Review: How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

Caitlin Moran

How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

Reviewed by Ingrid

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[A quick one this time!]

Published: 2012

It's about: This memoir is structured around typical female experiences (with chapter titles like, "I Start Bleeding!" "I Need a Bra!" "I am Fat!" "I am in Love!"), with (often very funny) stories from Moran's life sprinkled with feminist critique.

I thought: Moran's humor is a bit ... strong. She uses lots of capitalized words and exclamation marks. However, I think her chatty, enthusiastic, funny voice made her feminist critique easy to digest. It's like ... Pop Feminism. Is that a thing?

Verdict: In between. I loved the idea, but delivery was a bit much for me. I'd probably give it something like a 7 out of 10.

Warnings: Language, some sexual content.

Caitlin Moran, with her Glamour Women of the Year 2012
award for Best Writer

Favorite excerpts: "I distrust this female habit of reflexively flagging your own shortcomings. Not the breezy, airy witticism in the face of a compliment--'Lost weight? No. We're just in a larger room than usual, darling.' 'You think my children are well mannered? I have wired them with small electrodes, and every time they misbehave, I punch the BAD KID button in my pocket.' That's fine.
     No--I'm talking about the common attitudinal habit in women that we;re kind of...failing if we're not a bit neurotic. That we're somehow boorish, complacent, and unfeminine if we're content."

What I'm reading next: Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on love and life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed