Not That Kind of Girl

I have to admit that I binge-read Not That Kind of Girl after binge-watching every season of HBO's Girls. While I was familiar with Lena Dunham before watching the show (at this point, who isn't?), I didn't know about the writer persona she embodies both for the show and in her real life. If you can't tell from the photo above, this book is gorgeous on a design-level. Each essay features numerous illustrations by Joana Avillez, one of Dunham's friends, and there's a robin-egg-blue hardcover beneath the glossy dust jacket. 

Dunham writes a somewhat comprehensive memoir through a series of short (sometimes micro) essays. They take different forms throughout the book. Some are presented as traditional narratives while others are written as lists or as annotated emails or messages sent to old, pseudo-boyfriends. Most focus on Dunham's experience as a young woman: dealing with body and health issues, relationships with family and friends, finding work, and, yes, sex. While some of the essays feel a little incomplete or rushed, they make for a fast and enjoyable read. A friend and I took turns reading these aloud to one another and had a lot of laughs interspersed with some more serious meditation. 

If Dunham's essays help even one young woman feel empowered about her own sexual encounters or more comfortable in her skin, I'm all for them.