whimsydances's review against another edition
2.0
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I addictively enjoyed the first couple of seasons of Girls, before I got behind in watching, and I also really enjoyed her promotional videos for the book. As someone who promotes the deconstruction of rape culture, I had heard about her description, and her own confusion and ambiguity surrounding her described rape. That was probably one of the only poignant moments in the book. It is surrounded by disjointed, repetitive (copy and pasted, even), and lackluster vingettes by a self-centered individual who is just dysfunctional enough to not have her shit together, and not dysfunctional enough to have her life fall apart. So instead, she drags her entire family out into the limelight, brags about everything she's afraid of, or messed up about, or has screwed up in her life, and tries to pretend that she has grown past all of it and learned so much. She really lost me when she decided to write letters to the people who had wronged her, and I had to struggle to make myself finish the book after that. She was right, we have all wanted to write those letters, and some of us actually have. But what sets us apart from her is that most of us, when we do, actually never send them, or if we do, they are written for closure. Her letters betray just how little personal growth or wisdom she possesses, amounting to name calling and angst. I lost a lot of respect for her maturity at that point, particularly when she wrote a letter to a person who said they forgave her for her movie, apparently because her movie had said something offensive about LGBT people. She said she forgave her friend for saying that, but then said she couldn't forgive her for her outfit... Really? Just how petty and childish can you possibly get? Grow up, Lena. When you do, maybe I'll consider reading another one of your books.
ally1135's review against another edition
2.0
This reminded me why I don't read memoirs. I don't even know what to say about this. It was cringe-worthy, and explicit, and honest and raw. I wanted to like it far more than I did. I thought it was mildly entertaining at times, and other times it was painfully dry. I really wouldn't recommend it if you call yourself prudish in any way. Congrats Lena, I'm sure it felt great to publish this.. I still think you're brave for doing it, I just didn't enjoy it. Sorry.
elliemcc11's review against another edition
1.0
I must be missing somethin about this book, but after a couple of chapters I was bored - maybe I'm just not hipster (or something) enough. Yes I didn't read all the book but after all the hype I expected more from the off. Good luck to the author, she clearly very successful, but it's not a book for me.
squish_reader893's review against another edition
5.0
I am in love with this book... It speaks to me, because I was the same way as a child and then as I grew up... I think she is at least a voice of my generation, and the book is brilliant. If you've ever felt like an outcast or a weirdo, you aren't... Lena Dunham says so!
mcgbreads's review against another edition
2.0
I can't stand Lena Dunham, but I always make it a challenge to get to know the things or the people I don't like. Kinda to make sure that I'm not being spoiled about it.
And I gotta say, I like the written Lena 10% better than the Girls' Lena. But I still don't like her. She's not for me. I don't consider her "the voice of my generation", I think that's a bullshit title for her. She's never had hardships like many other people her age, the "hardships" she tells us about are brought upon herself and it's really hard to sympathise with that kind of bullshit. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. It's all about her in a selfish, "look at me" kind of way. Much like with her show. I don't buy the "it's to help you not make the same mistakes".
She's bullshit to me. And I don't mean that in a hater kind of way, I truly believe she's bullshit. I'm just being honest.
I could not read one chapter of this without rolling my eyes, except maybe the ones that were made out of what other people said, like her parents, for example. And I'm impressed that there are people who did not rolled their eyes, not once.
And I gotta say, I like the written Lena 10% better than the Girls' Lena. But I still don't like her. She's not for me. I don't consider her "the voice of my generation", I think that's a bullshit title for her. She's never had hardships like many other people her age, the "hardships" she tells us about are brought upon herself and it's really hard to sympathise with that kind of bullshit. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. It's all about her in a selfish, "look at me" kind of way. Much like with her show. I don't buy the "it's to help you not make the same mistakes".
She's bullshit to me. And I don't mean that in a hater kind of way, I truly believe she's bullshit. I'm just being honest.
I could not read one chapter of this without rolling my eyes, except maybe the ones that were made out of what other people said, like her parents, for example. And I'm impressed that there are people who did not rolled their eyes, not once.
rachel_the_managing_editor's review against another edition
Figure I should be able to talk intelligently about this, and really, I can't help but follow Lena Dunham's career even if my attraction to her is something like rubbernecking.
What struck me the most in reading this is how earnest Lena's writing is. Yes, I think she's often tone deaf, and lacking in self-awareness (to be fair, she's hardly had time to reflect on most of these "lessons"), but she's SO earnest. And she truly believes in her mission (as explained in the intro): "if I could take what I've learned and make one menial job easier for you, or prevent you from having the kind of sex where you feel you must keep your sneakers on in case you want to run away during the act, then every misstep of mine was worthwhile."
Now does that mission still make me cringe? Yes, definitely, yes. And then there's this. This preemptive shield against criticism: "There is nothing gutsier to me than a person announcing that their story is one that deserves to be told." That I want to replace "gutsier" with "more self-indulgent" firmly puts me in the camp of naysayers--and worse, sexist haters--she's constantly fighting, but there you have it. Behind the earnestness, I can't help but detect back-patting and a lack of self-awareness. Is it really "brave" to accept a seven-figure book deal? To continue to present your life for popular consumption when you've always craved the attention and affirmation of the spotlight? While I'm all about having people's voices be heard, I can't help but feel that what's brave for one person isn't necessarily brave for the next.
I did enjoy portions of this, but more for their sheer comedy or voyeuristic lens than for the lessons imparted. And, oh, how the middle dragged (though the last chapter was one of the strongest).
What struck me the most in reading this is how earnest Lena's writing is. Yes, I think she's often tone deaf, and lacking in self-awareness (to be fair, she's hardly had time to reflect on most of these "lessons"), but she's SO earnest. And she truly believes in her mission (as explained in the intro): "if I could take what I've learned and make one menial job easier for you, or prevent you from having the kind of sex where you feel you must keep your sneakers on in case you want to run away during the act, then every misstep of mine was worthwhile."
Now does that mission still make me cringe? Yes, definitely, yes. And then there's this. This preemptive shield against criticism: "There is nothing gutsier to me than a person announcing that their story is one that deserves to be told." That I want to replace "gutsier" with "more self-indulgent" firmly puts me in the camp of naysayers--and worse, sexist haters--she's constantly fighting, but there you have it. Behind the earnestness, I can't help but detect back-patting and a lack of self-awareness. Is it really "brave" to accept a seven-figure book deal? To continue to present your life for popular consumption when you've always craved the attention and affirmation of the spotlight? While I'm all about having people's voices be heard, I can't help but feel that what's brave for one person isn't necessarily brave for the next.
I did enjoy portions of this, but more for their sheer comedy or voyeuristic lens than for the lessons imparted. And, oh, how the middle dragged (though the last chapter was one of the strongest).
tnanz's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not a huge Lena Dunham fan, I never watched Girls or subscribed to Lenny Letter or any of that. But I read the recent huge article about her in Slate and found her oddly compelling so I picked this book up. Parts of it clearly play to Dunham's overtly confessional soul bearing strength. Parts of it felt kind of like she felt like pushing the PC line in a way that was both offensive and immature. Overall I found it very relatable and interesting though!