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A review by ramreadsagain
Girl Meets Boy by Ali Smith
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
I think some of this went right over my head, but I really enjoyed what Girl Meets Boy had to say.
At its centre is the idea of myths: the myth of gender, thinness as the ideal beauty standard, and largely the myth created by corporate marketing. I found this last concept in particular incredibly interesting: isn’t the goal of marketing to turn a product into a myth, to sell the myth of this ideal person we will become if we buy the right thing?
It’s also a strong commentary on the attitude towards homosexuality of the time, particularly lesbians. It made for an interesting read looking at it from 2023. The main character’s sister, Imogen, spends an entire section of the book debating with herself about the right words to use, how to be okay with her sister being queer and how to be politically correct.
It’s brought down slightly for me because I did find the writing style a bit inaccessible at times, with entire pages where I really just had no idea what it was trying to say.
At its centre is the idea of myths: the myth of gender, thinness as the ideal beauty standard, and largely the myth created by corporate marketing. I found this last concept in particular incredibly interesting: isn’t the goal of marketing to turn a product into a myth, to sell the myth of this ideal person we will become if we buy the right thing?
It’s also a strong commentary on the attitude towards homosexuality of the time, particularly lesbians. It made for an interesting read looking at it from 2023. The main character’s sister, Imogen, spends an entire section of the book debating with herself about the right words to use, how to be okay with her sister being queer and how to be politically correct.
It’s brought down slightly for me because I did find the writing style a bit inaccessible at times, with entire pages where I really just had no idea what it was trying to say.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia
Moderate: Outing and Homophobia