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A review by thesimplereader
How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
1.0
First of all, let me preface this by saying if you could give less than one star, I would.
This book was so difficult for me to get through. There was not one thing I agreed with this woman on, and she was offensive about absolutely everything. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be distasteful, and that is putting it lightly. When I was not appealed by her behavior, opinions, or flat out pissed at what I was reading... then I was annoyed with her.
Now, let's break it down. Shall we? To begin, Moran's writing is not good. She is crass, without flow or beauty in any of this work. I would have given it at most three stars, even if I had really enjoyed it simply based on the writing skill.
Positives:
As a memoir, it succeeded. It did. There were stories from her life through the entire book.
Negatives: Oh here we go.
Using capitol letters for entire sentences (or in some cases paragraphs) is obnoxious. If you cannot get what you're trying to say across with regular sentence structure, you need some help getting your thoughts across.
Objectiveness. The woman is not only biased in every subject, she is overly judgmental. There are number after number of large groups which she attacks in her book without any reason or evidence. One example of this is Moran's definition of a feminist. Please. Let's just think about everyone she leaves out here:
“So here is the quick way of working out if you're a feminist. Put your hand in your pants.
a) Do you have a vagina? and
b) Do you want to be in charge of it?
If you said 'yes' to both, then congratulations! You're a feminist.”
And this:
“What is feminism? Simply the belief that women should be as free as men, however nuts, dim, deluded, badly dressed, fat, receding, lazy and smug they might be. Are you a feminist? Hahaha. Of course you are.”
I know. It's hefty. Anyway. She considers herself a feminist and attempts to motivate others to become one as well. However, tell me something. Is this motivational to you ladies?:
“For throughout history, you can read the stories of women who - against all the odds - got being a woman right, but ended up being compromised, unhappy, hobbled or ruined, because all around them, society was still wrong. Show a girl a pioneering hero - Sylvia Plath, Dorothy Parker, Frida Kahlo, Cleopatra, Boudicca, Joan of Arc - and you also, more often than not, show a girl a woman who was eventually crushed.” How about giving us examples of successful women?
As another reviewer, Beth, put it perfectly: "She has the over-eager, juvenile, puerile, irritating narrative voice of someone who is convinced of their opinion despite not having a) real evidence to back it up or b) a real understanding of the opposing viewpoint. There is no real reflection or evaluation. Her opinions can just be summarised as, 'I believe this because I believe that X is awesome.'"
Now, seeing as I could go on and on and on about my dislike for this woman and this book, I'll cut it here.
This book is worth reading to be aware of views and beliefs which exist today. However, if you agree with even one of the points I touched on above... be prepared to yell about this book, and throw it once you have finished.
This book was so difficult for me to get through. There was not one thing I agreed with this woman on, and she was offensive about absolutely everything. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be distasteful, and that is putting it lightly. When I was not appealed by her behavior, opinions, or flat out pissed at what I was reading... then I was annoyed with her.
Now, let's break it down. Shall we? To begin, Moran's writing is not good. She is crass, without flow or beauty in any of this work. I would have given it at most three stars, even if I had really enjoyed it simply based on the writing skill.
Positives:
As a memoir, it succeeded. It did. There were stories from her life through the entire book.
Negatives: Oh here we go.
Using capitol letters for entire sentences (or in some cases paragraphs) is obnoxious. If you cannot get what you're trying to say across with regular sentence structure, you need some help getting your thoughts across.
Objectiveness. The woman is not only biased in every subject, she is overly judgmental. There are number after number of large groups which she attacks in her book without any reason or evidence. One example of this is Moran's definition of a feminist. Please. Let's just think about everyone she leaves out here:
“So here is the quick way of working out if you're a feminist. Put your hand in your pants.
a) Do you have a vagina? and
b) Do you want to be in charge of it?
If you said 'yes' to both, then congratulations! You're a feminist.”
And this:
“What is feminism? Simply the belief that women should be as free as men, however nuts, dim, deluded, badly dressed, fat, receding, lazy and smug they might be. Are you a feminist? Hahaha. Of course you are.”
I know. It's hefty. Anyway. She considers herself a feminist and attempts to motivate others to become one as well. However, tell me something. Is this motivational to you ladies?:
“For throughout history, you can read the stories of women who - against all the odds - got being a woman right, but ended up being compromised, unhappy, hobbled or ruined, because all around them, society was still wrong. Show a girl a pioneering hero - Sylvia Plath, Dorothy Parker, Frida Kahlo, Cleopatra, Boudicca, Joan of Arc - and you also, more often than not, show a girl a woman who was eventually crushed.” How about giving us examples of successful women?
As another reviewer, Beth, put it perfectly: "She has the over-eager, juvenile, puerile, irritating narrative voice of someone who is convinced of their opinion despite not having a) real evidence to back it up or b) a real understanding of the opposing viewpoint. There is no real reflection or evaluation. Her opinions can just be summarised as, 'I believe this because I believe that X is awesome.'"
Now, seeing as I could go on and on and on about my dislike for this woman and this book, I'll cut it here.
This book is worth reading to be aware of views and beliefs which exist today. However, if you agree with even one of the points I touched on above... be prepared to yell about this book, and throw it once you have finished.