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Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl

Carrie Brownstein

Start date: July 19, 2016

Finish date: August 31, 2016

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Jul/Aug-Hunger Makes Me.. (2016)

When men sing personal songs, they seem evolved, unlike women, who feel tiresome. Why is that?
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Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein
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Sep 30, 2018 Lord Beardsley rated it liked it

Shelves: feminism, read2018

Brussels, Belgium is perhaps the perfect location for someone to have their band implode, a nervous breakdown and punch themselves repeatedly in the face. I am sorry that this happened to Ms. Brownstein. Though, I will vouch for the fact that the Botanique is a wonderful venue.

That being said, I greatly enjoyed her reminiscences of growing up, finding her voice, her place in the world of lefty, feminist Olympia and her footing as a musician. I particularly enjoyed her take on the over expectati Brussels, Belgium is perhaps the perfect location for someone to have their band implode, a nervous breakdown and punch themselves repeatedly in the face. I am sorry that this happened to Ms. Brownstein. Though, I will vouch for the fact that the Botanique is a wonderful venue.

That being said, I greatly enjoyed her reminiscences of growing up, finding her voice, her place in the world of lefty, feminist Olympia and her footing as a musician. I particularly enjoyed her take on the over expectations and personal policing found within militant, left-wing circles, which of course she used to aplomb satirizing in 'Portlandia'.

I have long been fascinated in what the touring life is like for musicians, and this is one of the best books I've read that has really nailed the reality of that. I found her insights into Sleater-Kinney's music making processes enlightening, and plan to return to this again.

Her sense of humor is wonderful, and I loved her story about how un-rock and roll her allergies are. I also was really in love with the part when she talked about becoming an obsessive rescue shelter volunteer. As someone whose partner is a cat shelter volunteer, that cut close to the bone. I legit cried at THAT ONE SCENE (no spoilers).

After each chapter dealing with one of the albums, I had my own listening session to that album, finding the experience really enriching after hearing about the process creating it. I would have liked if she had done the same with SK's most recent album, 'No Cities To Love'. I was disappointed that it ended really abruptly, and seemed to leave large swathes out post SK's hiatus. I would say that was the biggest flaw in the book, and could really have been fleshed out better towards the end. I don't care that much about 'Portlandia', I'm here for the music. If you know of her mostly through 'Portlandia', I'd recommend checking out Sleater-Kinney's discography before embarking on this.

Overall, interesting read. A great rock memoir with an intelligent, witty, feminist perspective.

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Dec 25, 2015 Rachel rated it liked it

Sleater-Kinney is one of my all-time favorite bands and Carrie Brownstein one of my favorite live performers. That said, this book left me wanting. Brownstein writes with such an academic remove about nearly everything covered here--family and upbringing, time in the band, life outside the band--that I often found the tone very distant and imbued with the kind of 90s-style irony that puts up a thick wall between action and emotion. There were also a few places where I found myself actually disli ...more

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Oct 09, 2015 Lisa rated it it was amazing

I listened to this one - audio book is highly recommended. There isn't really any way I wasn't going to like this, but it's a really good book about music even if you're not in love with Sleater-Kinney. ...more

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Aug 28, 2016 Kathy rated it really liked it

This is a bittersweet memoir told in a voice that is introspective, hopeful, and resilient. Now I am off to listen to more of the music I just read about. Thank you Carrie Brownstein for writing this.

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Aug 14, 2017 MJ rated it liked it

3++ Fascinating to learn about Brownstein's childhood and teen years. Was never a Sleater-Kinney fan, really, but the recording and tour anecdotes are interesting from a process and human relationships standpoint and also because of the bands with whom they cross paths. Plus, Brownstein writes really well - there are some beautiful descriptions here of what it feels like to be an oddball looking for your people. ...more

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