Recently I've found myself reading lots of books that I
tell my sister all about when I finish.
Take
The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting for example. A book I loved. At first, I
was reluctant to purchase
Soulmates,
insta-love is not something I particularly find enticing or believable. But I
went for it, and to really show my determination, I got Holly Bourne's second
book as well.
The Manifesto On How To Be
Interesting appealed to me more. A book about blogging, how could it not?
So I began reading. And, immediately, I liked Bree. I felt sorry for Holdo. And
I disliked Hugo and Logan. (Why are the attractive ones always such
jerks?) It
resonated with me. I got it. I was reading, all the while thinking 'I know these
kind of people'. And I don't always feel that way about books. It was good,
hell, it was beyond good. The writing was on point. The story enthralling.
Bree was fascinating her quest to be 'interesting'
and popular highlighted the split in secondary school society, based on what?
Something so mediocre and pathetic as makeup and being a bitch. Do we not all
have Jassmines and Gemma's and Jessica's and Emily's? Well, I agree with Bree,
the greatest way to be really interesting, "stop caring".
The
Manifesto On How To Be Interesting is really, laugh-out-loud good.
Okay, it's not the most original book on the planet, but it's good, and I liked
it. The idea is very similar to
MeanGirls, the iconic film. Social outcast decides to infiltrate the populars
and
TAKE THEM DOWN. Bree works alone, while Cady has support. But that's not
the main difference, Bree's rise to popularity is an experiment, an
investigation into the inner workings of popularity and social status. Bree
blogs about the whole experience, and has a little extra fun on the side.
The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting
is different from
Mean Girls, some
may find the similarity too much, but I really didn't care, I found it more a
passing observation than an annoyance.
Not only does Holly Bourne cover popularity and
materialism, she whacks in student-teacher relationships and self-harming.
Clearly not a shallow read. Student-teacher relationships are very taboo. Why
would a grown man (or woman) entertain the idea of having a relationship with
an emotionally immature student? The fact that it is illegal is enough to warn
off most. But some teachers still persist, just like Logan. And I think Bree's
right, he was unpopular at school, so feels validated by obtaining the
affections of a popular student. I understand the theory, but I don't agree.
Bree self-harms, she locks her self in her bathroom
and cuts the top of her thighs. It took me a moment to realise that the 'scabs'
were self-inflicted. Once I did Bree's character made so much more sense. Holly
Bourne handles Bree's self-harming perfectly, there is no romanticisation or
over the top gory detail.
Overall I cannot praise Bourne and The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting enough. I honestly loved this book, and would highly recommend it. The only thing left to say? Read it. If you've read this book I'd love to know what you thought of it.
'The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting' by Holly Bourne
5 Stars
Labels: 5 Stars, Book, Holly Bourne, Mean Girls, Published 2014, Review, The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting, YA, Young Adult