NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL: REVIEW

It’s been a buzz on my timeline since it came out in September, and with my complicated relationship with Lena Dunham (cool that she’s my age on her grind in the industry, but her work doesn’t speak to me), I didn’t know if I wanted to jump in to see what the fuss was about.

It wasn’t until the controversy surrounding some passages in her autobiographical essay did I actually want to read it. There’s no such thing as bad PR? Meh.

Let me state a few things: reading said passages from said ultra-conservative site had me go, “hmmm…” Because she just launched her “Lena Loves Parenthood” campaign, I thought she was just a target. Even if I don’t agree with her storytelling or her work, I don’t want to just attack her because she exists. That’s wrong. Think when Jezebel posted the un-retouched photos of her Vogue Magazine shoot. They spent 15K to compare the un-retouched to the retouch, as if magazines don't retouch any photos. A waste of money to make a mute point only because it was her.

Anyway, it wasn’t until I did further research that I realized these things actually existed. Not gonna lie, it made me sick.

But I wondered, “How can ALL of these people read it, praise it, and know this was in here?” I didn’t want to pay for it, so I put myself on the waiting list at the library until it came in. If I hate it bad enough, at least she didn’t get my money, ya dig?

Christmas Eve and Christmas (evening) I read the autobiographical essay. Luckily it’s not a hard read and I was able to breeze through it quickly.

I was also happy I finished.

Overall, the book is fine. Not good, not bad, not the worst (I read all 4 books of Twilight, 5 if you include the .pdf of Midnight Sun), but fine. Much how I feel about Girls, I don’t get the hoopla. I don’t think it’s the best thing I’ve ever read in my entire existence, and I found most of it relatable to a few group of women, but not necessarily myself. Not in that, “Yes! I feel you homie. YAAAAS!” kind of way.

But let me not be 100 percent negative, because the book isn’t 100 percent awful.

“Everything has changed in a way that sounds trite and borderline offensive when recounted over coffee. I can need who I was. I can simply eat her with sympathy, understanding, and some measure of awe. There she goes, backpack on, headed for the subway or the airport. She did her best with her eyeliner. She learned a new word she wants to try out on you. She is ambling along. She is looking for it (Falling in Love, 78).

Her openness about obsessive compulsive disorder and childhood anxieties that made it difficult to sleep. Being able to be open and share that with the world, not afraid of the stigma is great.

Yes, I read those passages that were highlighted and yes, I was, and still am skeeved by them. Did it impact how I read the book? I won’t lie and say no. I waited to read the part in context.

So overall, I'm not falling head over heels in love with and my feelings about her as a public figure didn't change. But you know, some people get it and some people don't.

Have you read Not That Kind of Girl? What did you think?

Until next time,
C