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moodreader89's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I am glad I finished it, but I almost DNF’d this book about half way through. I’m glad I read the last 100-150 pages.
You know when you write or read an essay, and it becomes painfully clear the person turned in the first draft they came up with because the end of the paper makes clearer points than the intro and first paragraph did? Reading this felt like that. I don’t know what I necessarily expected this to be, but for the first 1/4 to 1/2 of the book I was getting information, but really not feeling compelled to continue. I don’t know if it’s because the first half covers bands and artists that I just have no interest in hearing about, that it was too cursory or shallow an analysis of the experiences for each category created (imo), or maybe the very dry writing structure that never really seemed to land on the point.
I usually can engage with music critique, bios, and pop culture pieces that I don’t love, or have connection to, if the author’s style can keep me reading: it didn’t for most of it. Fan experience and the nostalgia of some of it does need to be documented but this was a struggle. The second half of the book really hit for me and I’m thinking it would be because the review/subjects shifted from male bands to female bands/artists and discussing the way the media, culture, fans and Artist are connected and each in turn impacts the other. It felt like the first draft thesis didn’t really come together until the end of the book. If it had been flipped in order, maybe it would be an entirely different read?
scugerino's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
noramestrich's review
Interesting but fell out of my nonfiction phase halfway through
lisadelasan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
ohgirlfriend's review
4.0
As a scholar of girl culture and subcultures, I was excited for this book! Generally, it's everything I wanted. I hoped to see a deeper dive in some of the social science literature on girls bedroom culture and subcultural participation, but this book doesn't claim to be a scholarly text, so it would be unfair to hold it to those standard.
Also: the cover is a real babe.
Also: the cover is a real babe.
ahomelibrary's review
Book Review — “Fangirls: Scenes From Modern Music Culture” by Hannah Ewens (2019)
Categories — Nonfiction, Music, Pop Culture, 2000s, Nostalgia, “Fan Studies,” Subcultures, Internet History
Pub Info — @utexaspress (USA 2020), Quadrille (UK 2019) 4.1 rating + 720 ratings on Goodreads
Quick Summary — A nostalgic exploration of female obsession via the love of bands, especially through the lens of early to mid 2000s bands. Relays personal experiences, insights from interviews and conversations. I give it 3.5 stars. It's really enjoyable and presented in a way that is accessible to all readers. It does engage with academics, but it is not heavy in this matter.
After grappling with the experience of attending a concert last week with a primarily Gen Z audience, I am coming to terms with the end of my twenties like a philosopher examines the meaning of self. As in… I’m feeling a bit groggy and I need aspirin.
Yet, this aging-out-of-youth elder emo is a sucker for punishment and loves diving deep into the abyss of nostalgia. So, coming across “Fangirls” was a welcomed treat. This book is more a collection of thematic essays that zones in on the experiences of youth — it may be that the particular audience was millennial here, but fangirling has not ever been designated to just one generation.
Fangirling in this book’s definition is obsessive music fandom via the female perspective.
Delivered in a lightly academic tone (there are bits about “fan studies theory”), the chapters include:
Categories — Nonfiction, Music, Pop Culture, 2000s, Nostalgia, “Fan Studies,” Subcultures, Internet History
Pub Info — @utexaspress (USA 2020), Quadrille (UK 2019) 4.1 rating + 720 ratings on Goodreads
Quick Summary — A nostalgic exploration of female obsession via the love of bands, especially through the lens of early to mid 2000s bands. Relays personal experiences, insights from interviews and conversations. I give it 3.5 stars. It's really enjoyable and presented in a way that is accessible to all readers. It does engage with academics, but it is not heavy in this matter.
After grappling with the experience of attending a concert last week with a primarily Gen Z audience, I am coming to terms with the end of my twenties like a philosopher examines the meaning of self. As in… I’m feeling a bit groggy and I need aspirin.
Yet, this aging-out-of-youth elder emo is a sucker for punishment and loves diving deep into the abyss of nostalgia. So, coming across “Fangirls” was a welcomed treat. This book is more a collection of thematic essays that zones in on the experiences of youth — it may be that the particular audience was millennial here, but fangirling has not ever been designated to just one generation.
Fangirling in this book’s definition is obsessive music fandom via the female perspective.
Delivered in a lightly academic tone (there are bits about “fan studies theory”), the chapters include:
ceciliasrose's review against another edition
I thought I’d enjoy this being a fan girl myself but none of it was new to me or very interesting. It was more like being told about your life and found myself like “mmhmm, yes, true” which I didn’t personally enjoy. I just got bored.