number of Sabinas (the detached "seductress" in Milan Kundera's "The Unbearable Lighteness of Being")who have not once experienced loneliness, depression, regret or dependency of any kind to anyone? And, if so, was that the key to their success? That would make a great number of us complete fools! I feel that a large number of women would welcome the idea of being emotionally detached, so that not every romantic encounter can pull us back from continuing on our paths and not lose sight nor faith of our raison d'etre. Also, I felt that Ms. Prioleau's use of language is utterly inaccessible to readers by large. As I kept reading, I felt lucky to know French. But I also felt bad for those readers who don't. While one can get away with phrases such as "joie de vivre", having a "je ne sais quoi" and "femme fatale", mainly because these are by now totally integrated in the English language, there are other phrases that would be totally Greek to modern readers who have no background in French. All in all, the idea behind the book is great and very much in tune with modern day society. However, it would have been a more 'real', believable and human experience, had the author been able to portray these "seductresses" as HUMAN BEINGS who had weaknesses as well as strenghts; but who were lucky enough to 'achieve' their dreams and lead men by their throats to the destination of their wildest dreams.
Rating:
Summary: Women in charge or idealized superwomen?
Review: At first, I couldn't wait to read Elizabeth Prioleau's book. I thought it would be the type of reading that would enlighten women's views of men and how to avoid being "the victim" in intimate situations. I expected it to be a HUMAN account of those women that she idealizes and pictures as "femme fatales" who "made it happen" and "got it all" without being contaminated by the slightest shadow of self-doubt or even paranoia. After all, almost every single one of them, according to the author, were at some point in their lives called "witches" or women who recurred to magic in order to obtain the man/men they wanted. I found myself losing patience at the short, rushed and glorified biographies of the "successful seductresses" the author has chosen. Were they really so detached and in charge of the world that they could -without so much as moving a finger- become the center of not one but several of the most socially/artistically powerful men of their times? And, if so, was it because they knew "what to do"? Or, was it because sometimes fate works wonders and it is true that some are born with a silver spoon in their mouths? Can it be that there have been an infinite number of Sabinas (the detached "seductress" in Milan Kundera's "The Unbearable Lighteness of Being")who have not once experienced loneliness, depression, regret or dependency of any kind to anyone? And, if so, was that the key to their success? That would make a great number of us complete fools! I feel that a large number of women would welcome the idea of being emotionally detached, so that not every romantic encounter can pull us back from continuing on our paths and not lose sight nor faith of our raison d'etre. Also, I felt that Ms. Prioleau's use of language is utterly inaccessible to readers by large. As I kept reading, I felt lucky to know French. But I also felt bad for those readers who don't. While one can get away with phrases such as "joie de vivre", having a "je ne sais quoi" and "femme fatale", mainly because these are by now totally integrated in the English language, there are other phrases that would be totally Greek to modern readers who have no background in French. All in all, the idea behind the book is great and very much in tune with modern day society. However, it would have been a more 'real', believable and human experience, had the author been able to portray these "seductresses" as HUMAN BEINGS who had weaknesses as well as strenghts; but who were lucky enough to 'achieve' their dreams and lead men by their throats to the destination of their wildest dreams.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but Flawed
Review: Book is interesting when dealing with the biographies of the historical 'Seductresses'. However too much reliance and credence is given to the thoroughly discredited 'Goddess' myth. Attaching credibility to an obvious falsehood taints the entirety of the book. One can only wonder, then, how much of the rest of the book is credible.
Rating: 
Summary: WORLDLY WOMEN --YOU REALLY GOT IT!
Review: Delightful revelations about famous and not-so-famous women. Prioleau's focus on women who made it big in some way throughout history reveals that these "ladies" knew what they were doing in spite of what Society said about them. Excellent research and witty comments make Seductress a pleasure to read and to enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Down with Inanna
Review: I am in complete agreement with the Tired of Inanna reviewer. This is a very interesting, well-written book that profiles some fascinating women. The phrasing is clever, and the primary sentiment - that women should be in control of their own destiny and not allow themselves to be browbeaten into conforming to societal standards - is valid and honorable. However, I also found myself cringing at the constant, relentless references to Inanna.
This book should have been titled: Seductress: Women Who Ravished the World and their Direct Relationship to Inanna, Which I am Going to Detail for You Now. If you can overlook the non-stop Inanna worship, though, it's a very good read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book!
Review: I don't rate many books 5 stars but this book is well written, organized, and interesting. It backs up my personal theory that I have developed over my life which is that "The most important thing a woman can do is truly get to know herself and pursue her personal passions." She needs to be strong enough so that when she falls deeply in love, she doesn't loose part of herself in the process. I also have to second the author's theory in the book that a woman's looks don't really matter, she can have whoever she wants if she has a joy of living and some of the other qualities of women profiled in the book. I'm an average looking woman who is currently quite overweight but lately I've rediscovered my joy of living, my sense of humor, and the pleasure of interesting conversation... and I see men years younger than me light up in my presence and so-called-playboys (men who normally have women falling at their feet) act like little nervous boys when I'm around. However the one theory this author puts forth in the book that I really disagree with is that reproduction and sexuality should be considered as completely unlinked human needs/desires. I believe a woman can be empowered, sexy, AND be a nurturing mother! In fact I think there are many examples in her own book that contradict this prejudiced theory of hers.
Rating:
Summary: questionable scholarship, tortured writing
Review: I had high hopes for this book. But among its many flaws are:
Promoting wit and genius in women, but doing it in a text spiced
with frenchy buzzwords and childish slang, not epigrams or
clever quips.
Getting Isabella Stewart Gardner very wrong. She certainly was
vivacious, but was not the sleazy adulteress that this book
makes her out to be. She was not only VERY RELIGIOUS, but
had the fainting spells and fits of "hysteria" common to
sexually repressed women of the time. She also was quite
lonely in love according to the other bios and letters I've
read concerning her.
I'm not as familiar with the other seductresses as her but the
other portraits seem equally fanciful. They seem to be
parallax views; totally written from a 21st century viewpoint
about women living in very different times than us.
SO many of these seductresses sound like sugar mommas to me.
A cash transaction is just that, no matter how you coat it.
I would like to see someone do a thorough criticism of all these
bios before we go giving this book to young women and telling
them that sexual promiscuity is the way to lasting love. It
just goes so totally against most women's experience that it
certainly needs debating!
Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading
Review: I love this book and often find myself re-reading it. I feel this book should be required reading for young women. It illustrates in a fun yet powerful way the power of the feminine.
According to the books of late, it seems women have two choices - they can either be cute, empty headed, manipulating kept women or hard-hearted, man hating manipulators.
This book disagrees, I felt the author was trying to illustrate that the only way to fully function in todays world is to be fully and gloriously your true female self. All the women described in this book were undoutedly true to them themselves. Yes, some were prostitutes but, in a time when women had no rights, these women rose above the small mindedness of society and carved out a place for themselves.
The author also goes on to point out certain similiarities that all these women shared and suggests a way that modern women can incorporate these qualities into their lives. (The author does not suggest becoming prostitutes).
In conclusion, read this book. It contains a lovingly crafted look at the female of the species. It suggests self knowledge, not self modification as the ultimate achievement of women in todays society. It illustrates another much more glamourous, satisfying and female path to follow.
Rating:
Summary: Women in charge or idealized superwomen?
Review: I loved it for the jumping off point I took it to be. Names to look up and read about. Very interesting very short biographies. But I can't tell you how early in the book I was wincing on reading the name "Inanna" yet again. Inanna is everywhere in this book, there was barely a page that doesn't mention her. If not for how much steam I built against that one peeve, the book would have gotten a far better rating. Petty, I know, but there's my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: TIRED of "Inanna"
Review: I loved it for the jumping off point I took it to be. Names to look up and read about. Very interesting very short biographies. But I can't tell you how early in the book I was wincing on reading the name "Inanna" yet again. Inanna is everywhere in this book, there was barely a page that doesn't mention her. If not for how much steam I built against that one peeve, the book would have gotten a far better rating. Petty, I know, but there's my opinion.
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