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surgeryradio's review
I enjoyed this window onto Brownstein's world. She is a very lucid and compelling writer whose easy yet carefully considered prose brings her history alive. One aspect that keeps me from giving a more enthusiastic endorsement is that, in her very self-description as a compartmentalizing person, the emotional complications of her story come early and never really vary much in tone or resolve themselves except in very specific moments. This gives her memoir a tinge of fatalism that is sometimes difficult to push through.
All told though, and especially if you are already familiar with her band, this has enough weight to warrant a read.
All told though, and especially if you are already familiar with her band, this has enough weight to warrant a read.
molldollriv's review
5.0
Before Carrie Brownstein created and starred in the satirical sketch show Portlandia, she was the guitarist for the iconic rock band Sleater-Kinney. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest just as it was becoming the birthplace of an important movement in rock music, riot girl. This memoir tells her story in a funny, inspiring and poignant manner.
arbritton123's review
5.0
She perfectly describes what it is like being a musician on tour-the struggle with relationships back home, the loneliness while being surrounded by people, the surge of life and energy received by performing. If anyone thinks being a musician on your is glamorous, know you're wrong
lxsbrwr's review
2.0
Self-aggrandizing and frankly tough to get through. Brownstein reads like just another suburban white woman who borrows daddy’s minivan and calls herself revolutionary because she doesn’t wash her hair. She writes about her father’s struggle with his sexuality and her mother’s clinical eating disorder and does so with exactly the self-righteousness and martyrdom you’d expect from someone out of Bellevue; her life is one big inconvenience. Honestly, what was punk about her again? I guess the coattails she was riding off of in the 90s were thrifted.
rachellayown's review
5.0
(4.5 stars, rounded up because I have a huge art crush on Carrie Brownstein) I'm not a huge fan of memoirs, but I read them when there is enough buzz about a book--or as in this case, I love the author. My only complaint with this book is that it wasn't longer because I didn't want it to end. Brownstein is smart, funny, witty, and totally kicks ass and this book is all those things.
forrestefires's review against another edition
3.0
Brownstein isn't reluctant to lay bare honest self-realizations of the impact of being a touring musician. (Note: There is some profanity in this book.)
sahoward's review
4.0
If you are not a Sleater-Kinney fan I don't recommend this book! This book is mostly about SK which is great for me, but just wanted to send out a warning.
It was fun to get all of the insider-y stories about the early days of SK, but the end felt a little accelerated to me, like she realized she had to wrap it up soon or something. I would have liked to know more about her time during the SK break: Wild Flag, NPR, starting to act more regularly, etc. But perhaps she's having that for another book.
It was fun to get all of the insider-y stories about the early days of SK, but the end felt a little accelerated to me, like she realized she had to wrap it up soon or something. I would have liked to know more about her time during the SK break: Wild Flag, NPR, starting to act more regularly, etc. But perhaps she's having that for another book.
unwisely's review
4.0
I am vaguely familiar with the music of Sleater-Kinney, but only vaguely. But I saw this at an airport bookstore and thought it looked interesting. I didn't even read it on an airplane; I read it after that trip.
I have enough in common with Ms Brownstein to have recognized a lot of her feelings and struggles of growing up (although not her family story). I also have enough that's completely different that it was fascinating to read about her choices and journey. I was particularly taken in by how she too didn't understand how music got made and had to figure that out.
It made me think that maybe had I lived somewhere else, I might have tried to start a band in college (although the descriptions of touring made me know I wouldn't have stuck with it. Or maybe that's just old-me talking and 20 year old me would've dealt with it.)
Anyway, it's only about the band years, not about Portlandia, but I found it a really engrossing memoir- a woman who did something interesting and how she did it.
I have enough in common with Ms Brownstein to have recognized a lot of her feelings and struggles of growing up (although not her family story). I also have enough that's completely different that it was fascinating to read about her choices and journey. I was particularly taken in by how she too didn't understand how music got made and had to figure that out.
It made me think that maybe had I lived somewhere else, I might have tried to start a band in college (although the descriptions of touring made me know I wouldn't have stuck with it. Or maybe that's just old-me talking and 20 year old me would've dealt with it.)
Anyway, it's only about the band years, not about Portlandia, but I found it a really engrossing memoir- a woman who did something interesting and how she did it.