September book review #1 – Be Awesome: Modern Life for Modern Ladies by Hadley Freeman

For September- my birth day month, I’ve decided that I’ll read one book that might inspire me, one funny book with a strong woman lead and a last book of any genre, based on a recommendation from my Goodreads friends.

So, I picked up this book as my choice for the book that might inspire me, and here is my review:

My Rating: 3 Stars

Book & Author: Be Awesome: Modern Life for Modern Women by Hadley Freeman

Genre: Feminism, Humour

I’ve finished this book and I still cant make up my mind whether I would like to recommend this book to my friends or not, hence the 3 stars.

What I liked about the book was that I learnt about a lot of new things- the issues women face in America and UK, about new books and movies and inspiring women that I should look up or follow, or things I should avoid, if I’m a feminist. But what I didn’t like about the book was the overall tone of the book. I understand that this was a funny and sarcastic take on the comments and issues women have to face, but even then, too much sarcasm makes me annoyed sometimes:)

Also, as a reader, I like books that are well written. One doesn’t need to use complex sentences or words, but I really get put off by the use of new age words or phrases- such as ‘amirite’ for ‘Am I right’. Or books that are written as if someone was talking to you. I know I myself am guilty of writing in a similar manner, if you read some of my blogs, but that would be the difference between me (an amateur) and an accomplished writer who has published a book- shouldn’t it be? I don’t need the book to be complex and poetic like Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings (that would be the levels of experts in the language I would assume), but I do like books written with good simple English and grammar- such as the last book I read- Still Life by Louise Penny or even JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series 🙂

That said, this wouldn’t be my first choice of recommendation if I had to suggest a book on feminism to my friends. But if you have time on your hands and want an easy laughable read, then this is a book you could pick up.

My favourite lines from the book, for a few laughs:

My general attitude to sex is similar to the one I have to exotic travel: happy to experience it as an activity, somewhat less interested in reading about it.

Talking about exercise burns exactly the same amount of calories as doing exercise.

It’s the coward’s way, in other words, the approach that is boring and safe, in which the reliability of the outcome is in no way worth the monotony of the process

Maybe THAT’S the secret: it’s not that women have to be boring and not funny to attract men, they just have to talk on the heavy exhale.

– My gosh, I laughed for 5 minutes at this one!

Nothing – not meth, not sunbeds, not even the passage of time – is more ageing than you saying you’re too old for something.

– Amen, thought for the day, and the week and the month and the year

Never cast judgement on another woman’s weight, parenting skills, marriage or general lifestyle, unless you do it to men too. But really, don’t do it to either gender. It’s just ugly.

– Bang on!

Similarly, when so few movies feature genuinely platonic friendships, this sends the message that the only point of the sexes interacting is to have sex. Anything else is boring and/or impossible.

– This is a topic that me and my male friends discuss a lot. It really is annoying, the culture that has been created by films globally, that opposite genders cannot have a fun filled platonic relationship. It is exasperating.

There are many more that I have highlighted, but I’ll read the rest to you to read, if you pick up the book:) Has anyone else read this book? What are your thoughts on it?