On My Night Table

NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL BY LENA DUNHAM

If you’re not a fan of HBO’s Girls because you can’t even with either Hanna Horvath or Lena Dunham, then don’t read this book unless you just want something to hate read. I really find Dunham’s voice to be fresh, funny and she makes me feel old, but in a totally good way. I don’t want to relive my 20’s.

Some of the pieces are funny, like when she describes the closest she ever came to being Cathy, the funnies single lady (Ack!) when she was half in a running shower and half laying on a bathmat eating a loaf of bread (which sorta sounds like a lil’ slice of Heaven), or in another when she writes about a business card she received from a strange man offering cunnilingus.

There was one particular piece that stuck out for me and I if I give a small criticism it would be that she tries too hard to remain likable and relatable. I get it, who doesn’t want to be liked? She writes about older guys in Hollywood with whom she spends time with and refers to them as “Sunshine Stealers,” and it is in this area of the book where I find her most interesting. Dunham gives us a glimpse into what may have been part of her road to Girls, but it is just a glimpse. I would be more interested in reading more of how I don’t relate to the author than how I do. I know much criticism is thrown her way because of her upbringing, but for those of us who didn’t grow up in NYC raised by artist parents, these glimpses comprise the stuff of which I’d like to read more.