There are many books like this around- funny and true accounts of a celebrity life, written with a touch of cynicism, a touch of nostalgia, a few well-chosen bits of scandal or revelation. They are often entertaining if trivial. They are, without exception, the story of a predictable journey from non-entity to celeb, with entirely obvious pitfalls and tribulations.
So what makes this different?
The title gives a clue: it's a singularly feminine perspective, told through the eyes of an intelligent, self-critical and imaginative participant, who is not afraid to cast herself in a bad light.It's an engaging and a compelling read. Also: Louise Wener is a gifted writer, able to produce lucid and clear prose which is fluent and honest. No, it won't change the world. And yes, it does suffer from the flaws described above. But it transcends them because it's so well-written and truthful.
Worth a read-even if you don't know who Sleeper were. And most definitely worth looking at if you're a female singer, looking to work in the field of pop music. Could save you a lot of heartache...