Sadly my ordered and much anticipated books this last month were all a little disappointing - I have stacks of books in a wish list and thought it would be nice to order a few around the same type of theme - I had heard really good things about all of these books, but here goes with my review.
1. Tracy Thorn - Bedsit Disco Queen
U.K based singer who has been consistently releasing songs since the early eighties in several indie bands. She's the same age as my mum and it really comes across - not that thats a problem - but it made me groan when she would describe guys as 'dishy'...etc. etc. I read the whole thing but wouldn't read it again.
2. Caitlin Moran - How to Build a Girl
I'm really sad about this one because I love Caitlin Moran and was really excited about reading it. An awkward teenager decides to reinvent herself and becomes a music journalist. This is quite similar to her own story in the autobiographical 'how to be a woman' but a fictionalised version. I loved that book so much, it was hilarious - this, though funny as well, just didn't cut the mustard for me. At the end of the book, after making a stack of mistakes such as becoming a borderline alcoholic and getting in numerous messy relationships, the main character looks back over the last year and decides to change, but it seems like she learnt nothing.
3. Sarra Manning - Guitar Girl
Fictional 'girl starts a band' story. I read this originally when it first come out and I was doing my A levels. The story was of a girl also doing her A levels and becoming a pop star, and had lots of references to bands that were out at that time like The Strokes etc. etc. More of a nostalgia read if I'm honest - its quite nice in certain times of your life to read books about people going through exactly the same types of situations as you, such as doing your coursework, and living with your parents. Reminds me of sitting in the 6th form common room and listening to Ash.
4. Kim Gordon - Girl in a Band
First off, Kim Gordon is ace, I think she is so cool, and I love Sonic Youth. This book was pretty good, again, unfortunately, I don't think I would read it twice, but I did enjoy it. She has a pretty interesting life story, living in Hong Kong, Hawaii, and California when she was young, studying art in Canada, and then moving to New York, having a brother with severe mental issues, and building up and touring with Sonic Youth. The writing is quite matter of fact when talking about life events, but turns beautiful when she describes the different places she went to.
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