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katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
The author begins this book by saying emphatically that this story is NOT based on her own life or character. But if you know Moran's work through Raised by Wolves or her other non-fiction work How to Be a Woman, it feels instantly familiar and a smooth continuation of the same character’s story. Sorry Caitlin, but the subjects are so close to each other, the setting and happenings so similar, it's hard not to make the comparison. But that's not to the book's detriment. I loved it.
Johanna Morrigan is our Girl, she's a Wolverhampton council estate teen, who wants to be a music journalist. Taking the Bull(ring?) by the horns, she sends off her work and manages to land herself a job. Johanna leaves school in Wolverhampton for London life, but only after deciding she needs a life makeover and transforms herself into wildchild and party girl Dolly Wilde. Will this new identity serve her well?
Johanna experiments within her new identity, discovering alcohol, drugs, and sex among other things. And a note here: fairly explicit sexual scenes, though funny as hell! Her job allows her to review bands, but she writes mostly evil reviews of bands she doesn't like. Which of course will not bode well for our heroine.
The book is a series of one hilarious exploit after another. Through it all, we can see her losing herself and her direction, it flirts with darkness as we watch Johanna / Dolly being used (it is quite sad and frightening in what COULD happen to her) –she is, after all, only 17.
Back at home in Wolverhampton, Johanna's family are just as enjoyable and eccentric as we see in Moran's other writing - a possibly gay brother, a Dad who wants that ‘one’ big hit from his own music, a bolshy Mum overtired from new twins. Johanna clearly loves her family and does a lot for them, feeling responsible for them - she always remains sympathetic, despite her mistakes and ridiculous actions.
There are some particularly funny scenes (one that reminded me of Fanny Hill with a ‘large appendage’ – and doesn’t end well!), and it does feel as though the author may have structured it with another TV series in mind, it would be hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed Johanna's misadventures, and the moral behind her adolescent's experiences.
Moran and I share a hometown, and her life there comes over as quite deprived, but she still manages to retain a slight fondness for the place, and I loved reading reference to places I also love from my own childhood. Prince Albert statue et al.
If you enjoy rude humour, lots of sexual exploits and adolescent tales of kiss-and-tell and coming of age - try Moran's fiction. She knows how to make you laugh, and how to create a flawed but sympathetic Black Country heroine.
The author begins this book by saying emphatically that this story is NOT based on her own life or character. But if you know Moran's work through Raised by Wolves or her other non-fiction work How to Be a Woman, it feels instantly familiar and a smooth continuation of the same character’s story. Sorry Caitlin, but the subjects are so close to each other, the setting and happenings so similar, it's hard not to make the comparison. But that's not to the book's detriment. I loved it.
Johanna Morrigan is our Girl, she's a Wolverhampton council estate teen, who wants to be a music journalist. Taking the Bull(ring?) by the horns, she sends off her work and manages to land herself a job. Johanna leaves school in Wolverhampton for London life, but only after deciding she needs a life makeover and transforms herself into wildchild and party girl Dolly Wilde. Will this new identity serve her well?
Johanna experiments within her new identity, discovering alcohol, drugs, and sex among other things. And a note here: fairly explicit sexual scenes, though funny as hell! Her job allows her to review bands, but she writes mostly evil reviews of bands she doesn't like. Which of course will not bode well for our heroine.
The book is a series of one hilarious exploit after another. Through it all, we can see her losing herself and her direction, it flirts with darkness as we watch Johanna / Dolly being used (it is quite sad and frightening in what COULD happen to her) –she is, after all, only 17.
Back at home in Wolverhampton, Johanna's family are just as enjoyable and eccentric as we see in Moran's other writing - a possibly gay brother, a Dad who wants that ‘one’ big hit from his own music, a bolshy Mum overtired from new twins. Johanna clearly loves her family and does a lot for them, feeling responsible for them - she always remains sympathetic, despite her mistakes and ridiculous actions.
There are some particularly funny scenes (one that reminded me of Fanny Hill with a ‘large appendage’ – and doesn’t end well!), and it does feel as though the author may have structured it with another TV series in mind, it would be hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed Johanna's misadventures, and the moral behind her adolescent's experiences.
Moran and I share a hometown, and her life there comes over as quite deprived, but she still manages to retain a slight fondness for the place, and I loved reading reference to places I also love from my own childhood. Prince Albert statue et al.
If you enjoy rude humour, lots of sexual exploits and adolescent tales of kiss-and-tell and coming of age - try Moran's fiction. She knows how to make you laugh, and how to create a flawed but sympathetic Black Country heroine.
suyagotz's review against another edition
2.0
As I wirte this review, I feel like cynical Dolly writing hers, only I'm less talented in the art of bashing people (also in writing in general).
I went into this expecting something like How To Be A Woman, a feminist memoir on how to raise your daughter or be a teenager. Yes, it was entirely my fault that I did not look up what this was about, but my expectations ruined the reading experience for me.
How To Build A Girl is, and at the same time isn't, the exact same as Morans other book. While the story centers on a fictional character about whom I gave no fucks about, who lives a life I couldn't care less about, the writing, the family dynamics, the music reviewer career and - YES!!- even the jokes are the same! The first half of this book was pointless, irrelevant and hopefully forgettable, for I want the brain space it is taking up back. The second half was kinda funny, but it was mostly a big sex scene. I like sex scenes, but they should add something to the plot, and here it seemed they were the plot. Nothing else, just Dolly and penises.
Was there a point in this book? What was the plot? Why would Dollys story interest me at all? So many unanswered questions. But there's one I know how to answer without blinking: Should you read this? No.
I went into this expecting something like How To Be A Woman, a feminist memoir on how to raise your daughter or be a teenager. Yes, it was entirely my fault that I did not look up what this was about, but my expectations ruined the reading experience for me.
How To Build A Girl is, and at the same time isn't, the exact same as Morans other book. While the story centers on a fictional character about whom I gave no fucks about, who lives a life I couldn't care less about, the writing, the family dynamics, the music reviewer career and - YES!!- even the jokes are the same! The first half of this book was pointless, irrelevant and hopefully forgettable, for I want the brain space it is taking up back. The second half was kinda funny, but it was mostly a big sex scene. I like sex scenes, but they should add something to the plot, and here it seemed they were the plot. Nothing else, just Dolly and penises.
Was there a point in this book? What was the plot? Why would Dollys story interest me at all? So many unanswered questions. But there's one I know how to answer without blinking: Should you read this? No.
chronicallymel's review against another edition
DNF'd after the first page, for personal reasons.
b0hemian_graham's review against another edition
4.0
it's like a female Adrian Mole meets a female Portnoy with a less crazy Esther Greenwood tossed in. 4.5/5. outrageous, and fabulous.
aya_the_papaya's review against another edition
5.0
Like nothing I've read before. This book is raw, funny, natural, grimey, naive, insane, and realistic all at once. Caitlin Moran's writing is like poetry, fitting for a story about a writer, and has a witty lightheartedness that is impressive considering some of the intense topics it covers. While the story as a whole, filled with rockstars and 90s Britishisms, is delightfully unfamiliar, so many aspects of the anguish and joy and longing and freedoms of being a teenage girl are so relatable they're almost palpable. If it wasn't clear, I loved it.
librarydosebykristy's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book a lot. The middle section with all of the F*#king is a bit of a rough read and I grew weary of it. But then I would remember: she's 17!
Still, I liked all of the rest, especially the stuff about her family. I'm glad that she comes out of her experimental / self destructive phase kind of questioning and reflecting without being too melodramatic or preachy. But, I maybe would have liked a bit more of that?
Anyway, I do like her and this book. It made me laugh a lot!
Still, I liked all of the rest, especially the stuff about her family. I'm glad that she comes out of her experimental / self destructive phase kind of questioning and reflecting without being too melodramatic or preachy. But, I maybe would have liked a bit more of that?
Anyway, I do like her and this book. It made me laugh a lot!