to really dislike Caitlin Moran's 'How to be a Woman'

[RiverCity]

I know that this book has been out for a while...but I have only just read it. I found this rant insulting and so far off my view of feminism. I thought this a negative book - I don't understand how people find it 'hysterical'. I confess that I didn't know anything about it beforehand...but for me it was too much information from some shouty distasteful woman.

[Trills]

Are you really asking if you are being unreasonable to dislike a book?

Surely there is no book in the world where anyone could truly say "you are unreasonable to not like this book"?

Everyone has different tastes.

Personally I enjoyed it, I find her writing funny, but I think it was mis-sold as an "introduction to feminism" when really it's just her memoir.

[sickofhideousneighbours]

YANBU, I really disliked it. I hated her description of her daughter's birth and wasn't sure what she was trying to achieve by describing it in such graphic and unpleasant detail - I think she described her daughter being pulled out of her like a 'shit covered piglet' or something similar, words I'm sure her daughter will appreciate later in life.

I don't get why she feels she has to constantly run down motherhood too, not just in the book but in the press she did surrounding the book's launch - as if she's the only one brave enough to say how crap it is being a mother. Speak for yourself, Caitlin!

[Whatmeworry]

Its her autobiography, sold as a feminist tome with a smattering of stuff in to get verious types of people spitting and talking, for free publicity. I thought it was better as an insight to how a fairly successful woman ticks.

[Trills]

Any day that you don't have something the size of a cat stuck in your cervix is a pretty good day.

[Cartoonjane]

Trills: I think you are taking Am I being Unreasonable far too literally. I think RiverCity is just using this as a way of introducing the conversation, and has used AIBU because she knows that many people do like the book.

And I'm one of them! Totally agree that it's feminism light and I do think CM ducks out of some issues rather conveniently (body hair under arms and on legs for one) but I found it an enjoyable read with a few interesting things to say about being a woman. But serious feminism it certainly isn't.

[bigbadbarry]

I enjoyed it - I have always liked her as one of the few women who are allowed to be clever and larger than size 8 :) It is a memoir not a feminist anything though, just marketed badly IMO.

[ILovePonyo]

I really liked (most of) it but that doesn't mean yabu, like Trills said different tastes. I didn't think of it as a negative book though?

[Trills]

It is logically impossible to say "YABU" in response to the question, so all I can say is "I disagree with you", which is much less satisfying :o

[MrsStephenFry]

you mean she has used AIBU because she can't be arsed to find the Books section, feminism, or even Chat?

[noir]

"Speak for yourself, Caitlin!"

Isn't that exactly what she did? I don't recall the bit where she said her experiences were representative of women everywhere.

As a childless woman I found Caitlin's brutal honesty about motherhood and childbirth really informative, and funny. And if Caitlin's daughter develops a sense of humour like her mother's she will not be at all upset or offended by the piglet comment (I actually think its quite endearing, but then I'm an uncouth council estate-born gobshite like Caitlin).

In short, I enjoyed it.. but its definately a memoir rather than a feminist text.

[Whatmeworry]

I think anyone who can call her kid a shit covered piglet is someone I would instinctively like :o

[Trills]

She didn't call her baby a shit-covered piglet, she said she was like a shit-covered piglet. And she probably was very much like that at that moment.

[LoveAndSqualor]

Interesting. Self-evidently, she's no Kate Millett, but in a world in which a substantial proportion of women under the age of 30 appear to have accepted the wisdom that a) katie price is a good role model and b) removal of all pubic hair is mandatory, and not to do so is somehow gross, I have to say I'm really glad this book exists. Most 18-year-olds, let's face it, aren't going to want to read Sexual Politics, but they might well be persuaded to pick this up - and it will at least offer them an alternative perspective.

So although there were points in the book when I felt she got a little dazzled by her own hilariousness , mainly I thought after reading it: good on you, Caitlin. I'll certainly give it to any daughter I might have, and will no doubt pass it on to DS when he's older (3 probably a bit young, all things considered).

[Camerondiazepam]

I love it, and I think she talks a lot of sense.

[lolaflores]

CM has always irritated me. I was not disappointed in her offering. She stayed where she was in my estimation. don't fooled by the cod feminism, or the working class pose. she is a self serving bit of a madam, elevated to some status by her journo mates. end of.

[poppygolucky]

I loved it too. But definitely didn't read it as a feminist work, more has her memoir with added asides on feminist issues eg body hair, pornography etc.

However, her overuse of exclamation marks made my teeth itch.

[TeamDamon]

I agree with LoveAndSqualor: I have taught so many teenage girls who shudder at the term 'feminist' and vigorously deny that they are one but who might pick up Moran's book, enjoy the style of writing and begin to think about some of the issues regarding body image that she discusses more critically than they have hitherto done. And that can only be a good thing.

[Primafacie]

What I found most irritating about it was the overuse of exclamation marks!!!!!!!!

But overall I liked it. Some bits are quite funny, which is what I was looking for/expecting from this particular writer.

[Primafacie]

Xpost Poppy!

[KatAndKit]

I loved the book but I didn't read it expecting a serious academic feminist work. I thought lots of it was really funny whilst tackling some good issues. i don't agree with her on everything, in particular pornography, but I thought the book was a good read. Actually I don't think 18 year olds would appreciate it the same as someone in their 30s who is reading it and looking back. I don't think she is trying to "educate" teenagers into being a woman, the book seems to be more aimed at grown women anyway.

[poppygolucky]

Ha, good to know someone else thought this too Prima

I also found the use of block capitals rather SHOUTY and ANNOYING.

However, tis a funny read.

[Mrsrobertduvall]

It's one of the few books I didn't finish.
Enjoyed the first couple of chapters but then got very bored.
just not my sort of book.

[oohlaalaa]

My friends have been raving about this book. Not read it yet. I prefer to curl up with a good novel. . I enjoy her articles in The Times though.