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alhara's review against another edition
2.0
To me, there are two kinds of memoirs, those with a gimmick (here's my tale of growing up with one leg! and a gay sister!) and those without. I'd have to say this was the kind without, but it was still interesting, especially I think because of the author's writing style. She doesn't delve too deeply into subjects - had she, I know my mind would have wandered!
I'm not sure if I'd recommend this book, mostly because I'm not sure who it would appeal to, but I enjoyed it. It was an easy read, although not mindless, and generally pretty funny, and I appreciated her honesty.
And I must say I liked the size of the book as well, which is a pretty stupid addition to the review, but it was a good size for reading.
I'm not sure if I'd recommend this book, mostly because I'm not sure who it would appeal to, but I enjoyed it. It was an easy read, although not mindless, and generally pretty funny, and I appreciated her honesty.
And I must say I liked the size of the book as well, which is a pretty stupid addition to the review, but it was a good size for reading.
bookwormbecks's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not a huge fan of memoirs, I often find them self-indulgent and annoying for some reason. This one was not really an exception, but it wasn't awful. I like the short, concise presentation of this book. It was engaging in parts and easy to get through. I liked the last part the best, about Lynn's husband. I'm still interested in seeing the movie, I know it's based on just part of this book, Lynn's affair with a much older man, and I'm interested to see how that story is expanded in movie form...it really is such a small part of the book.
beatricks's review
3.0
Listened to the whole short audiobook in one night. The first few sections I thought were wonderful. What is extraordinary is not her experience in the palm of a much older and corrupt man, but how she moved forward with resolve never to do things the same way again. Unable to trust, least of all her parents, yet eager to experience. It spoke to my experience as a teen and honestly shed some unexpected light on old traumas. Her latter stories are interesting as well, but she paints herself as an unlikeable person -- seemingly by reputation, e.g. her "Demon Barber" interview style, and the standards of of society -- and you never really get to know her beyond that. You know she loves her family and birdwatching because she says so, but she doesn't tell any stories of her inner life as an adult. It's all career stories and being seen as troublesome by everyone. It's very odd and ends on the oddest note of the book, her being glad that her recently deceased husband probably had an affair because it made up for her being a bad wife. Was she actually a bad wife in any way? No idea. Humans are unknowable, says the moral of her story, the sum of her education. Most of all Lynn Barber.
I do recommend the audiobook, by the way -- the reader has a lovely crisp inflection and does several accents and impressive recitations when called for while discussing elocution, which I certainly would not have gotten out of the words on paper.
I do recommend the audiobook, by the way -- the reader has a lovely crisp inflection and does several accents and impressive recitations when called for while discussing elocution, which I certainly would not have gotten out of the words on paper.
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