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fiendfull's review
4.0
What It Feels Like For A Girl is a memoir about Lees' teenage years, growing up in Nottingham and trying to find an escape. Teenager Byron is fed up of living in Hucknall, fed up of parents who don't care, and fed up of nothing to do. When Byron meets a new group of friends, including the unforgettable Lady Die, a new life of dancing, drink, and drugs awaits, but things aren't always straightforward.
This is an immediate and bold memoir, written in the present tense, and with a sense of narrative, character, and linguistic creativity that feels more like fiction than a lot of memoirs do, but also means that it feels more honestly like looking back and telling stories too. There's a lot of early 2000s culture packed in, as well as a real sense of both Hucknall and Nottingham (and the amount of public transport you have to get if you don't live in the local city/big town). Being trans is crucial to the memoir, but there's also a lot about class and sexuality and bullying.
As someone who's heard of Lees from her journalism but didn't know much about her life, this is a fascinating and frank look at growing up, getting in trouble, and finding direction, written in a distinctive, conversational way. It was a good book to become immersed in, fairly short and sharp, and as a fan of Lord Byron the references to him were an added bonus!
This is an immediate and bold memoir, written in the present tense, and with a sense of narrative, character, and linguistic creativity that feels more like fiction than a lot of memoirs do, but also means that it feels more honestly like looking back and telling stories too. There's a lot of early 2000s culture packed in, as well as a real sense of both Hucknall and Nottingham (and the amount of public transport you have to get if you don't live in the local city/big town). Being trans is crucial to the memoir, but there's also a lot about class and sexuality and bullying.
As someone who's heard of Lees from her journalism but didn't know much about her life, this is a fascinating and frank look at growing up, getting in trouble, and finding direction, written in a distinctive, conversational way. It was a good book to become immersed in, fairly short and sharp, and as a fan of Lord Byron the references to him were an added bonus!
cjrobertson's review against another edition
4.0
In ‘What It Feels Like for a Girl’ Paris Lees takes us through her teen years in a writing style that feels like she is talking to you and telling you her story. I’m not English so the language took a minute to get used to, but it wasn’t distracting at all and I found it drew me more into the writing.
This memoir was hilarious and heartbreaking all in one, and at times it was easy to forget this was even a memoir! It made me emotional to read how much she wanted to do something important with her life and knowing what she has done and is doing now. I could’ve happily read another hundreds pages plus of her time in Brighton and beyond.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review.
This memoir was hilarious and heartbreaking all in one, and at times it was easy to forget this was even a memoir! It made me emotional to read how much she wanted to do something important with her life and knowing what she has done and is doing now. I could’ve happily read another hundreds pages plus of her time in Brighton and beyond.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review.
megschaede's review
5.0
Written more like you’re being spoken to (in a scouse accent at that!), which takes a little getting used to, but wow what an important read!
lstrydom25's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.25
Really loved this, trying to listen to trans voices and found the journey Paris goes on come to terms with their identity during the course of the story really compelling. Also great to see some old Nottingham haunts getting a shout out! A difficult read at times but devoured it in one day!