Emotional ride, beautifully written

I'm a long time Sleater Kinney fan and Carrie Brownstein as a person, not to say I approach with complete bias, I've read biographies of people I love and really not enjoyed it. this however was so eloquent, Brownstein is very poetic in her description. it can be difficult in its content, perhaps triggering for some, but all necessary to tell Brownstein's story. it also tells a lot about Riot Grrrl and Olympia, being pushed into a scene and becoming a performer through a perennial draw, but a constant fight with anxiety and unresolved historical trauma. I'd recommend to music fans.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A Real Person

Would you consider the audio edition of Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl to be better than the print version?

Yes because it is read by Carrie herself, so has all the integrity and honesty of the words within her voice.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl?

The story of her pets - even though I was irritated by it at first, it has stayed with me! It illustrates another facet to her character - the compassion for animals and the picture of how she was trying to shape and fill her life.

What does Carrie Brownstein bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Her words, her intonation, her life.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes as it was focused on her thoughts and feelings, it was moving at times.

Any additional comments?

CB is a very good writer and a great thinker. A modern girl indeed, and so won't appeal to many but it should! Her descriptions of a community, an attitude of punk and of young people creating their own standards and politics, its a great testament.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Astounding.

Well. I was prepared to love this book; after all, Sleater-Kinney has held a huge importance in my life since I first heard them over 10 years ago. For me, Sleater-Kinney has always transcended the limitations of riotgrrrl and existed in an incredibly original space. Their music is liminal; to listen is to exist in the hallowed space between Carrie, Corin and Janet where the listener is not only witness to but actually of the music. What I was not prepared for is just how incredible Carrie Brownstein’s memoir, Hunger Makes me a Modern Girl would be. Carrie writes with the most incredible precision about her childhood feeling distant and alienated from her parents, her anxious need to perform in order to cope and how Sleater-Kinney inspired a generation. Carrie is an incredibly brave and honest writer who never shies away from the ugly parts; of herself or of the pseudo-inclusionist riotgrrrl scene and the result is a thing of beauty and clarity. This is truly up there with one of the best, if not the best, music memoir I have ever read.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

A great music memoir; a great book in general.

Loved it, loved it, loved it. I didn't come in with massive expectations - I thought I'd enjoy the Sleater-Kinney stuff and the chapters on the riot grrrl scene, and that'd make the book worth it. There's so much I didn't see coming, though - what a great coming-of-age book it is, how effective it would be at putting you in Brownstein's head; how unique and lyrical much of the writing would be; how it would critique subcultures and music culture in general; and how laugh-out-loud funny it would be. I can wholeheartedly recommend and - although it helps - I don't think you even have to be an S-K fan to enjoy it. 5 stars.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!