milkshakevoid's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this.
I'm a member on a site called International Geek Girls Pen Pal Club which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, and a few months ago there was an influx of awesome ladies to our boards, and they all found us because of ARC copies of this book. So naturally I pre-ordered a copy and then patiently (not so patiently) waited for it to arrive. It showed up yesterday and I breezed through it this afternoon, and I have to say that I wasn't disappointed.
And yet, of the reviews I see on Goodreads, people seem to fall into two camps. 1 star and 5 star. So let me tell you what this book is all about. It's a celebration of passionately loving things without shame. It's all about owning your opinions and sharing awesome stuff with others and not letting the haters get you down. Which is really deeply funny when you consider the reviews. I encourage anyone who is interested in the book to take a quick look at it's reviews on goodreads. The five star reviews all pretty much say, this is fun and funny filled with quirky information that you probably knew but made you smile anyway and inspired you to embrace your inner awesome. All the one star reviews say that it's childish and unoriginal and self important.
It's kind of a perfect representation of the entire moral behind the book. I'll be honest. As a 25 year old who has always loved things passionately starting at age 4 with Sailor Moon, growing up on Star Trek with my parents and Harry Potter with my friends, after nearly a decade of Buffy and Dr Who, and years spent in front of game boys, playstations and computer screens, there's never been a time in my life when I wasn't a fangirl. And in understanding that I've always been a nerd, I didn't exactly gleam a huge amount of new information from (though more than enough to warrant the purchase). However, I didn't really expect it rock my world. I know who I am. I didn't pick the book up to teach me how to me a fangirl, or even how to be a better fangirl. Anyone who loves something whether it's a book, film, game, comic, etc, needs no one else's approval, understanding or permission to do so. I purchased this book to rejoice in this collective happiness. This positive vibe of self acceptance and curiosity and supporting equal rights and feminism not just in our representation through media, but in our consumption of it. A big part of this book deals with how feminism and patriarchy are represented for, by and to women and it's a hugely important discussion.
But the negative reviews of this book baffle and amuse me. They say, "a real geek wouldn't need to read this", "It's just trivia you could get for free", etc. To be clear I'm not saying that people aren't entitled to their opinions. You absolutely have every right not to like this book for one reason or another. I completely agree with the reviews that say you probably already know the definition of feels, or OTP and in that respect the book can probably be considered fairly basic. But I think those reviews says more about the people reading it than it does about the actual book.
If you identify as a fangirl then you do probably know the information within. Why would you assume that you wouldn't? If you were looking for a book that would tell you all the secrets of the Dr Who universe, then maybe pick up a Dr Who book. Same goes if you wanted an in depth perspective on women's involvement in the comic industry and their representation. There are books specifically devoted to those topics that you could be reading instead. There is no way that you could create a massive bible containing all the shiny information about every fandom or nerdy thing in the universe. So I'm not sure what people were expecting when they picked this up. It's not a manual, it's an experience. It's the kind of book that you give to a young girl (10+) who is struggling with standing up for themselves and their opinions versus what other people think they should do or feel. It's the kind of confidence or information that is useful to someone experiencing it for the first time. As adults we know this stuff, at 10, this would have been a source of inspiration to be myself and be proud.
I'm not saying that it's the worlds most perfect book, or that you have to own this if your a fangirl, but I found it to be a really lovely romp through some fandoms I knew, some that I now want to learn more about, and good for a laugh. It felt like I was having a conversation with a fellow nerd lady who is frustrated with how we get treated for the things we love.
*shrugs*
If your a happy nerd who enjoys other people discussing what it's like to be a happy nerd, read this. It won't blow your mind, but it's better than sitting in camp I'm-to-good-for-this.
I'm a member on a site called International Geek Girls Pen Pal Club which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, and a few months ago there was an influx of awesome ladies to our boards, and they all found us because of ARC copies of this book. So naturally I pre-ordered a copy and then patiently (not so patiently) waited for it to arrive. It showed up yesterday and I breezed through it this afternoon, and I have to say that I wasn't disappointed.
And yet, of the reviews I see on Goodreads, people seem to fall into two camps. 1 star and 5 star. So let me tell you what this book is all about. It's a celebration of passionately loving things without shame. It's all about owning your opinions and sharing awesome stuff with others and not letting the haters get you down. Which is really deeply funny when you consider the reviews. I encourage anyone who is interested in the book to take a quick look at it's reviews on goodreads. The five star reviews all pretty much say, this is fun and funny filled with quirky information that you probably knew but made you smile anyway and inspired you to embrace your inner awesome. All the one star reviews say that it's childish and unoriginal and self important.
It's kind of a perfect representation of the entire moral behind the book. I'll be honest. As a 25 year old who has always loved things passionately starting at age 4 with Sailor Moon, growing up on Star Trek with my parents and Harry Potter with my friends, after nearly a decade of Buffy and Dr Who, and years spent in front of game boys, playstations and computer screens, there's never been a time in my life when I wasn't a fangirl. And in understanding that I've always been a nerd, I didn't exactly gleam a huge amount of new information from (though more than enough to warrant the purchase). However, I didn't really expect it rock my world. I know who I am. I didn't pick the book up to teach me how to me a fangirl, or even how to be a better fangirl. Anyone who loves something whether it's a book, film, game, comic, etc, needs no one else's approval, understanding or permission to do so. I purchased this book to rejoice in this collective happiness. This positive vibe of self acceptance and curiosity and supporting equal rights and feminism not just in our representation through media, but in our consumption of it. A big part of this book deals with how feminism and patriarchy are represented for, by and to women and it's a hugely important discussion.
But the negative reviews of this book baffle and amuse me. They say, "a real geek wouldn't need to read this", "It's just trivia you could get for free", etc. To be clear I'm not saying that people aren't entitled to their opinions. You absolutely have every right not to like this book for one reason or another. I completely agree with the reviews that say you probably already know the definition of feels, or OTP and in that respect the book can probably be considered fairly basic. But I think those reviews says more about the people reading it than it does about the actual book.
If you identify as a fangirl then you do probably know the information within. Why would you assume that you wouldn't? If you were looking for a book that would tell you all the secrets of the Dr Who universe, then maybe pick up a Dr Who book. Same goes if you wanted an in depth perspective on women's involvement in the comic industry and their representation. There are books specifically devoted to those topics that you could be reading instead. There is no way that you could create a massive bible containing all the shiny information about every fandom or nerdy thing in the universe. So I'm not sure what people were expecting when they picked this up. It's not a manual, it's an experience. It's the kind of book that you give to a young girl (10+) who is struggling with standing up for themselves and their opinions versus what other people think they should do or feel. It's the kind of confidence or information that is useful to someone experiencing it for the first time. As adults we know this stuff, at 10, this would have been a source of inspiration to be myself and be proud.
I'm not saying that it's the worlds most perfect book, or that you have to own this if your a fangirl, but I found it to be a really lovely romp through some fandoms I knew, some that I now want to learn more about, and good for a laugh. It felt like I was having a conversation with a fellow nerd lady who is frustrated with how we get treated for the things we love.
*shrugs*
If your a happy nerd who enjoys other people discussing what it's like to be a happy nerd, read this. It won't blow your mind, but it's better than sitting in camp I'm-to-good-for-this.
shoggoth_roof's review against another edition
4.0
Un buen libro para frikis, especialmente si eres "novata" en tu nueva pasión.
El libro habla de todo un poco, como por ejemplo de algunos de los "fandom" más conocidos, cómo moverse por las redes o las convenciones y también tiene un apartado sobre feminismo y muchas entrevistas a creadoras con consejos para las lectoras. Es ameno de leer, aunque está muy centrado en el mundo anglosajón y sus eventos. Dicho esto, fantaseo con una traducción de este título porque habría que reescribir muchas partes, como el diccionario o los eventos localizados a los países de habla hispana, ¡todo un reto de traducción y documentación!
El libro habla de todo un poco, como por ejemplo de algunos de los "fandom" más conocidos, cómo moverse por las redes o las convenciones y también tiene un apartado sobre feminismo y muchas entrevistas a creadoras con consejos para las lectoras. Es ameno de leer, aunque está muy centrado en el mundo anglosajón y sus eventos. Dicho esto, fantaseo con una traducción de este título porque habría que reescribir muchas partes, como el diccionario o los eventos localizados a los países de habla hispana, ¡todo un reto de traducción y documentación!
jessicatamm92's review against another edition
5.0
I was sent this by Quirk Books and I loved it!! If you've ever felt like you've been a part of a fandom, this is for you!
I loved how empowering this was, especially for women (and young girls too!) I love that she touched on Internet slang, popular fandoms, trolls, conventions, feminism etc. definitely recommend this to all my fanboys and fangirls out there!
I loved how empowering this was, especially for women (and young girls too!) I love that she touched on Internet slang, popular fandoms, trolls, conventions, feminism etc. definitely recommend this to all my fanboys and fangirls out there!
kittypaws9's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this more than I did. I thought a lot of it was common sense. Maybe it would be better for a younger audience or women that are just finding their geeky side.
I did enjoy the section of reccomendations ... going to look into a couple of the books and anime on the list.
Not exactly sure what I expected, but I'm a little dissapointed.
I did enjoy the section of reccomendations ... going to look into a couple of the books and anime on the list.
Not exactly sure what I expected, but I'm a little dissapointed.
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
3.0
Read/Listened for Review (Quirk/Penguin)
Overall Rating : 3. 50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs is an excellent primer for the new girl to the geekdom but for the rest of us it was more just fun to read.
Quick Thoughts: I totally picked this to review on a whim. I am a Geek Girl. I volunteer at Cons. I cosplay at bookish events. I even game (Alliance Rules, Horde Drools) on occasion (to be hones I am more of an old school gamer: Gabriel Knight, Zeus, Ripper but I do like WOW, StarCraft, and Diablo). I thought maybe I was the target audience for this book but I would say it is more for those on the outside looking in. It is more for those that want to know more or break into the geek world. I thought Sam did a great job at covering the "biggies" in the world. I would totally gift this book to a future geek girl with no problem. It just really isn't for the established geek. Trust me, you already know this stuff!
Audio Thoughts:
Holly and Jessica did a great job with the narration. They were excited, interesting, and their pacing was spot on. This is a short audiobook and honestly probably the way I would suggest going if you were to pick it up!
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
Overall Rating : 3. 50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs is an excellent primer for the new girl to the geekdom but for the rest of us it was more just fun to read.
Quick Thoughts: I totally picked this to review on a whim. I am a Geek Girl. I volunteer at Cons. I cosplay at bookish events. I even game (Alliance Rules, Horde Drools) on occasion (to be hones I am more of an old school gamer: Gabriel Knight, Zeus, Ripper but I do like WOW, StarCraft, and Diablo). I thought maybe I was the target audience for this book but I would say it is more for those on the outside looking in. It is more for those that want to know more or break into the geek world. I thought Sam did a great job at covering the "biggies" in the world. I would totally gift this book to a future geek girl with no problem. It just really isn't for the established geek. Trust me, you already know this stuff!
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Holly Conrad, Jessica Almasy / Length: 5 hrs and 4 mins
Holly and Jessica did a great job with the narration. They were excited, interesting, and their pacing was spot on. This is a short audiobook and honestly probably the way I would suggest going if you were to pick it up!
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
princewales's review against another edition
3.0
The book is small and two parts out of four were not for me because I live in Russia so I just looked them through. But otherwise is was an interesting guide for a girl insisting on self-acceptance and self-love :) I am glad I bought the used book :)
amberunmasked's review against another edition
4.0
If you’re in the mood for a fun, fast read on a weekend when you have nothing to do, THE FANGIRL'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY is like enjoying a popcorn movie - one that doesn’t require a ton of critical analysis, but satisfies your craving for entertainment. Author Sam Maggs presents a conversational collection of advice almost in a “Dear Sam” style as if the readers have questions about niche elements of fandom. From cosplay to convention going, Maggs tackles a massive subject by focusing on a select few, but very key, elements about being a female fan in 2015’s pop culture. I have few criticisms which aren’t major and nothing that could prevent readers from cruising through the pages with ease. Full disclosure, I'm pretty sure I met Maggs at New York Comic Con 2014 at The Mary Sue lounge.
Right off the bat, with chapter one, Maggs sets the tone for the guidebook. She has a perpetual pep squad cheer. She starts by welcoming new fans and paying respects to those who pioneered the fan space for the things they love.
I squeed (yes, occasionally even I fall into fangirl speak just as I did my Valley Girl days), when Maggs included one of my favorite things in her chapter on noteworthy fandoms. I’m the consummate outsider - the one who doesn’t like DOCTOR WHO, GAME OF THRONES or MASS EFFECT. They just aren’t things I care about. So when Maggs threw one of my favorite shows, PSYCH, into the mix of notable fandoms, my grinchy heart grew. PSYCH-Os, unite!
Maggs took the various fandoms and presented them like an Audubon wildlife guide. It was clever and kept the pace quick. She had some examples of how to show off your love for something in every day clique-style-secret-code fashion. For example if you’re wearing a time turner necklace or Aragorn’s ring, there’s a chance someone else “in the know” might see it and start up conversation. It’s like the Freemasonry secrets for geeks. And from there you can have a delightful conversation about whether Professor Snape is a darling romantic or a super creepy stalker.
The lexicon of fangirl dialect showed some terrific research about terminology thought of as modern inventions by teen girls which are really lingo from over a hundred years ago. As I referenced Valley Girl speak before, the FANGIRLS’ GUIDE is a modern take on a book I read in the 80’s, FER SHURR! HOW TO BE A VALLEY GIRL - TOTALLY! The best twist is that Maggs (probably not even aware of what Valley Girls are) didn’t write about how one should do x, y, or z to fit in, but rather presented the advice in a encouraging way to be more you than some trendy someone else.
In the chapter on lingo, Maggs included fun things like what “shipping” and “OTP” mean; she also laid down some serious tips about trigger warnings, content warnings and the reasons fans want them.
Another tip I wholeheartedly second is that if you go into a comic shop, game shop, or a convention booth and a sales person treats you as less than a real fan, take your business elsewhere - and don’t be afraid to tweet or yelp what happened.
Between the chapters are interviews with some of pop culture’s notable women including writers, performers, actors and cartoonists. What’s interesting is that only one, Erica Schultz who happens to be a friend of mine, said that she dislikes the moniker “fangirl” because it’s often used to derisively. Nearly every interviewee answered the last question the same way. Maggs asked what advice they would give to fangirls. It was as if they were reciting the answer: never apologize for loving the things you love and showing your fan appreciation.
For more, visit my site for the full review. I addressed some specific section of FANGIRL'S GUIDE like conventions, online life, trolls, feminism, and recommendations. http://www.amberunmasked.com/fangirls-guide/
Right off the bat, with chapter one, Maggs sets the tone for the guidebook. She has a perpetual pep squad cheer. She starts by welcoming new fans and paying respects to those who pioneered the fan space for the things they love.
I squeed (yes, occasionally even I fall into fangirl speak just as I did my Valley Girl days), when Maggs included one of my favorite things in her chapter on noteworthy fandoms. I’m the consummate outsider - the one who doesn’t like DOCTOR WHO, GAME OF THRONES or MASS EFFECT. They just aren’t things I care about. So when Maggs threw one of my favorite shows, PSYCH, into the mix of notable fandoms, my grinchy heart grew. PSYCH-Os, unite!
Maggs took the various fandoms and presented them like an Audubon wildlife guide. It was clever and kept the pace quick. She had some examples of how to show off your love for something in every day clique-style-secret-code fashion. For example if you’re wearing a time turner necklace or Aragorn’s ring, there’s a chance someone else “in the know” might see it and start up conversation. It’s like the Freemasonry secrets for geeks. And from there you can have a delightful conversation about whether Professor Snape is a darling romantic or a super creepy stalker.
The lexicon of fangirl dialect showed some terrific research about terminology thought of as modern inventions by teen girls which are really lingo from over a hundred years ago. As I referenced Valley Girl speak before, the FANGIRLS’ GUIDE is a modern take on a book I read in the 80’s, FER SHURR! HOW TO BE A VALLEY GIRL - TOTALLY! The best twist is that Maggs (probably not even aware of what Valley Girls are) didn’t write about how one should do x, y, or z to fit in, but rather presented the advice in a encouraging way to be more you than some trendy someone else.
In the chapter on lingo, Maggs included fun things like what “shipping” and “OTP” mean; she also laid down some serious tips about trigger warnings, content warnings and the reasons fans want them.
Another tip I wholeheartedly second is that if you go into a comic shop, game shop, or a convention booth and a sales person treats you as less than a real fan, take your business elsewhere - and don’t be afraid to tweet or yelp what happened.
Between the chapters are interviews with some of pop culture’s notable women including writers, performers, actors and cartoonists. What’s interesting is that only one, Erica Schultz who happens to be a friend of mine, said that she dislikes the moniker “fangirl” because it’s often used to derisively. Nearly every interviewee answered the last question the same way. Maggs asked what advice they would give to fangirls. It was as if they were reciting the answer: never apologize for loving the things you love and showing your fan appreciation.
For more, visit my site for the full review. I addressed some specific section of FANGIRL'S GUIDE like conventions, online life, trolls, feminism, and recommendations. http://www.amberunmasked.com/fangirls-guide/
redmars's review against another edition
5.0
Received an arc from publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
It's pretty much like a guide for females to understand the basics of being a Fangirl. It's has great information about different fandoms, terms , cos playing , cons, feminism and much more. It was such a fun , quick and easy read.
It's pretty much like a guide for females to understand the basics of being a Fangirl. It's has great information about different fandoms, terms , cos playing , cons, feminism and much more. It was such a fun , quick and easy read.
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
Received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
3.5 stars.
I was delighted when I found out that I was approved for this book. The blurb sounded great, like the perfect little book for a geek/fangirl like me. My expectations were high and I had hopes for lots of fun fangirl stuff, some conventions and glossaries.
However, it disappointed me. There was still a lot of fun fangirl stuff, fandom stuff, but sadly there were things I didn't like.
Let me start with the things I liked.
I loved the glossaries in the book, with what word/abbreviations meant. Things like: RPF (which apparently means Real Person Fiction), Femslash, Songfics.
We also had a big chapter on the various fandoms, of course not all of them are mentioned, that would be impossible as for every tv-show/anime/manga/book/whatever else there is a fandom, be them big or small. But in this one they at least addressed the biggest ones (at least I would count them as the biggest ones). At the end of the chapter there is also a big list (without descriptions on the numerous other fandoms).
I loved the parts on the trolls (I really laughed out loud at the description and it was great to see how spot on it was). Of course I really loved the counter attacks. I am sure a lot of people could use those as trolls are everywhere. Not all of the counter attacks are ones I would agree with though, so I would say use and be careful.
We also have various interviews with writers, creators of things (sorry, I don't know what kind of stuff they create (could be games/tv/books anything really).
There is also a huge part on how to survive and prepare for a convention. That one was really interesting, though most of the stuff mentioned didn't apply to me as the cons in my country aren't that big and we don't have a lot of the things mentioned (Like photoshoots? Signings?), but also our cons here aren't that big. The author describes cons that are seemingly huge. Still a lot of the tips are usable and interesting.
There is also a whole planning list and what to do if you are going alone or in group. What to do when you meet up with people you met on the net and several other interesting tips and hints.
I really like the Cosplay Directive. I really think people should read this one. Not only the ones that are the group that should read this book, but everyone. I have seriously seen so many things go wrong or people being treated like shit and I think this should really be printed out and posted at every con that has cosplayers.
However, there were things I didn't like. If I had known that this book was so full of feminism, I wouldn't have applied for the ARC or even considered the book. No offence to all feminists, you are all free to do whatever you want. But I am not one that likes Feminism (and yes I am a girl). I like feminism in the way of equality for girls in school and workplace (like being able to study or getting the same pay as your male colleague who does the same thing as you do), but other than that I am actually getting a bit tired of the feminism stuff that is coming up all over the net and outside of it. I won't go further with it, as that is a topic that falls outside of this review, but I am really disappointed that apparently even in a book like this, we get the whole thing shoved at us. So yeah, those are parts I read through (since I have to review the book), but really disliked, and it also made me give this book a -1 star.
Then we have the other thing that I didn't like. The book is quite U.S centred. There is a big chapter about all the wonderful, fantastic cons in the U.S and that is nice, but there is a whole world out there. You are now just centring it on one continent, not even that, since it is only North America/Canada(ish). And this is a shame. I know the U.S is a big, big country and a big, big thing in people's mind, but hello. Hi! Europe here. We also want to read your book, and we also want to know about our cons. It would have been fun if there was a part about the U.S and then also parts about the other continents/parts of the world. Like a top 5, or a top 10. We, in Europe, got some big and great cons. England, Germany and France have some huge cons that really deserve mentioning, and the same goes for Asia and other parts. Now it just feels off to me. Sure, I am planning to go to the U.S one day, but for now that is a) too expensive and b) too difficult (there are soooo many rules one must follow to get in the U.S). I wish the author had done a bit more research and had looked outside of their own country.
The same also goes for the links she posts. A lot of those links are international, but most of the shopping ones? Does the author know how expensive shipping costs are to Europe or another part of the world? (Spoiler: Very expensive, not to mention customs.) Not to even mention that maybe those stores don't even ship to Europe or Asia or whatever other part of the world?
All in all, I wouldn't really recommend this book. Maybe for some parts (glossaries, the basic con guide, fandoms), but if you don't like/feel uncomfortable with Feminism or with the lack of international stuff then I would suggest to turn away from the book.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
3.5 stars.
I was delighted when I found out that I was approved for this book. The blurb sounded great, like the perfect little book for a geek/fangirl like me. My expectations were high and I had hopes for lots of fun fangirl stuff, some conventions and glossaries.
However, it disappointed me. There was still a lot of fun fangirl stuff, fandom stuff, but sadly there were things I didn't like.
Let me start with the things I liked.
I loved the glossaries in the book, with what word/abbreviations meant. Things like: RPF (which apparently means Real Person Fiction), Femslash, Songfics.
We also had a big chapter on the various fandoms, of course not all of them are mentioned, that would be impossible as for every tv-show/anime/manga/book/whatever else there is a fandom, be them big or small. But in this one they at least addressed the biggest ones (at least I would count them as the biggest ones). At the end of the chapter there is also a big list (without descriptions on the numerous other fandoms).
I loved the parts on the trolls (I really laughed out loud at the description and it was great to see how spot on it was). Of course I really loved the counter attacks. I am sure a lot of people could use those as trolls are everywhere. Not all of the counter attacks are ones I would agree with though, so I would say use and be careful.
We also have various interviews with writers, creators of things (sorry, I don't know what kind of stuff they create (could be games/tv/books anything really).
There is also a huge part on how to survive and prepare for a convention. That one was really interesting, though most of the stuff mentioned didn't apply to me as the cons in my country aren't that big and we don't have a lot of the things mentioned (Like photoshoots? Signings?), but also our cons here aren't that big. The author describes cons that are seemingly huge. Still a lot of the tips are usable and interesting.
There is also a whole planning list and what to do if you are going alone or in group. What to do when you meet up with people you met on the net and several other interesting tips and hints.
I really like the Cosplay Directive. I really think people should read this one. Not only the ones that are the group that should read this book, but everyone. I have seriously seen so many things go wrong or people being treated like shit and I think this should really be printed out and posted at every con that has cosplayers.
However, there were things I didn't like. If I had known that this book was so full of feminism, I wouldn't have applied for the ARC or even considered the book. No offence to all feminists, you are all free to do whatever you want. But I am not one that likes Feminism (and yes I am a girl). I like feminism in the way of equality for girls in school and workplace (like being able to study or getting the same pay as your male colleague who does the same thing as you do), but other than that I am actually getting a bit tired of the feminism stuff that is coming up all over the net and outside of it. I won't go further with it, as that is a topic that falls outside of this review, but I am really disappointed that apparently even in a book like this, we get the whole thing shoved at us. So yeah, those are parts I read through (since I have to review the book), but really disliked, and it also made me give this book a -1 star.
Then we have the other thing that I didn't like. The book is quite U.S centred. There is a big chapter about all the wonderful, fantastic cons in the U.S and that is nice, but there is a whole world out there. You are now just centring it on one continent, not even that, since it is only North America/Canada(ish). And this is a shame. I know the U.S is a big, big country and a big, big thing in people's mind, but hello. Hi! Europe here. We also want to read your book, and we also want to know about our cons. It would have been fun if there was a part about the U.S and then also parts about the other continents/parts of the world. Like a top 5, or a top 10. We, in Europe, got some big and great cons. England, Germany and France have some huge cons that really deserve mentioning, and the same goes for Asia and other parts. Now it just feels off to me. Sure, I am planning to go to the U.S one day, but for now that is a) too expensive and b) too difficult (there are soooo many rules one must follow to get in the U.S). I wish the author had done a bit more research and had looked outside of their own country.
The same also goes for the links she posts. A lot of those links are international, but most of the shopping ones? Does the author know how expensive shipping costs are to Europe or another part of the world? (Spoiler: Very expensive, not to mention customs.) Not to even mention that maybe those stores don't even ship to Europe or Asia or whatever other part of the world?
All in all, I wouldn't really recommend this book. Maybe for some parts (glossaries, the basic con guide, fandoms), but if you don't like/feel uncomfortable with Feminism or with the lack of international stuff then I would suggest to turn away from the book.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
moonraccoon's review against another edition
4.0
I just finished The fangirl's guide to the galaxy and it was very interesting! Kelly Bastow made gorgeous illustrations! Thank you Sam Maggs for this great book!