Sex and the Spelling

'How to be Famous' by Caitlin Moran

As you may have noticed, I've been stuck in a bit of a reading rut lately.  I've started countless books but just couldn't find the energy to finish any of them.  Fortunately, feminist, writer and journalist Caitlin Moran has energy to spare and I picked some up via her latest book, 'How to be Famous'.

'How to be Famous'
by Caitlin Moran
(Ebury Press, 2018)

Set in the mid-1990s and the sequel to 'How to Build a Girl' (which I haven't read), 'How to be Famous' is the next chapter in the life of young music journalist Johanna Morrigan.  Writing as 'Dolly Wilde' for a top magazine means she mingles with many musicians and performers and sees how they're all getting fame wrong.  Even her unrequited love, John Kite, has developed a drinking problem after his album went to number one.  Her new best friend, Suzanne Banks, lead singer of 'next big thing' The Branks, has added an enthusiasm for drugs to her already chaotic life, which in combination threaten the band's future.  Jo remains an observer of the pitfalls of fame until a two-night stand with edgy comedian Jerry Sharp goes badly wrong and she finds herself the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.  Sharp is building his reputation by destroying others.  But can Jo stop him before he destroys hers?


'How to be Famous' has been accused of jumping on the 'Me Too' wagon.  I don't think it does.  I don't think Hollywood invented misogyny in 2017 and have no reason to believe that it wasn't around in Britpop Britain.  Moran has a point to make and I think she makes it well, without becoming preachy or worthy.  Instead, 'How to be Famous' is full of fun, irreverence and passion and I think it will not only entertain but make many women reflect on what it means to be female and start to recognise the flaws in the stoic 'stay quiet, stay invisible' response we automatically reach for when things go wrong.

Unfortunately, like 'Moranifesto', this book's message is interrupted by misspellings, malapropisms and typos.  It's not quite as bad as it's predecessor, but it's worrying that a book can get published by a leading company with so many obvious mistakes in it.  Chapter 23 includes the most, like the classic "he suddenly put his head in his heads".  I mean, come on!

Technically, this novel isn't brilliant, but I don't think that's what it's really about.  I was ready to give up towards the end when the pacing slowed and I thought Moran was about to give in to convention and let her heroine be rescued.  I should've known better.  Just as I was about to despair at a predictable ending, Moran turned everything sideways and made me laugh at my own hubris.  Laughing and learning, folks.

'How to be Famous' is full of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, so won't appeal to everyone.  I'll admit, I blushed at the intimate scenes, but then Moran is deliberately trying to write about sex from the female perspective and that is bound to feel weird in a world where historically only men's voices and experiences have mattered.  I wish this book had been around when I was 20, but I'm glad it's here for today's young women to read and contemplate.

While not for everyone, 'How to be Famous' is a valuable addition to the rapidly growing genre where female characters are allowed to be full protagonists, not just objects to be won or rescued.  It feels strange, but that doesn't make it wrong.

Now, what next...?

'How to be Famous' by Caitlin Moran was published in June 2018 by Ebury Press.  I received this book free of charge.

Related Posts

• 'Moranifesto'
• 'Moranthology'
• 'How to Be a Woman'