How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
Yes women
are mysterious, strange and complicated creatures – but then we knew that
already. Indeed, this is part of the main issues around the difference between
men and women.
Men know
they will never understand women, so they don’t try to. Likewise, women want to
understand men, but this is where they differ. Women will constantly try to
work men out and will spend years trying to achieve it, but in the end will ultimately
fail. Therefore, both sexes remain mystified by the other but women have put in
a lot more work!
Similarly,
there would not be a ‘How to be a Man’ equivalent of this book. Men don’t want
to be told how they should act, especially from another man! It would have to
be written by a woman and then it would sell. In fact, I think Moran is the
perfect person for that job!
She is
incredibly funny and has a page-turning witty prose which will have you
laughing out loud. Yes, women will be able to share common ground on many
issues, the problems around the wrong size bra for instance, but there are
still many areas which men would find interesting to read. There is a lot to be
enjoyed about this book for everyone.
Moran touches
on a lot of major social issues within the novel. Pornography, puberty, relationships,
feminism, sexism, abortion, motherhood and female role models are all covered.
In fact the chapter which looks at the difference between Katie Price and Lady
Gaga offers an interesting insight into the celebrities’ influence on young
females.
There are
times when you think Moran will use these issues to blame men for causing the
problems women face. Sometimes she does, but sometimes she acknowledges that women
have played their part in causing some of those issues too, sometimes its
society’s fault and sometimes it’s just the way humans are.
In the end
Moran admits it’s not really a novel about how to be a woman, but more about
how to be a good human being. I’ll raise a glass to that!
The Review
of Books score: 4/5
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