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A review by hernamewaslily
The Girls by Emma Cline
5.0
Emma Cline’s ‘The Girls’ follows 14-year-old Evie Boyd, who gets swept up into the dark side of sixties counterculture when she inadvertently joins a cult, based on the Mason family. At first, she revels in their free-spirited approach to life, and is mesmerised by one girl in particular, Suzanne, but as the story progresses, Evie comes to discover a much more sinister side to this sisterhood.
However, the novel is not really about the cult itself, but rather what it represents in our cultural history about women and the ways in which they have contributed to their own debasement. Cline’s mediations on girlhood are particularly astute, especially on young female sexuality, which is represented in equal parts embarrassing and empowering. We witness Evie as the active initiator, such as when she sneaks into her friend’s older brother’s bedroom and climbs into his bed, and as the passive victim, such as when she is expected to give the Charles Manson-esque leader of the cult, Russell, a blowjob in his trailer-home.
Cline’s writing is superb - albeit a bit heavy on the metaphors, which don’t always land. Nonetheless, her prose is evocative, seductive, and sinister. The latter of which leaves you wanting to know what’s going to happen next (even though, if you’re aware of the Manson murders, you already know).
I really enjoyed this book. I have a particular love of 1960s American history and counterculture, so this was definitely a bit of me. I think fans of Rachel Kushner, Joan Didion, and Eve Babitz would really like this. Or if you’re not into reading but liked Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon in Hollywood,’ give this a go. I would also recommend Cline’s short story collection, ‘Daddy’ if you want to dip you toe into her work.
However, the novel is not really about the cult itself, but rather what it represents in our cultural history about women and the ways in which they have contributed to their own debasement. Cline’s mediations on girlhood are particularly astute, especially on young female sexuality, which is represented in equal parts embarrassing and empowering. We witness Evie as the active initiator, such as when she sneaks into her friend’s older brother’s bedroom and climbs into his bed, and as the passive victim, such as when she is expected to give the Charles Manson-esque leader of the cult, Russell, a blowjob in his trailer-home.
Cline’s writing is superb - albeit a bit heavy on the metaphors, which don’t always land. Nonetheless, her prose is evocative, seductive, and sinister. The latter of which leaves you wanting to know what’s going to happen next (even though, if you’re aware of the Manson murders, you already know).
I really enjoyed this book. I have a particular love of 1960s American history and counterculture, so this was definitely a bit of me. I think fans of Rachel Kushner, Joan Didion, and Eve Babitz would really like this. Or if you’re not into reading but liked Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon in Hollywood,’ give this a go. I would also recommend Cline’s short story collection, ‘Daddy’ if you want to dip you toe into her work.