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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Un buen libro para frikis, especialmente si eres "novata" en tu nueva pasión.
El libro habla de todo un poco, como por ejemplo de algunos de los "fandom" más conocidos, cómo moverse por las redes o las convenciones y también tiene un apartado sobre feminismo y muchas entrevistas a creadoras con consejos para las lectoras. Es ameno de leer, aunque está muy centrado en el mundo anglosajón y sus eventos. Dicho esto, fantaseo con una traducción de este título porque habría que reescribir muchas partes, como el diccionario o los eventos localizados a los países de habla hispana, ¡todo un reto de traducción y documentación!
El libro habla de todo un poco, como por ejemplo de algunos de los "fandom" más conocidos, cómo moverse por las redes o las convenciones y también tiene un apartado sobre feminismo y muchas entrevistas a creadoras con consejos para las lectoras. Es ameno de leer, aunque está muy centrado en el mundo anglosajón y sus eventos. Dicho esto, fantaseo con una traducción de este título porque habría que reescribir muchas partes, como el diccionario o los eventos localizados a los países de habla hispana, ¡todo un reto de traducción y documentación!
The Fangirl's Guide to the Universe is a great handbook for anyone who may be new to concepts such as fandom / "fangirling". While a lot of us Tumblr folk feel like veterans in this scene, there's a lot of people who aren't growing up during the tumblr-era, and may need help understanding some of the lingo and phrases we use not only at cons, but even in online realms.
This is a book I would highly suggest to pre-teens / teens, as it helps break down sites, cons, and other basic need-to-know facts or terms such as slash-fic to lemons (which please learn these terms so you can understand what you're walking into, sincerely pre-teen me who read a lemon fanfic thinking it was some AU about making lemonade [hint: Lemon is not an AU about making lemonade]).
Overall, it's a fun book!
This is a book I would highly suggest to pre-teens / teens, as it helps break down sites, cons, and other basic need-to-know facts or terms such as slash-fic to lemons (which please learn these terms so you can understand what you're walking into, sincerely pre-teen me who read a lemon fanfic thinking it was some AU about making lemonade [hint: Lemon is not an AU about making lemonade]).
Overall, it's a fun book!
Received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
3.5 stars.
I was delighted when I found out that I was approved for this book. The blurb sounded great, like the perfect little book for a geek/fangirl like me. My expectations were high and I had hopes for lots of fun fangirl stuff, some conventions and glossaries.
However, it disappointed me. There was still a lot of fun fangirl stuff, fandom stuff, but sadly there were things I didn't like.
Let me start with the things I liked.
I loved the glossaries in the book, with what word/abbreviations meant. Things like: RPF (which apparently means Real Person Fiction), Femslash, Songfics.
We also had a big chapter on the various fandoms, of course not all of them are mentioned, that would be impossible as for every tv-show/anime/manga/book/whatever else there is a fandom, be them big or small. But in this one they at least addressed the biggest ones (at least I would count them as the biggest ones). At the end of the chapter there is also a big list (without descriptions on the numerous other fandoms).
I loved the parts on the trolls (I really laughed out loud at the description and it was great to see how spot on it was). Of course I really loved the counter attacks. I am sure a lot of people could use those as trolls are everywhere. Not all of the counter attacks are ones I would agree with though, so I would say use and be careful.
We also have various interviews with writers, creators of things (sorry, I don't know what kind of stuff they create (could be games/tv/books anything really).
There is also a huge part on how to survive and prepare for a convention. That one was really interesting, though most of the stuff mentioned didn't apply to me as the cons in my country aren't that big and we don't have a lot of the things mentioned (Like photoshoots? Signings?), but also our cons here aren't that big. The author describes cons that are seemingly huge. Still a lot of the tips are usable and interesting.
There is also a whole planning list and what to do if you are going alone or in group. What to do when you meet up with people you met on the net and several other interesting tips and hints.
I really like the Cosplay Directive. I really think people should read this one. Not only the ones that are the group that should read this book, but everyone. I have seriously seen so many things go wrong or people being treated like shit and I think this should really be printed out and posted at every con that has cosplayers.
However, there were things I didn't like. If I had known that this book was so full of feminism, I wouldn't have applied for the ARC or even considered the book. No offence to all feminists, you are all free to do whatever you want. But I am not one that likes Feminism (and yes I am a girl). I like feminism in the way of equality for girls in school and workplace (like being able to study or getting the same pay as your male colleague who does the same thing as you do), but other than that I am actually getting a bit tired of the feminism stuff that is coming up all over the net and outside of it. I won't go further with it, as that is a topic that falls outside of this review, but I am really disappointed that apparently even in a book like this, we get the whole thing shoved at us. So yeah, those are parts I read through (since I have to review the book), but really disliked, and it also made me give this book a -1 star.
Then we have the other thing that I didn't like. The book is quite U.S centred. There is a big chapter about all the wonderful, fantastic cons in the U.S and that is nice, but there is a whole world out there. You are now just centring it on one continent, not even that, since it is only North America/Canada(ish). And this is a shame. I know the U.S is a big, big country and a big, big thing in people's mind, but hello. Hi! Europe here. We also want to read your book, and we also want to know about our cons. It would have been fun if there was a part about the U.S and then also parts about the other continents/parts of the world. Like a top 5, or a top 10. We, in Europe, got some big and great cons. England, Germany and France have some huge cons that really deserve mentioning, and the same goes for Asia and other parts. Now it just feels off to me. Sure, I am planning to go to the U.S one day, but for now that is a) too expensive and b) too difficult (there are soooo many rules one must follow to get in the U.S). I wish the author had done a bit more research and had looked outside of their own country.
The same also goes for the links she posts. A lot of those links are international, but most of the shopping ones? Does the author know how expensive shipping costs are to Europe or another part of the world? (Spoiler: Very expensive, not to mention customs.) Not to even mention that maybe those stores don't even ship to Europe or Asia or whatever other part of the world?
All in all, I wouldn't really recommend this book. Maybe for some parts (glossaries, the basic con guide, fandoms), but if you don't like/feel uncomfortable with Feminism or with the lack of international stuff then I would suggest to turn away from the book.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
3.5 stars.
I was delighted when I found out that I was approved for this book. The blurb sounded great, like the perfect little book for a geek/fangirl like me. My expectations were high and I had hopes for lots of fun fangirl stuff, some conventions and glossaries.
However, it disappointed me. There was still a lot of fun fangirl stuff, fandom stuff, but sadly there were things I didn't like.
Let me start with the things I liked.
I loved the glossaries in the book, with what word/abbreviations meant. Things like: RPF (which apparently means Real Person Fiction), Femslash, Songfics.
We also had a big chapter on the various fandoms, of course not all of them are mentioned, that would be impossible as for every tv-show/anime/manga/book/whatever else there is a fandom, be them big or small. But in this one they at least addressed the biggest ones (at least I would count them as the biggest ones). At the end of the chapter there is also a big list (without descriptions on the numerous other fandoms).
I loved the parts on the trolls (I really laughed out loud at the description and it was great to see how spot on it was). Of course I really loved the counter attacks. I am sure a lot of people could use those as trolls are everywhere. Not all of the counter attacks are ones I would agree with though, so I would say use and be careful.
We also have various interviews with writers, creators of things (sorry, I don't know what kind of stuff they create (could be games/tv/books anything really).
There is also a huge part on how to survive and prepare for a convention. That one was really interesting, though most of the stuff mentioned didn't apply to me as the cons in my country aren't that big and we don't have a lot of the things mentioned (Like photoshoots? Signings?), but also our cons here aren't that big. The author describes cons that are seemingly huge. Still a lot of the tips are usable and interesting.
There is also a whole planning list and what to do if you are going alone or in group. What to do when you meet up with people you met on the net and several other interesting tips and hints.
I really like the Cosplay Directive. I really think people should read this one. Not only the ones that are the group that should read this book, but everyone. I have seriously seen so many things go wrong or people being treated like shit and I think this should really be printed out and posted at every con that has cosplayers.
However, there were things I didn't like. If I had known that this book was so full of feminism, I wouldn't have applied for the ARC or even considered the book. No offence to all feminists, you are all free to do whatever you want. But I am not one that likes Feminism (and yes I am a girl). I like feminism in the way of equality for girls in school and workplace (like being able to study or getting the same pay as your male colleague who does the same thing as you do), but other than that I am actually getting a bit tired of the feminism stuff that is coming up all over the net and outside of it. I won't go further with it, as that is a topic that falls outside of this review, but I am really disappointed that apparently even in a book like this, we get the whole thing shoved at us. So yeah, those are parts I read through (since I have to review the book), but really disliked, and it also made me give this book a -1 star.
Then we have the other thing that I didn't like. The book is quite U.S centred. There is a big chapter about all the wonderful, fantastic cons in the U.S and that is nice, but there is a whole world out there. You are now just centring it on one continent, not even that, since it is only North America/Canada(ish). And this is a shame. I know the U.S is a big, big country and a big, big thing in people's mind, but hello. Hi! Europe here. We also want to read your book, and we also want to know about our cons. It would have been fun if there was a part about the U.S and then also parts about the other continents/parts of the world. Like a top 5, or a top 10. We, in Europe, got some big and great cons. England, Germany and France have some huge cons that really deserve mentioning, and the same goes for Asia and other parts. Now it just feels off to me. Sure, I am planning to go to the U.S one day, but for now that is a) too expensive and b) too difficult (there are soooo many rules one must follow to get in the U.S). I wish the author had done a bit more research and had looked outside of their own country.
The same also goes for the links she posts. A lot of those links are international, but most of the shopping ones? Does the author know how expensive shipping costs are to Europe or another part of the world? (Spoiler: Very expensive, not to mention customs.) Not to even mention that maybe those stores don't even ship to Europe or Asia or whatever other part of the world?
All in all, I wouldn't really recommend this book. Maybe for some parts (glossaries, the basic con guide, fandoms), but if you don't like/feel uncomfortable with Feminism or with the lack of international stuff then I would suggest to turn away from the book.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I am a Fangirl!
I love it, the book reminded me of how much of a Fangirl I am. I may not be as hardcore as some but I still love what I love.
There are some stuff in the book that didn't really interest me but other than that it really a great guide book if you are starting out your love for a fandom.
I love it, the book reminded me of how much of a Fangirl I am. I may not be as hardcore as some but I still love what I love.
There are some stuff in the book that didn't really interest me but other than that it really a great guide book if you are starting out your love for a fandom.
I loved this book; it's all the information I wish had been available to me in high school, when few of my friends were as geeky as I was. The book is split into sections on a variety of different aspects of the geek life, from conventions to fic to gaming, so everything is concise, but still informative for younger readers or for those curious about things they might not be familiar with. As someone more familiar with a lot of geek life, it was great to see what we agreed/disagreed on, and to learn the occasional new thing myself.
Plus Maggs' writing style is witty and enthusiastic, and the illustrations by Kelly Bastow are fantastic. Cute but diverse. It's a beautifully designed book.
Plus Maggs' writing style is witty and enthusiastic, and the illustrations by Kelly Bastow are fantastic. Cute but diverse. It's a beautifully designed book.
Praise my newfound geeky goddess Sam Maggs for creating this book. It is well-written, funny, and most of all- it is IMPORTANT. Give this to the young girls and women in your life who are learning to embrace who they are. I am so glad that this book exists.
"Don't ever let anyone devalue what you do, the things you believe, or who you are. You're awesome and your opinions are valid. Believe that!"
"Don't ever let anyone devalue what you do, the things you believe, or who you are. You're awesome and your opinions are valid. Believe that!"
I was given a galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great book for fangirls of any age. In a discussion that ranges from what it is to be a fangirl, to definitions of common terms, to interviews, to convention going, cosplay and web resources, this book touches on every element of fangirldom. There is also an engaging conversation on feminism. I would recommend this for fangirls of any age. I have been a fangirl for decades and I still learned new things from this book!
This is a great book for fangirls of any age. In a discussion that ranges from what it is to be a fangirl, to definitions of common terms, to interviews, to convention going, cosplay and web resources, this book touches on every element of fangirldom. There is also an engaging conversation on feminism. I would recommend this for fangirls of any age. I have been a fangirl for decades and I still learned new things from this book!
Sam Maggs mentions in The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy that her book is the only one written for geek girls and fangirls; however, that’s not true. In 2011, Leslie Simon wrote a book called Geek Girls Unite. That being said, The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy is much more up to date, includes even more geeky awesomeness, and is all around better suited as a guide to entering the geek world no matter what amount of knowledge you might have about it. I’ve been a geek my whole life, and I bookmarked multiple pages concerning things I had no idea existed.
Since the copy I received was an uncorrected ARC and I don’t have a published copy to compare it to, I won’t go into details as to what is or isn’t in the book. However, I will say that the one problem I had with it is that it assumes the reader can afford their fandom(s). As someone who often can’t afford to buy a graphic novel or materials to make a decent cosplay outfit, I would have appreciated the inclusion of something like what Omar and Mia do in their 2 Broke Geeks videos.
Overall, this is a great book for any geek girl, no matter what your fandom is or how knowledgeable you are about what the geek world has to offer. If you’re a broke geek, check to see if the book is at your local library and then take lots of notes. After you’re done, head over to the 2 Broke Geeks Youtube channel to find out how you can celebrate your geekiness without having to live off of 3 for $1 microwave burritos from the grocery store.
Since the copy I received was an uncorrected ARC and I don’t have a published copy to compare it to, I won’t go into details as to what is or isn’t in the book. However, I will say that the one problem I had with it is that it assumes the reader can afford their fandom(s). As someone who often can’t afford to buy a graphic novel or materials to make a decent cosplay outfit, I would have appreciated the inclusion of something like what Omar and Mia do in their 2 Broke Geeks videos.
Overall, this is a great book for any geek girl, no matter what your fandom is or how knowledgeable you are about what the geek world has to offer. If you’re a broke geek, check to see if the book is at your local library and then take lots of notes. After you’re done, head over to the 2 Broke Geeks Youtube channel to find out how you can celebrate your geekiness without having to live off of 3 for $1 microwave burritos from the grocery store.
È una verità universalmente riconosciuta che una fangirl ha bisogno di condividere il suo fangirlismo col mondo... Però, Sam Maggs... YOU DID IT WRONG.
Vedete quest'adorabile copertina con quel fantasticissimo titolo che solo a leggerlo stai già fangirlando? Be', non è tutto oro quel che luccica...
Non riesco davvero a capire il senso di questo libro, è praticamente scritto per chi NON è nerd (fatemi passare questa generalizzazione), e non solo, ma anche per chi HA MENO DI 12 ANNI. Altrimenti non si spiegano i capitoli dedicati all'uso dei social network (ma secondo te come ho scoperto il tuo libro??), il dizionario sui termini così fangirlosi come "shipping" e "OTP" (OMG, vivo su un'isola deserta e non ho mai aperto internet!), e i consigli del tipo "puoi trovare altre fangirl frequentando le fumetterie o le fiere"... YOU DON'T SAY?
E tra l'altro, grazie per l'etichetta! Anch'io uso spesso il termine "fangirl", giusto per prendermi in giro, ma dato che l'internet lo usa più in senso dispregiativo, del tipo "ragazzine urlanti con problemi di ormoni" (e, sia chiaro, ecco perché spesso lo uso nei miei confronti XD), io penso sia più giusto usare il generico termine "fan". Ma no, questo libro è assolutamente per il GIRL POWER! Voi non capite, noi ragazze abbiamo un modo di essere fan completamente diverso dai ragazzi, e poi i ragazzi pensano che noi siamo fan solo per attirare la loro attenzione... Scusate, ma dato che stiamo parlando internettiano, rispondo con un bel FACE PALM.
Quindi... che spreco. Cosa avrei voluto trovare fra quelle pagine? Quello che tutti i fan del mondo cercano, CONDIVISIONE. Racconta la tua storia, dato che sei fan di mille cose diverse, racconta ciò che ti piace, come ti sei avvicinata ai diversi fandom, come ti ha reso la vita, e non fare la lista delle cose che devi possedere se sei una fan di Doctor Who (pardon, Whovian). Ognuno è fan a modo suo, non c'è e non ci può essere nessuna guida.
Il bello dei fandom è quello di poter parlare insieme delle cose che piacciono... cara Sam, tu hai solo urlato al mondo "GUARDATE QUANTO FANGIRL SONO, SO COSE E VE LE SPIEGO".
Vedete quest'adorabile copertina con quel fantasticissimo titolo che solo a leggerlo stai già fangirlando? Be', non è tutto oro quel che luccica...
Non riesco davvero a capire il senso di questo libro, è praticamente scritto per chi NON è nerd (fatemi passare questa generalizzazione), e non solo, ma anche per chi HA MENO DI 12 ANNI. Altrimenti non si spiegano i capitoli dedicati all'uso dei social network (ma secondo te come ho scoperto il tuo libro??), il dizionario sui termini così fangirlosi come "shipping" e "OTP" (OMG, vivo su un'isola deserta e non ho mai aperto internet!), e i consigli del tipo "puoi trovare altre fangirl frequentando le fumetterie o le fiere"... YOU DON'T SAY?
E tra l'altro, grazie per l'etichetta! Anch'io uso spesso il termine "fangirl", giusto per prendermi in giro, ma dato che l'internet lo usa più in senso dispregiativo, del tipo "ragazzine urlanti con problemi di ormoni" (e, sia chiaro, ecco perché spesso lo uso nei miei confronti XD), io penso sia più giusto usare il generico termine "fan". Ma no, questo libro è assolutamente per il GIRL POWER! Voi non capite, noi ragazze abbiamo un modo di essere fan completamente diverso dai ragazzi, e poi i ragazzi pensano che noi siamo fan solo per attirare la loro attenzione... Scusate, ma dato che stiamo parlando internettiano, rispondo con un bel FACE PALM.
Quindi... che spreco. Cosa avrei voluto trovare fra quelle pagine? Quello che tutti i fan del mondo cercano, CONDIVISIONE. Racconta la tua storia, dato che sei fan di mille cose diverse, racconta ciò che ti piace, come ti sei avvicinata ai diversi fandom, come ti ha reso la vita, e non fare la lista delle cose che devi possedere se sei una fan di Doctor Who (pardon, Whovian). Ognuno è fan a modo suo, non c'è e non ci può essere nessuna guida.
Il bello dei fandom è quello di poter parlare insieme delle cose che piacciono... cara Sam, tu hai solo urlato al mondo "GUARDATE QUANTO FANGIRL SONO, SO COSE E VE LE SPIEGO".
I didn't find it insulting or demeaning. I thought it was a charming read, even for the seasoned geek girl.