By Brittany Miller – Collegiate Staff
Commonly known as the actress and creator of the HBO series “Girls,” Lena Dunham writes her life story in one witty, sometimes too detailed novel.
In “Not That Kind of Girl” (288 pages, $17.22), Dunham provides readers with various essays, including topics such as that first awkward sexual experience, to making it in the “real world.”
As a fan of Dunham, I didn’t hesitate to grab this book the day of release and dive in, but as I flipped through the pages I experienced quite a roller coaster of emotions from anger to happiness, and confusion to complete understanding.
Dunham wrote from the perspective of every 20-something woman out there who is trying to get through life, while still hanging on to the “woman power” ideal.
Though some of the details of her experiences made me wince, she brought nothing but honesty, creating a new element of sophistication for her readers, allowing herself to get serious in certain areas of her life.
“My OCD isn’t completely gone, but maybe it never will be. Maybe it’s a part of who I am, part of what I have to manage, the challenge of my life. And for now that seems okay,” Dunham said in an essay titled “Therapy & Me”.
Dunham does not talk about the aspects of her life in a sequential order. She jumps from different times in her life, childhood to teen years, while discussing the topics at hand. It created a different experience for readers, not your typical trip down memory lane as she didn’t focus on one experience from one year of her life.
I’m not saying that fellow Dunham fans, or typical readers shouldn’t give this book a try. It may not be the book that everyone is looking for, but I found this book a good read. “Not That Kind of Girl” made me remember that I’m not alone in this crazy world, even someone as famous as Lena Dunham could relate her various life experience to me.
As I read each essay, I found myself joyed at the idea that she in some way understands certain things we go through in our lives, such as love. Bringing humor to a usually serious subject, Dunham brings that witty attitude fans enjoy, as she says in the essay “Falling in Love” from section one, “I have uttered the words “I love you” to precisely four men, not including my father, uncle, and assorted platonic neurotics I go to the movies with.”
Overall I believe relatability is what Dunham was trying to achieve. “Not That Kind of Girl” speaks to the self-discovering woman, or to those who just need a good laugh.
