BOOK REVIEW : It's Different For Girls by Jo Brand

A while back I read a book by comedienne Sandi Toksvig and found it sadly lacking. Whereas I find the lady herself pretty amusing, her efforts at writing fell a little flat. So it was with some trepidation that I decided to read this book by Jo Brand. She has to be one of my favourite funny people at the moment - would I enjoy the book or would it go the same way as Sandi's?

'It's Different For Girls' is set in Hastings during the 1970s. Susan is the middle child of a family teetering on the brink of becoming dysfunctional. Her older sister looks set to provide the first grandchild, and her younger sister is so intent on appearing intellectual that she has little time for anything else. Susan feels she's the most normal of them all - but she needs to try hard to stay this way. When Rachel, a new girl, starts at her school she sees a potential ally in these difficult times of being a teenager. They realise that the best way of emerging from the other side of the teens is to stick together.

Their friendship blossoms, as does their increasing interest in boys. Nothing really starts to get going for them until Dave appears on the scene. He's an art student from London and Rachel is quickly smitten. As we all remember so well, the true path of teenage love never runs smooth, and the book turns into a sometimes poignant look at falling in and out of love, and the consequences it has on everyone in the vicinity.

Brand creates realistic characters in a plot anyone could identify with, at least in part. She uses the trends of the time cleverly - moving through times of hippies and punks, the mood of the country reflects the mood of the featured characters. There are some laugh out loud moments, but Brand's own spirit comes through the writing more in the observations of human beings and their interactions.

This book is well written, and very entertaining. Definitely worth a look.

Rating : 4 out of 5

Like this? Try 'Ten Steps To Happiness' by Daisy Waugh

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