Book Review: How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

Caitlin Moran's How to Be a Woman is touted as the British version of Tina Fey's Bossypants, but it is far from the comedic masterpiece of Bossypants.  The difference is that while both Fey and Moran use their personal experiences to make a point about modern day feminism, the takeaway from Bossypants is, "That was a funny story, and I can't believe women are treated that way!"  Whereas the dialog after a How to Be a Woman diatribe is more likely, "I wish she had told more of the funny story instead of ranting about feminism for so long."  Not that I am against a feminist message.  What I am against is being hit over the head with a feminist message that the author is just going to rescind or revise a few pages later.

The book is a humorous read though.  Moran's stories show her quite unique upbringing in a poor British family, how she broke into music journalism, and other womanly experience such as having children.  There were many times where I could feel for the gawky young Caitlin as she tried to figure things out with very few resources.  The dialogs between her sister, who she seems to abhor in a violent way, but who she also seems to have a tiny softspot for, was the height of hilarity in the book.  It is certainly worth a read.  All of the stories were great, but the feminist messages between stories were a bit long-winded.

Book Review: Banishing Verona by Margot Livesey

Banishing Verona by Margot Livesey was a lyrical love story.  Zeke is a slightly odd London painter who is tricked into letting the very pregnant Verona spend the night at his clients' house.  They have an almost instant, yet tenuous, connection that is abruptly ended when Verona leaves after just two days.  The rest of the novel jumps back and forth from Zeke's and Verona's perspective.  Most of Verona's sections start prior in time to where the previous Zeke section began, giving the reader a jarring sense of catch-up.  Zeke is a bit strung along by Verona's harried plans and there are many missed connections, but the experience helps Zeke to grow as a person.

The fact that Zeke and Verona became so committed to each other after just one meeting is highly unrealistic, but I suppose romantic.  The characters are a bit quirky, which perhaps adds to the high level of commitment that develops at the drop of a hat.  What Livesey does best is character development.  She so discreetly shows the mind of a man living with Aspergers, although she never directly reveals this detail.  The narratives from his viewpoint are eye-opening as to what an adult in his situation might have to go through on a daily basis.  While it is just a classic romance with a quirky twist,  the prose is effortless and, therefore, a smooth and enjoyable read.