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kirstentlei's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
2.0
Her writing is too plain and flat for my liking, whilst also simultaneously being too wordy and hard to read. It feels like there is no flow between her sentences and paragraphs. I think I tend to like books with more of a poetic feel to the writing, which is not something you find in Ernaux’s work, unfortunately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Alcohol
withlivjones's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
This book is definitely appropriately named, so many aspects of girlhood condensed into just over 100 pages and every woman will be able to connect with at least one element of Annie Ernaux’s account.
In theory, this book really shouldn’t work - it’s rambling and confused to the point where by the end even the author isn’t sure what it has become. But there’s something about Ernaux’s writing that is extremely compelling and brings all the threads of the story together. It reads like fiction, but the fact that it’s a memoir told nearly fifty years after the event makes it all the more sad.
In theory, this book really shouldn’t work - it’s rambling and confused to the point where by the end even the author isn’t sure what it has become. But there’s something about Ernaux’s writing that is extremely compelling and brings all the threads of the story together. It reads like fiction, but the fact that it’s a memoir told nearly fifty years after the event makes it all the more sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Classism
ledablanca's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
"To have received the key to understanding shame does not give one the power to erase it."
This is my first Ernaux and this won't be the last! Never before have I felt so seen! Like Ernaux, I question my past actions and choices and want to bury these shameful memories.
This is my first Ernaux and this won't be the last! Never before have I felt so seen! Like Ernaux, I question my past actions and choices and want to bury these shameful memories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Misogyny
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
astridmalmhester's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content