Caitlin Moran has written a humorous coming of age novel, loosely based on her own life of a clever girl who took the chances that her writing offered her to make a life writing about music. Lose her virginity and transform her perception of herself. With panache and verve she slides through the 80's music scene, London a young girl finding out about herself. It is crude, it is brash, it is fun. Moran has a wonderful turn of phrase and use of language.
“Self-harm - the world will come at you with knives anyway. You do not need to beat them to it.”
“Because I am still learning to walk and talk, and it is a million times easier to be cynical and wield a sword, than it is to be open-hearted and stand there, holding a balloon and a birthday cake, with the infinite potential to look foolish.”
“Here’s the amazing thing about sex: you get a whole person to yourself, for the first time since you were a baby. Someone who is looking at you—just you—and thinking about you, and wanting you, and you haven’t even had to lie at the bottom of the stairs and pretend you’re dead to get them to do it.”
“I speculate, briefly, on how different the world would be if it were run by women. In that world, if you were a lonely, horny woman - as I am. As I always am- you'd see Blu-tacked postcards by Soho doorways that read 'Nice man in cardigan, 24, will talk to you about The Smiths whilst making you cheese-on-toast+come to parties with you. Apply within'.”
This book generated quite disparate views, some loved its rawness, some disliked its aggressive language, its no nonsense - in your face - take it or leave it - fuck you attitude - and some loved that!
Marks out of 10: between 6 & 8
Words used to describe it:
aggressively teenager, great wordsmith, rude, blatant, liberating.
Next book
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
Next Meeting
Tuesday 17th November
117 Harbord St
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