Books I Have Enjoyed: Lena Dunham's, "Not That Kind of Girl."

Having just finished Lena Dunham's book, "Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's Learned," at Boulder Baked: a super fun little spot off Pearl Street. I am now about to eat the cookies ’n’ cream cupcake I bought to, “celebrate.” For some reason her book made me want to celebrate the ending…with a cupcake. 

(Later that evening, I will have regretted the cupcake celebration; I never eat that much sugar in one setting. Can you say, "immediate sugar hangover?") 

I milked this book on purpose, taking less than 4 days to complete. I loved reading it so much, I wanted to take my time with it. (I always rush books. Currently, I am also speeding through a Michael Caine autobio, and "Hector and the Search For Happiness.")

Lena is so witty, which isn’t surprising, but she is also completely candid in each essay. You can tell that she has absolutely been this way her entire life. 

Do not read this book if: 

• You are not comfortable with yourself, or open to being comfortable with yourself. 
• You don’t like hearing about others’ coming-of-age experiences. (Lena tells you all about hers; literally, bares all).
• You don’t like, “Girls.” 
• You filter your life, especially from yourself. 
• You don’t think most (all) girls have had issues with food, drinking, guys, etc.

Do read this book if: 

• You are self-aware.
• You are not self-aware, but are open to it
• You enjoy humorous & witty memoirs! 
• You have enjoyed other females’ memoirs: Elizabeth Wurtzel, Marya Hornbacher, Susanna Kaysen, etc. 
• You like, “Girls.” 
• You want an honest look into the mind of more girls than you think. 
• You are a woman. 
• You are a girl. 

This opened up a flood of inspiration for me and I am so thankful that it was written. I am excited to see what happens over the next year with my creative goals, but what I learned most from reading this book is to continue being honest: with myself, with others, and most importantly, since I mentioned it twice: with myself. 

While I know this book is not the voice of every female out there, it definitely resonates with me, in many areas, and this is my book review. 

Lena made me feel like I was not alone, when I was 7. When I was 12. When I was 27. Today. 

It is a beautiful, veracious, inappropriate, collection of essays that most females can probably recite, and find familiarity with. 

Well done, Lena.