Girlhood

By: Melissa Febos

Narrated by: Melissa Febos

Bloomsbury presents Girlhood written and read by Melissa Febos.

National Book Critics Circle Award Winner
National Bestseller
Lambda Literary Award Finalist

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TIME * NPR * The Washington Post * Kirkus Reviews * Washington Independent Review of Books * The Millions * Electric Literature * Ms Magazine * Entropy Magazine * Largehearted Boy * Passerbuys

“Irreverent and original.” –New York Times

“Magisterial.” –The New Yorker

“An intoxicating writer.” –The Atlantic

“A classic!” –Mary Karr

“A true light in the dark.” –Stephanie Danler

“An essential, heartbreaking project.” –Carmen Maria Machado

A gripping set of stories about the forces that shape girls and the adults they become. A wise and brilliant guide to transforming the self and our society.

In her powerful new book, critically acclaimed author Melissa Febos examines the narratives women are told about what it means to be female and what it takes to free oneself from them.

When her body began to change at eleven years old, Febos understood immediately that her meaning to other people had changed with it. By her teens, she defined herself based on these perceptions and by the romantic relationships she threw herself into headlong. Over time, Febos increasingly questioned the stories she’d been told about herself and the habits and defenses she’d developed over years of trying to meet others’ expectations. The values she and so many other women had learned in girlhood did not prioritize their personal safety, happiness, or freedom, and she set out to reframe those values and beliefs.

Blending investigative reporting, memoir, and scholarship, Febos charts how she and others like her have reimagined relationships and made room for the anger, grief, power, and pleasure women have long been taught to deny.
Written with Febos’ characteristic precision, lyricism, and insight, Girlhood is a philosophical treatise, an anthem for women, and a searing study of the transitions into and away from girlhood, toward a chosen self.

©2021 Melissa Febos (P)2021 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Thoughtful essays on growing up

Febos' narratives about becoming self aware are transformative and loving. The writing is exquisite. I'll definitely listen/read again!

Strong subject but so necessary for people to read

She has such an intricate view of human beings and the depth of a male dominated society that while the content is harsh at times it explains so much.

Compelling

She's been through it. Worth a listen, for sure. Could have trimmed the essays in a few places.

IMPORTANT. A must read.

Helps acknowledge the ingrained patriarchy, which will have to come off in layers. I will read again and again.

Spot on for many of us

Provocative. A salve for other academics with histories. (I enjoy the author’s narration also. It’s always good to hear the author read)

Great Book but Audio is Choppy

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It always is nice listening to the author read it because I can get more of a sense of what they meant when they wrote it. I did have to stop quite often because much of it does hit deep wounds for those whom identify as female. We all have experienced much of what she speaks about in this book, so personally, I needed time away to process and self-reflect on what the words mean in my life and process what wounds I still have left unhealed that the book opens up. Melissa gives voice to feelings many women are unable to give voice to, like "empty consent,"

The audio was very choppy in the first few chapters. I almost stopped the book altogether and returned it because it was so bad with the repeats and weird cut-offs. After about Chapter 7 or 8 it stopped being choppy.

Breathtaking.

This collection of essays gutted me. I felt seen. Melissa Febos is a literary genius who is able to distill experience into the most beautiful prose.

Enlightening

I heard Melissa Febos interviewed on NPR & was so impressed with her awareness of how difficult it is to come into relationship with our own body. Her sensitivity to the human psyche, especially related to our sexuality, body, and the big picture of the world we live in related to all the above are difficult to have awareness about much less to be able to bring light and understanding to. Thank you for helping me as a man understand better my own self body hatred and also my behavior sexually. I hope to be much more aware of my wife’s needs and listen and encourage her more to know herself, and be my guide.

Another critical read for anyone who’s cares about women’s rights and freedom

I really hope all women, and men, for that matter, find this book. The stories about how women are taught to move through a patriarchal and sexist world are so eye opening. I wish my younger self would have heard these stories, along with the freedom found within them. I wish my Mother and all the women in my life heard these, too. Beautifully written, thoughtful, vulnerable and educational.

a sense of clarity

been going through a very toxic breakup and this collection of essays helped me so much with realizing why i need to end it (along with being beautifully written and incredibly raw).