07 July 2014

Caitlin Moran Readalong: Introductory Post

Hi, y'all, and welcome to the pre-publication readalong for Caitlin Moran's novel, How to Build a Girl! I'd like to extend a thank you to Harper Collins for sponsoring our fun; if you're following along and think you'd like to read the book, you can pre-order it here

This week we're introducing ourselves before diving into the discussion.  My name is Emily and I'm an independent bookseller by trade, and my blog, which is in its sixth year (egads--I had to look that up just now), is split more or less evenly between books and travel. Hence, my alter-ego Crowe both Flies and Reads. 

Now here's a little confession -- I've never read Caitlin Moran before. In fact, I only recently learned how to pronounce her name: Cat-lin.  But as an independent bookseller, I've sold lots of her books, and as a blogger and a feminist, I've read lots of rave reviews of her earlier books. Many of those reviews are from bloggers participating in this readalong, including What Red Read, Devouring Texts, Reading the Bricks, Reading Rambo, Nylon Admiral, and others.  Mostly I just want to read her because she gets that sexism is one of the hidden "-isms" of this world and I think she's funny and smart and wants all women (and men, too) to realize that feminism is neither a bad word nor an outmoded worldview.

Caitlin Moran herself might be checking in every now and then as we're discussing How to Build a Girl, and she sent me an email conveying her enthusiasm for what we're doing: 
 "...I just want to kiss you from here, because my three hobbies are long country walks, sexual activity and THE REVOLUTION, and every time another woman gets it - when they nod and go "I know what you're trying to do, dude. I'm with you" - it thrills my mascara-stained heart to bits and back.

So yes - thank you: endlessly, properly, and in an oddly un-British way. I hope you like the new book, How To Build A Girl - I wrote it with all the love I could, and I cried like a psychopath writing loads of it. "I'm moving me!" I wept. "I am mining my guts! I must stop talking to me in the third person!" And if you don't like it, let's just pretend it never happened, and move onto the next one. That's even better. It's called How To Be Famous..."
I can't wait to delve into our discussion.  So without further ado, here is the readalong schedule.  This is a comparatively short book, so we should be able to get a lot of mileage out of each section and it shouldn't be too difficult to complete each week's reading.  I'm trying to get something straightened out with the Linky folks, so until the linky appears, please leave a link to your post in the comments instead.  

July 7: intro
July 14: pp. 1-58 (part one)
July 21:pp. 61-128 ( chapters 5-10)
July 28: pp. 128-190(chapters 11-15)
Aug 4: 190-246 (chapters 16-20)
Aug 11: section #3 sends wrap-up

32 comments:

  1. Ahhhh, that email excerpt! It makes me 10x more excited to be reading this book with you guys. Thanks again for organising this Emily, you are the greatest!

    I know there is a fancy way to link to my post but I can't remember how and I am too lazy to look it up. So instead here it is in all its glory:
    http://kfmurphy.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/caitlin-moran-readalong.html

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  2. YAY! I'm so psyched that the day is finally here! And AWWWW, Moran acknowledging our little readalong. That is awesome.


    http://sarahsaysread.com/2014/07/07/how-to-build-a-girl-readalong-the-intro/

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  3. OH SHIT I forgot to do this. I WILL POST IT LATER TODAY.

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  4. I am so excited! I will put up my post tonight when I get back from work, and will circle around with a link here when I do.

    I haven't read any of Moran's previous work yet either, though I did put some holds on at the library... Apparently she's quite popular in my area, as I've been waiting a few weeks and none of them have been returned. Oh well.

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    1. Okay, here's my post:

      http://www.libereading.com/2014/07/moran-along-post-i-introduction.html

      *scurries off to read everyone else's*

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  5. How fun! I picked this galley up at BEA and really looking forward to your posts!

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  6. I can't wait for this!!! And Moran might actually be READING these posts? I need to step up my gif-game. Cos you know, that's the important part

    http://whatredread.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-to-build-girl-readalong.html

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    1. I know, right? Imagine an author you admire judging you based on your GIF selection... This is troubling.

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    2. I am way too nervous about that. I need to start collecting some new ones...

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  7. I'VE BEEN MISPRONOUNCING HER NAME THIS WHOLE TIME. You're already teaching me so much, Emily.

    Also, Moran's email made me scream. So, exceptionally excited. Thank you so much for organizing this! Looking forward to checking out the other bloggers this evening.

    http://commaenthusiast.blogspot.ca/2014/07/how-to-build-girl-introduction-did.html

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  8. I am so excited for this!

    http://www.bookaliciousmama.com/womens-fiction/caitlin-morans-build-girl-read-along

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  9. Your post got me interested in this one!

    Cynthia!@The Things You Can Read
    http://thethingsyoucanread.blogspot.com/

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  10. I'm reading along, even if I'm not readalonging! I saw this happy gathering right before I went to the supermarket this morning, and THERE WAS THE BOOK on the shelf. I read an excerpt in the Times Magazine last week as well, plus a long interview about people who 'built' Caitlin Moran herself, the people who inspired her as she grew up, and it looks fantastic! Sold, done, brilliant. :)

    Ellie @ Book Addicted Blonde

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  11. It's like I've just been told that the coolest girl at my college is coming 'round for dinner. Why did I think that rug was pretty? Why is everything in my apartment stupid? That's it. I have to redecorate. *assesses blog header with dismay*

    theterribledesire.blogspot.com

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    1. What Megs said.

      Scrabbled-together introductory post here: http://www.booksidoneread.com/2014/07/how-to-build-girl-readalong.html

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  12. *terrifying scary voice* I AM WATCHING YOU ALL!!! *normal squeaky voice* HIYA! hello lovely ladies! You all seem SMASHING! I love your blouses.

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  13. Late late late to the party! But here we go!!

    Also, question: Will there be questions for future weeks? Or good ol' stream of consciousness magic? (I've already started and I have SO MUCH TO SAY. :D )

    http://www.thesteadfastreader.com/2014/07/how-to-build-girl-read-along.html

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    1. Hi! There's no particular format. You can do whatever you like with the discussion posts. Most of the time we *do* talk about spoilers because we're all discussing it together, so just make sure you warn other readers about them. Quote your favorite parts, use bullet points, use GIFs, use your "stream of consciousness magic," -- whatever floats your boat. The main thing is to have fun!

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  14. I'm excited to get started! I loved How To Be A Woman, so I'm hopeful I'll Caitlin Moran's fiction equally well :) Thanks for putting this together!

    http://doingdeweydecimal.com/2014/07/07/book-blogging-events-3/

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  15. YAYYYYYY! I am so excited about this. BRING ON THE GIFS.

    http://readingthebricks.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-to-build-girl-in-which-we-introduce.html

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  16. http://www.reading-rambo.com/2014/07/how-to-build-girl-introductory-post.html

    boom.

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  17. That email! Ah-mazing. Thanks again for organising this Emily, it is going to be smashing :D

    http://www.litnerd.co.uk/2014/07/readalong-intro-how-to-build-girl-by.html

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  18. I AM FREAKING OUT THAT CAITLIN IS NOW YOUR BEST FRIEND. This is so awesome. AGHHHH I'm so excited!!! Thank you so much for getting this together, Emily!!

    http://devouringtexts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/how-to-build-girl-how-to-build-bridge.html

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  19. May I join you? This book was half price at my workplace and just happened to fall off the shelves into my hands after I read so many people's introductory posts for this readathon. I'll post my link when I've written it up on my blog.

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    1. Yes, Katie, feel free to join along since you already have the book.

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    2. Yay, thank you! I'm looking forward to it. My intro post can be found here: http://katiesbookblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/readalong-how-to-build-girl-intro-post.html

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  20. I just found out about this - and your blog! I have a copy of this and was planning on getting to it soon but might read along unofficially with you guys since I am all late to the party!

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Please, sir, may I have some more? (Comments, that is!)