Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl

Carrie Brownstein is a really fantastic writer. When I first watched Portlandia and learned that one of the members of Sleater-Kinney was partnering with Fred Armisen to do a sketch comedy show based on Portland's unique ways and people, I was intrigued. Then, after watching the first few seasons, I was impressed with Ms. Brownstein's agility in moving from music to comedy. Then, I heard Ms. Brownstein's interview on Fresh Air and felt required to pick up her book; the interview is a nude companion to the book.

The author's talents don't stop at music and comedy. Behind her lyrical, poetic writing is honesty that cannot be easy for a somewhat shy person to express to the public. As someone who is exactly one month younger than Carrie Brownstein, I also enjoyed both the similarities and differences in our childhoods, teen years, and adulthood.

To be frank, while I had huge respect for the Riot Grrl movement and bands in nearby constellations, I never really dug Sleater-Kinney. That's not to say that I didn't appreciate them, but their sound was just too harsh for my delicate ears. However, as someone who loves music, learning about the creative process and influences behind music is fascinating, so I plan to take another listen to Sleater-Kinney's catalogue.

What you won't hear about is Portlandia, but that's not the point of the book; it's about who Carrie was, is, and may become. If you're a fan of Portlandia, you'll certainly see some of the creative influences appear in this book.