Being a girl (reviewers seem to miss point)

What made the experience of listening to The Girls the most enjoyable?

I'm a little surprised the extent to which so many reviewers miss the point of this poignant book. While the story captures the cultural context and events of the Manson family, this primary focus really on the girls (the title is apt). Cline captures the vulnerability, uncertainty, longing, and frustrations of being a girl, in the liminal space between child and adult, and the discomfort of defining a “self” against the “self” impose by others. The tumultuous, ecstatic backdrop of the late sixties may enable the situation that the narrator gravitates toward. But the sensibility of gender and age, and the complicated relationships between girls, and between generations, transcends that cultural context.

What did you like best about this story?

Most of the action of the story takes place during the summer of 1969 (the same year in which the Manson family came to its tragic climax) but the narrator tells the story from the perspective of a woman in middle age. Her narration alternates between the remembered events, and a present-day moment. This shift in context— evoking what changes and what doesn’t as we get older, what leaves us and what haunts us — is a significant aspect of the book. (One reviewer was confused that characters were using cell phones. Those passages in the book take place in present day, when the narrator is in her 50’s. Those are fairly lengthy sections, so I’m not sure how that reader overlooked the context)

What does Cady McClain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Cady McClain did a lovely job capturing the girls’ voices, heady with pot or hallucingens and performative nonchalance, often straddling the simultaneous currents of longing, self-protection, affection, and hostility.

Any additional comments?

Cline tells a story based on one that is familiar to many of us, but from a more subtle and under-appreciated perspective. She does this with sensitivity and poignancy, as well as evocative prose.

17 people found this helpful

Absolutely Recommend

Some of the voices were a little silly, but wow did I love this story. I'll have to buy the book too, just to have it.

10 people found this helpful

Loved it

Couldn't stop listening. She really transported me into her world. I want more books from Emma Cline immediately.

8 people found this helpful

incredible and shocking story!

This book will grab you from the first 5 minutes. A shocking story beautifully written.

"These long-haired girls seemed to glide above all that was happening around them, tragic and separate. Like royalty in exile."

"I could drink until my problem seemed compact and pretty. Something I could admire."

"It surprised me that someone could just touch me at any moment, the gift of their hand given as thoughtlessly as a piece of gum."

".. money kept everyone slaves, where they buttoned their shirts up to the neck, strangling any love they had inside themselves."

6 people found this helpful

Dark..realistic

I studied the psychology of cult behavior at Michigan State University in the 80s. This book was spot on. It's intriguing. Our vulnerabilities are vulnerable. Our young people are so susceptible.

10 people found this helpful

Disturbing but great

This book is very disturbing and unbelievable that such horrific things took place. Very well written, great story. I just couldn’t put it down as I wanted to find out what happened next.

3 people found this helpful

Fascinating story providing insights into Manson

Very intriguing story. I enjoyed the parallels between Manson Cult and this fictional story. Yes, the book is coming age and reveals girls' desire to 'fit in' and 'belong'. Cline does a great job of painting the picture and showing the reader and not simply just telling the reader.

Girls, provides thought-provoking insights how people can me pulled into a cult and do things they don't want to do, know that its morally wrong, and stay even though a lot of times it feels if they want to 'escape.'

7 people found this helpful

5 Stars!

Highly recommending this book!

Emma Cline's short and clipped way of writing draws you in and places you in the world she's created. I couldn't stop once I started.

This book is brutal and honest- nothing is sugar coated and can be shocking at times but that's what made the story hard to put down. A really raw point of view on a young girls need to fit in and the feelings and experiences that come with growing up and finding your place.

I listened to the audible version and it added so much to the story- great performance by the narrator!

3 people found this helpful

I'm not even through the first chapter

But I have to point out that this is suppose to take place during the 1960's , yet some how the have somehow exchanged numbers on their CELLPHONES. Since I have only heard the first chapter I'm in no way attempting to review this book yet, I will say though , the authors writing style is a bit odd. For example " sweet drone of honey suckle, the glass of water quivering, the swallow of morning orange juice, the unlocking behind the eyes, the stranger at the door, a deer thrashing in the brush, I hear voices , a middle aged woman, " that's how she describes everything. "The green on the lawn, the dead bird in the lawn, the whisper in the breeze". Not going to make it through this I'll be honest.

119 people found this helpful

One of the Most Boring Listens..Ever

I was very excited about the hype with 'The Girls' by Emma Cline. After all, the book was plastered all over the internet and was advertised in my Facebook feed every fourth post. I find stories about people who join cults absolutely fascinating. The 'why' they do it and the psychology behind the leadership of the cult have always been interesting in my opinion. When I found out the Cline's book was about a woman who lived with a cult leader in the seventies, my curiousity was piqued.

Evie is a young impressionable girl who's mother chooses men over her teenage daughter. She is a the prime candidate to get involved with a group of people who pretend to accept her, care for her, and love her- all with ulterior motives. The book starts out fairly well- and I was hooked on Evie's teenage character because I wanted to see what would happen to her once she joined the cult and became lost in the craziness (for lack of a better word).

The problem is two fold. The book tells the story of Evie two ways- before the induction into the cult and far after- so a childhood perspective and then an adult perspective. This in itself is not a problem but it does lead up to something that is very wrong with this novel- which is that while Evie's teenage perspective is somewhat interesting, the adult perspective is not. To be blunt- it's probably one of the most boring stories I've ever heard. I couldn't have cared less about any of the characters, what they did, or what happened to them.

This book is a perfect example of when critics go crazy for verbose writing and hype up a book that is so boring it's almost unreadable. Spare yourself some time and dig into the thousands of pages of 'War and Peace' instead- you might find it a little more interesting. Better yet- skip the book altogether and watch some paint dry...

2 stars

Wendi

21 people found this helpful