Reviews

Como Se Hace Una Chica, by Caitlin Moran

courthompson's review against another edition

2.0

This was kind of a crass book and I found myself cringing through a lot of it. I'm bumping it up to two stars (from just one) because it was very easy to read, and the last like ten pages were heartwarming. But most of the book was just a stream of consciousness from a sexually frustrated fourteen year old girl, which is insanely awkward and uncomfortable to read.

exercise_read_repeat's review against another edition

2.0

I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't bring myself to finish it. It is definitely a disappointment....

cemilygreen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

made me quite uncomfortable all the way through. I understand why people love this book but it’s not for me

amberlea_s's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

nix_jinx's review against another edition

5.0

This book is an experience that I can only really describe as profound and awkward wisdom wrapped up in an outrageously uncouth yet beautiful package ('uncouth' being a word I learned from one of my deeply offended Catholic colleagues).

There are definite cringe moments, but all in all I loved it. I was tossing up between four and five stars, because, truly, the cringe, but there's just too much to get out of this one. It's coming-of-age in an exaggerated, energetic way, that seems both over and understated for what it is. There are some simple and beautiful moments in between the outrageous and over-the-top behaviour, but I think what I like best about it is the time spent in Joanna's mind. Which is where most of the book takes place, so I guess that's fortunate.

I recommend this one, but with the caveat that you will mostly likely feel a little uncomfortable at times.

I also highly recommend the audio version. The reader is brilliant - also, that accent.

laurelinwonder's review against another edition

4.0

This is the thing about How To Build A Girl: it's a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age first novel. It's a novelist's rite-of-passage: something they need to get out of their system before they can start telling other people's stories. Entertaining in a vulgar, rude and very British way. After humiliating herself on local television, 14 year old Johanna transforms herself into Dolly Wilde, a cool music reviewer who's big into sex, drugs, and rock and roll. All is well until Johanna starts to loose herself in her alter ego, at which point she questions where she ends and Dolly begins. I feel like this is one of the realest girl books I have read in a while, by this I mean, it felt like an authentic girl who didn't hold back. THIS is a difficult space, which I think accounts for the very mixed reviews. I will say there were a few times where I was less interested, but much of the writing itself, and Johanna's wild descriptions and honesty had be alternately laughing out loud, and feeling all the girly, adolescent feels. It's a grab bag of a book, but that is probably why I like it, you never know what to expect next, which is a treat in today's show-all-the-best-parts America.

mirygilmore's review

5.0

Caitlin Moran ha creado una historia para dar fuerzas a quien lo lea, para enseñarle a reírse de vez en cuando de uno mismo, de no tener miedo a cambiar cuando lo necesites ni tampoco a ser como quieras ser (y no como deberías ser). Se ha convertido en una de mis mejores lecturas del 2016.

Puedes leer la reseña completa aquí: http://www.sweetparanoia.com/2016/10/como-se-hace-una-chica-de-caitlin-moran.html

beccainabook's review against another edition

3.0

This book was definitely not what I expected! I enjoyed to plot and the characters, but there were some issues I could not ignore. I wanted to smack the main character a few times, but I had to keep reminding myself that she is 17 and she didn't know any better. I loved loved loved the music element of the book, it was very interesting and fun to read! Overall I enjoyed the book and happy I read it.

measton's review against another edition

4.0

I found this book very surprising. It definitely wasn't was I was expecting, in the best way possible. I listened to the audio version. the narrator, along with the content, made me feel like I was inside the mind of the main girl from "End of the f***ing World" on Netflix.

I really loved how Johanna's character and relationships evolved. Would recommend. Not for the faint of heart.

jonathanrobert's review against another edition

emotional funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0