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Citizen Girl
Another biting satire from Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, authors of the New York Times bestseller The Nanny Diaries.
Working in a world where a college degree qualifies her to make photocopies and color-coordinate file folders, twenty-four-year-old Girl is struggling to keep up with the essential trinity of food, shelter, and student loans. So when she finally lands the job of her dreams she ignores her misgivings and concentrates on getting the job done...whatever that may be.
Sharply observed and devastatingly funny, Citizen Girl captures with biting accuracy what it means to be young and female in the new economy. A personal glimpse into an impersonal world, Citizen Girl is edgy and heartfelt, an entertaining read that is startlingly relevant.
Working in a world where a college degree qualifies her to make photocopies and color-coordinate file folders, twenty-four-year-old Girl is struggling to keep up with the essential trinity of food, shelter, and student loans. So when she finally lands the job of her dreams she ignores her misgivings and concentrates on getting the job done...whatever that may be.
Sharply observed and devastatingly funny, Citizen Girl captures with biting accuracy what it means to be young and female in the new economy. A personal glimpse into an impersonal world, Citizen Girl is edgy and heartfelt, an entertaining read that is startlingly relevant.
305 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2004
77 people are currently reading
2343 people want to read
About the author
Emma McLaughlin
23 books973 followersMy partner, Nicki, and I have been writing together for 12 years. We're obsessed by what makes a satisfying story. I'm excited to hear from our readers what does it for them -- and what doesn't. As a working mom, the only book time I manage to steal these days is right before bed. I'm not the girl who can watch SVU and go to sleep with a smile. Ruling out kids/the economy/the world in peril as subject matter leaves sweeping Wharton epics or swift funny observations. The best is when a book makes you feel like you're still talking in the whee hours with your best college friend.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 736 reviews
December 5, 2013
Dear Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Krauss:
Please stop. Stop writing books. OK, The Nanny Diaries had it's moments and was a compulsively readable little tale. Congratulations, your first book was successful and made you probably richer than you'd ever dream possible. Why didn't you just stop when you were ahead?
You must realize that Citizen Girl is absolutely abhorable. I wanted to give it zero stars, but I didn't want anyone to think I had forgotten to rate it.
Your protagonist (the idiotically named "Girl") gives women a bad name. She gives feminism a bad name. The boyfriend, Buster and the boss, Guy, give men a bad name. Why is everyone in your books absolutely loathesome and stupid? While I was reading it, I actually got the feeling that you wanted me to feel sympathy towards Girl. Sorry, not going to happen. Girl's predicament is all Girl's fault. I never quite figured out why she wanted the job at Mycompany so badly...because they were located in a hip former warehouse in a cool part of the city? She got what she deserved. She got canned from one job, took a crappy second job and found a semi-retarded boyfriend.
I can't believe you two get to call yourselves authors. There is no justice.
So, like I said, please stop writing books. Please. I may be forced to break into your homes and steal your hard-drives if I learn that any more trees will be sacrificed for the paper used to make your books.
Thank you,
A very concerned reader.
Please stop. Stop writing books. OK, The Nanny Diaries had it's moments and was a compulsively readable little tale. Congratulations, your first book was successful and made you probably richer than you'd ever dream possible. Why didn't you just stop when you were ahead?
You must realize that Citizen Girl is absolutely abhorable. I wanted to give it zero stars, but I didn't want anyone to think I had forgotten to rate it.
Your protagonist (the idiotically named "Girl") gives women a bad name. She gives feminism a bad name. The boyfriend, Buster and the boss, Guy, give men a bad name. Why is everyone in your books absolutely loathesome and stupid? While I was reading it, I actually got the feeling that you wanted me to feel sympathy towards Girl. Sorry, not going to happen. Girl's predicament is all Girl's fault. I never quite figured out why she wanted the job at Mycompany so badly...because they were located in a hip former warehouse in a cool part of the city? She got what she deserved. She got canned from one job, took a crappy second job and found a semi-retarded boyfriend.
I can't believe you two get to call yourselves authors. There is no justice.
So, like I said, please stop writing books. Please. I may be forced to break into your homes and steal your hard-drives if I learn that any more trees will be sacrificed for the paper used to make your books.
Thank you,
A very concerned reader.
December 4, 2013
HOLY MOTHER OF SUCK.
I should have put it down as soon as I realized the main character's name was "Girl." No, really. And her boss is named "Guy"! And her boyfriend is named "Buster"! And the woman brought in to reorganize her company is named "Manley"! Wow, authors, you're so smart, your readers will never figure that out! ... wait.
1. Girl is not at all a likable character. What a whiny cliche of feminism. I have a hard time reading a book when I find nothing to connect with or like about any of the characters. A chick (ooooh, I said chick! Way to hold womyn down!) who doesn't "allow" her boyfriend to go to strip clubs, who counts the ways to be offended as a woman in every situation she's in ... yeah, not someone I'd EVER hang out with. Yet she sticks with some loser who ditches her for a ride after the first time he meets her. Awesome.
2. The story went nowhere, except to drill in our heads that all men are sexist pigs who'd rape us given half a chance, and anything to do with sexuality or the sex trades is WRONG WRONG WRONG. Sorry, the stripper mom on her cell phone telling her kid goodnight was MAKING. A. CHOICE.
3. And by the way, get the hell over yourself, crying in the shower after you had a drunk mindless screw with YOUR BOYFRIEND. Seriously? I can't believe he didn't dump you right then and there. Grow up, skank.
I think I'm all set. Ahhhhh.
P.S. I loved the authors' other 2 books!
I should have put it down as soon as I realized the main character's name was "Girl." No, really. And her boss is named "Guy"! And her boyfriend is named "Buster"! And the woman brought in to reorganize her company is named "Manley"! Wow, authors, you're so smart, your readers will never figure that out! ... wait.
1. Girl is not at all a likable character. What a whiny cliche of feminism. I have a hard time reading a book when I find nothing to connect with or like about any of the characters. A chick (ooooh, I said chick! Way to hold womyn down!) who doesn't "allow" her boyfriend to go to strip clubs, who counts the ways to be offended as a woman in every situation she's in ... yeah, not someone I'd EVER hang out with. Yet she sticks with some loser who ditches her for a ride after the first time he meets her. Awesome.
2. The story went nowhere, except to drill in our heads that all men are sexist pigs who'd rape us given half a chance, and anything to do with sexuality or the sex trades is WRONG WRONG WRONG. Sorry, the stripper mom on her cell phone telling her kid goodnight was MAKING. A. CHOICE.
3. And by the way, get the hell over yourself, crying in the shower after you had a drunk mindless screw with YOUR BOYFRIEND. Seriously? I can't believe he didn't dump you right then and there. Grow up, skank.
I think I'm all set. Ahhhhh.
P.S. I loved the authors' other 2 books!
March 1, 2008
This book tried to be super clever and witty, but I knew it was doomed once I realized that the main character's name was actually 'Girl' (and it wasn't just her boss being disrespectful by saying "Hey Girl!") and another main character's name was 'Guy'. Other 'clever' names consisted of Buster, the boyfriend, and 'My Company, Inc', the employer. That showed the authors were trying just a little too hard...
From there, it just got annoying as the writing was choppy and new characters and situations where introduced without even a slight introduction. I had to stop flipping back in the book trying to figure out where I missed who 'so-and-so' was because I just wanted to finish it and put myself out of misery. Why did I even finish it? I was really hoping it'd get better...and time to take a trip to the library to get other books wasn't in my near future.
I think another reviewer sums it up when she thought the main character's name was 'Grace' (wrong..that was actually her mom). Overall, the book missed whatever point it was trying to make.
From there, it just got annoying as the writing was choppy and new characters and situations where introduced without even a slight introduction. I had to stop flipping back in the book trying to figure out where I missed who 'so-and-so' was because I just wanted to finish it and put myself out of misery. Why did I even finish it? I was really hoping it'd get better...and time to take a trip to the library to get other books wasn't in my near future.
I think another reviewer sums it up when she thought the main character's name was 'Grace' (wrong..that was actually her mom). Overall, the book missed whatever point it was trying to make.
December 29, 2021
What absolute rubbish.
This is a satirical feminist novel that spends a lot of time trying (and failing) to be witty.
The story follows Girl as she begins a job working for Guy doing ... something related to feminism. Honestly, the whole thing is impossible to follow but the gist is basically that men are scumbags and corporate women are also scumbags and even female refugees are scumbags. What. The actual. F**k.
There are so many parts of this story that are seriously messed up, but then other scenes are just stereotypical. Like, it's clearly satire and that's why our feminist heroine is named Girl but also where is the satire when you've just re-written common sexist tropes with no cleverness?
Also there's a bunch of stuff at the start involving her 14yr old brother joining her to visit a strip joint (with a Scumbag, of course) which really confused me.
This is an absolute trainwreck of a book.
Clearly it's trying to be clever and witty and feminist but it fails tragically at all of these things and will leave you wondering what the heck just happened.
This is a satirical feminist novel that spends a lot of time trying (and failing) to be witty.
The story follows Girl as she begins a job working for Guy doing ... something related to feminism. Honestly, the whole thing is impossible to follow but the gist is basically that men are scumbags and corporate women are also scumbags and even female refugees are scumbags. What. The actual. F**k.
There are so many parts of this story that are seriously messed up, but then other scenes are just stereotypical. Like, it's clearly satire and that's why our feminist heroine is named Girl but also where is the satire when you've just re-written common sexist tropes with no cleverness?
Also there's a bunch of stuff at the start involving her 14yr old brother joining her to visit a strip joint (with a Scumbag, of course) which really confused me.
This is an absolute trainwreck of a book.
Clearly it's trying to be clever and witty and feminist but it fails tragically at all of these things and will leave you wondering what the heck just happened.
Want to read
September 12, 2016I recall sitting in my polyester cap and gown at graduation, imagining my return - the driver would help me out of my Town Car and I'd stride in, wearing a perfectly cut Gucci pantsuit, to give a lecture on a burning issue of global magnitude. At the very least, I'd arrive for my ten-year class reunion the picture of triumph - accomplished, secure, debt-free. Important. Nowhere in my fantasy was I wearing frayed corduroys and side-stepping patches of snow. Nowhere had I been flicked off the finger of my employer. Nowhere was I poor, irrelevant, and freezing.
October 14, 2016
Um....to be honest, I am not sure why I even finished this book. What was supposed to be cute, clever....or maybe a cynical, eye opening, thought-provoking look at corporate culture just ended up being stupid. Seriously stupid.
The main character was named Girl? And the boyfriend character was named Buster? And the boss was named Guy? And the company was called My Company? And the investors were called The Bank? Seriously? This not only left me confused at the start of the book, but it also served to depersonalize every single character in the story making it hard to like, sympathize or even care at all about any of them!!!!
I suppose this book could be seen as a modern analysis of the state of contemporary feminism...except it isn't. It was just fake.
The main character was named Girl? And the boyfriend character was named Buster? And the boss was named Guy? And the company was called My Company? And the investors were called The Bank? Seriously? This not only left me confused at the start of the book, but it also served to depersonalize every single character in the story making it hard to like, sympathize or even care at all about any of them!!!!
I suppose this book could be seen as a modern analysis of the state of contemporary feminism...except it isn't. It was just fake.
February 7, 2015
I've read other reviews that were unforgiving about the way that this particular novel was written, and while some have their points, others seem to miss the charm and wit of the book. Yes, there are issues, but have we ever truly seen a perfect book? This book has some good qualities in it, but it also shows us that we need to really examine our society and our way of life.
The character names were commonly used to critique the book because they were completely generic, but the point of having names like Guy, Girl, Buster, etc. is to put the reader into a position of role-playing. The reader takes on the guise of the character and starts imagining this world on his or her own. It is quite an innovative technique. It also makes you not only empathize with the characters, but it makes you question their choices easier. Their moral downfalls become yours.
The writing was choppy, and that was heavily disappointing. Toward the end, almost everything seemed to be disjointed. I don't know if that was from lack of skill or if it was the writers trying to have the reader feel that the world was unraveling around them. I think it was probably the former.
It is definitely a chick-lit novel that brings up some very tough issues, including feminism, sex trafficking/slavery, and glass ceilings. It also shows that anyone can basically become a hypocrite and sacrifice their own moral ideals just to make money and keep their job. That is a telling thing about our society, so I think that the writers putting that in a novel like this is a very gutsy thing for them to do. I'm glad that they show that the main character learns from her misdeeds, but I worry that maybe her character learned too late. You would think that someone who considers herself to be of such learned and charitable stock would be able to realize before the last chapter that what she's doing is so far away from being the good little feminist that she makes herself out to be. I guess that she's supposed to be as clueless about her hypocrisy as those people that she so willingly judges.
The book could have been better written. I wish that it were better written, honestly. Maybe if the writers had better understood what they were aiming for or how to approach the topic, it would have been better. Since it isn't, I can just say that it is a fairly good book. And considering that it is just chick lit, I'm letting some of its issues slide and cutting the writers some slack for their mistakes.
The character names were commonly used to critique the book because they were completely generic, but the point of having names like Guy, Girl, Buster, etc. is to put the reader into a position of role-playing. The reader takes on the guise of the character and starts imagining this world on his or her own. It is quite an innovative technique. It also makes you not only empathize with the characters, but it makes you question their choices easier. Their moral downfalls become yours.
The writing was choppy, and that was heavily disappointing. Toward the end, almost everything seemed to be disjointed. I don't know if that was from lack of skill or if it was the writers trying to have the reader feel that the world was unraveling around them. I think it was probably the former.
It is definitely a chick-lit novel that brings up some very tough issues, including feminism, sex trafficking/slavery, and glass ceilings. It also shows that anyone can basically become a hypocrite and sacrifice their own moral ideals just to make money and keep their job. That is a telling thing about our society, so I think that the writers putting that in a novel like this is a very gutsy thing for them to do. I'm glad that they show that the main character learns from her misdeeds, but I worry that maybe her character learned too late. You would think that someone who considers herself to be of such learned and charitable stock would be able to realize before the last chapter that what she's doing is so far away from being the good little feminist that she makes herself out to be. I guess that she's supposed to be as clueless about her hypocrisy as those people that she so willingly judges.
The book could have been better written. I wish that it were better written, honestly. Maybe if the writers had better understood what they were aiming for or how to approach the topic, it would have been better. Since it isn't, I can just say that it is a fairly good book. And considering that it is just chick lit, I'm letting some of its issues slide and cutting the writers some slack for their mistakes.
May 29, 2008
"Citizen Girl" is meant to be a satire of corporate consultation. The emphasis on sexuality in the workplace is meant to criticize, but, like the main character Girl, seems to whine. "Citizen Girl" is an example of chick lit, meant to be intelligent, that is banal and uninteresting.
While Girl does face a few serious dilemmas, the writing tone implies that she's more interested in whining about her problems than fixing them. Her co-workers and friends seem to have a similar perspective. The only character that is remotely likeable is Julia, the founder and leader of a non-profit organization focused on helping women and girls out of human trafficing, who is trying to find funding.
"Citizen Girl" was a quick, easy read, but hardly worth the effort.
While Girl does face a few serious dilemmas, the writing tone implies that she's more interested in whining about her problems than fixing them. Her co-workers and friends seem to have a similar perspective. The only character that is remotely likeable is Julia, the founder and leader of a non-profit organization focused on helping women and girls out of human trafficing, who is trying to find funding.
"Citizen Girl" was a quick, easy read, but hardly worth the effort.
February 23, 2017
I don't quite understand Girl (the main character's name) but I figured if her story is interesting then I don't mind reading it. Well, I didn't find it interesting and the more I read, the more I don't appreciate it. I kept feeling frustrated with Girl and I often found myself just waiting for something interesting to happen other than the going-ons of bussiness, anything. Oh the romance even seems half-heartedly done, I don't know it is weird.
Still the writer earns extra star from her usual excellent writing ability. It's sharp and 'feels' very modern to a non-native speaker like me. At least that is how I imagine it would feel.
Still the writer earns extra star from her usual excellent writing ability. It's sharp and 'feels' very modern to a non-native speaker like me. At least that is how I imagine it would feel.
February 17, 2011
This book was a waste of my time. It really didn't have a point or purpose to it and then when it ended, it just basically stopped. I can't believe it took two authors to write a book this crappy. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
March 23, 2024
I'm not really sure how this got published
January 24, 2010
Why I am even bothering to review this crap of a book, I don't know. There is nothing more unsatisfying than spending time reading a bad story. Thankfully it was a quick read because there was no point to the plot, you could skip over paragraphs and be fine.
I'm hugely disappointed as well as unsatisfied because I expected more from the authors of the actually funny "Nanny Diaries". But man, did they fail to deliver with this story. It read more along the painful lines of "The Devil Wears Prada", echoing even the typical plot line of New York-heroine-who-takes-any-job-because-she-can't-find-another-yet-hates-working-at-said-company-because-it-compromises-all-of-her-values-and-constantly-complains-about-it-instead-of-quitting-and-has-sex-with-a-hot-guy-along-the-way-who-inevitably-is-involved-with-moving-the-heroine-from-a-crap-apartment-to-another-crap-apartment-and-which-somehow-turns-into-a-quasi-relationship-by-the-end-of-the-story-which-is-only-believable-in-a-fictional-world.
You're supposed to give some books a 100 pages to get interesting, which I did for this book. I should have stopped, but kept on reading because I spent money on the book and wanted to finish it. I did almost take it back to the bookstore this morning, 2 chapters in, but against my better judgment kept reading.
Hopefully the next time these authors put out a book they can come up with a plot that makes sense, connect it with some actual good writing (side note, repeating the words shit and f*ck every other sentence does not comprise good writing), and better-named heroine and characters, instead of quasi-ironic names like "Girl", "Guy", "Buster", "Grace", "Jack", and "Manley", and steer away from the typical New York girl who compromises her values for money because getting a good job is apparently impossible in New York. All of these novels really just affirm to me that I don't ever want to work in NYC - I will just keep to the romantic, touristy part of the appeal of the city.
Bottom-line: Don't waste your time on this waste of ink and paper. Save it for your first or fourth reading of Pride and Prejudice. And don't ever believe a cover endorsement of a book from Marie Claire magazine. "Hilarious" is what they said. "Train-Wreck" would have been more appropriate.
I'm hugely disappointed as well as unsatisfied because I expected more from the authors of the actually funny "Nanny Diaries". But man, did they fail to deliver with this story. It read more along the painful lines of "The Devil Wears Prada", echoing even the typical plot line of New York-heroine-who-takes-any-job-because-she-can't-find-another-yet-hates-working-at-said-company-because-it-compromises-all-of-her-values-and-constantly-complains-about-it-instead-of-quitting-and-has-sex-with-a-hot-guy-along-the-way-who-inevitably-is-involved-with-moving-the-heroine-from-a-crap-apartment-to-another-crap-apartment-and-which-somehow-turns-into-a-quasi-relationship-by-the-end-of-the-story-which-is-only-believable-in-a-fictional-world.
You're supposed to give some books a 100 pages to get interesting, which I did for this book. I should have stopped, but kept on reading because I spent money on the book and wanted to finish it. I did almost take it back to the bookstore this morning, 2 chapters in, but against my better judgment kept reading.
Hopefully the next time these authors put out a book they can come up with a plot that makes sense, connect it with some actual good writing (side note, repeating the words shit and f*ck every other sentence does not comprise good writing), and better-named heroine and characters, instead of quasi-ironic names like "Girl", "Guy", "Buster", "Grace", "Jack", and "Manley", and steer away from the typical New York girl who compromises her values for money because getting a good job is apparently impossible in New York. All of these novels really just affirm to me that I don't ever want to work in NYC - I will just keep to the romantic, touristy part of the appeal of the city.
Bottom-line: Don't waste your time on this waste of ink and paper. Save it for your first or fourth reading of Pride and Prejudice. And don't ever believe a cover endorsement of a book from Marie Claire magazine. "Hilarious" is what they said. "Train-Wreck" would have been more appropriate.
April 26, 2009
How did this book get published? If I could only give this book a ranking of 0, believe me I would. This has got to be the worst chick lit book I've read in quite a long time. I always try to give books a chance -- by actually finishing it -- but with this one, I just can't bring myself to do so.
"Citizen Girl" is the sophomore effort from McLaughlin and Kraus, who debuted with "The Nanny Diaries". This time around, our heroine is Girl, a twentysomething women's studies major whose liberal arts education led her to believe that saving women from worldwide oppression was as easy as reporting for duty at her local feminist non-profit. As Girl soon learns, no job is ever as it seems, and even the director of the Center for Equity in Community is not free from manipulating her staff in order to get ahead.
Readers will tire of Girl's particular combination of naiveté and idealism after the first 50 pages, and the blatant stereotypes may wear thin after a while (Girl's boss at My Company is named Guy, and the woman they hire to turn things around is called Manley). I mean, c'mon, there's a drought of originality in coming up with the characters' names here! Add to this the peppering of swear words throughout the entire novel; it's all uncalled for and unnecessary in the plot.
If you are curious to read this book, pm me, I'll give it to you for free. But if I happen to spot a trash can soon enough, then I'm defintely throwing this one away.
Book Details:
Title Citizen Girl
Author Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Reviewed By Purplycookie
"Citizen Girl" is the sophomore effort from McLaughlin and Kraus, who debuted with "The Nanny Diaries". This time around, our heroine is Girl, a twentysomething women's studies major whose liberal arts education led her to believe that saving women from worldwide oppression was as easy as reporting for duty at her local feminist non-profit. As Girl soon learns, no job is ever as it seems, and even the director of the Center for Equity in Community is not free from manipulating her staff in order to get ahead.
Readers will tire of Girl's particular combination of naiveté and idealism after the first 50 pages, and the blatant stereotypes may wear thin after a while (Girl's boss at My Company is named Guy, and the woman they hire to turn things around is called Manley). I mean, c'mon, there's a drought of originality in coming up with the characters' names here! Add to this the peppering of swear words throughout the entire novel; it's all uncalled for and unnecessary in the plot.
If you are curious to read this book, pm me, I'll give it to you for free. But if I happen to spot a trash can soon enough, then I'm defintely throwing this one away.
Book Details:
Title Citizen Girl
Author Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Reviewed By Purplycookie
June 5, 2008
after reading the nanny diaries, i expected more from these authors. it seemed like the same basic story told in a different environment and setting. and naming the main character girl was kind of annoying as well.
November 18, 2014
Um. What was this?
I read The Nanny Diaries a few years ago and found them a quick, brainless read. So when I had a bit of a cold and saw this at the local library, I thought it would be good to read over the weekend while fighting some viruses and hanging out on my couch. Well, wrong.
Apparently this is a satire, and it is certainly exaggerated in all possible ways, but what exactly was this trying to tell me?
Everyone in this book is meant to appear very archetypal by having names like "Girl", "Guy", "The Bank", "My Company" etc. The only capable (female) manager is called Manley because... I'm not sure why. The book keeps mentioning gender studies and feminism on every other page without ever lending these terms any kind of meaning beyond something like this:
Old feminists get caught up in pointless rivalries that are unrelated to women's issues, and they are evil bosses who put down young feminists. So young feminists are better off working for men, all of whom are evil pigs, and porn is where the money is and deep down, all young feminists just dream of servicing men anyway, as long as it's marketed to them in the right way. "Girl", the main character, never speaks up for herself and just hurries to apologize for everything she says and does and rushes to do whatever the Evil Men require of her, and sells out half-knowingly so she can keep her job and its big paycheck. She struggles with not being liked by everyone, and puts up with a crap boyfriend, and doesn't know what she's doing most of the time, and mysteriously, that makes her a feminist, according to this book.
I'm unconvinced.
I read The Nanny Diaries a few years ago and found them a quick, brainless read. So when I had a bit of a cold and saw this at the local library, I thought it would be good to read over the weekend while fighting some viruses and hanging out on my couch. Well, wrong.
Apparently this is a satire, and it is certainly exaggerated in all possible ways, but what exactly was this trying to tell me?
Everyone in this book is meant to appear very archetypal by having names like "Girl", "Guy", "The Bank", "My Company" etc. The only capable (female) manager is called Manley because... I'm not sure why. The book keeps mentioning gender studies and feminism on every other page without ever lending these terms any kind of meaning beyond something like this:
Old feminists get caught up in pointless rivalries that are unrelated to women's issues, and they are evil bosses who put down young feminists. So young feminists are better off working for men, all of whom are evil pigs, and porn is where the money is and deep down, all young feminists just dream of servicing men anyway, as long as it's marketed to them in the right way. "Girl", the main character, never speaks up for herself and just hurries to apologize for everything she says and does and rushes to do whatever the Evil Men require of her, and sells out half-knowingly so she can keep her job and its big paycheck. She struggles with not being liked by everyone, and puts up with a crap boyfriend, and doesn't know what she's doing most of the time, and mysteriously, that makes her a feminist, according to this book.
I'm unconvinced.
November 21, 2011
Maybe one of THE worst books I've ever read. I just kept going, hoping it would get better somehow. But it never resolved into anything at all, and I am sorry I wasted the time. The characters were all entirely unsympathetic - the main character was whiny and I had so much trouble empathizing or feeling any sort of sorry for her. Usually I love when a story is based at all in Connecticut; this time, I was ashamed that she was presumably FROM Waterbury (it's barely mentioned). The storyline is a mushy, messy, unfollowable thread. None of the characters were understandable, nor predictable in any sense of the word - and not in the "this is real life, people are unpredictable" sort of way. They just were entirely irrational and unrealistic. Additionally, the book stressed me out more than anything else. At first I thought it might justify my feelings of trying to find a job in a terrible economy, but I don't think it even accomplished that simple task. These authors simply should not have continued to pursue novel writing - they just don't seem to understand it. It appeared they had an interesting concept going into the book, but it was terribly executed.
The only reason I gave it one star is because in one scene of the book, the main character prints out a mission statement, and is all gung-ho about it. It actually motivated ME to print out my thesis and get cracking on that again.
But...that could have been because I was so miserable reading this book, anything would have been preferable....
The only reason I gave it one star is because in one scene of the book, the main character prints out a mission statement, and is all gung-ho about it. It actually motivated ME to print out my thesis and get cracking on that again.
But...that could have been because I was so miserable reading this book, anything would have been preferable....
March 23, 2010
While this book's main character, Girl, didn't have the charm of Nanny from The Nanny Diaries, she did resonate with me in her frustration: under bosses who expect the most and give the least, boyfriends who leave her guessing, and family that seems to have no idea what the world is really like.
Like The Nanny Diaries, Citizen Girl's readability comes from the reader's disgust with the supporting characters. As you read, McLaughlin will have you screaming "What!?" and groaning with shared humiliation for Girl. McLaughlin paints all the engrossing details she did with Nanny, but doesn't include the same quality of motivation for Girl. Several times during the book, I found myself unbelieving that anyone would go through these kinds of humiliation. I kept thinking, "If it were me, I would be gone."
All in all, the book is certainly worth a read, but if you haven't read The Nanny Diaries, I would suggest it instead.
Like The Nanny Diaries, Citizen Girl's readability comes from the reader's disgust with the supporting characters. As you read, McLaughlin will have you screaming "What!?" and groaning with shared humiliation for Girl. McLaughlin paints all the engrossing details she did with Nanny, but doesn't include the same quality of motivation for Girl. Several times during the book, I found myself unbelieving that anyone would go through these kinds of humiliation. I kept thinking, "If it were me, I would be gone."
All in all, the book is certainly worth a read, but if you haven't read The Nanny Diaries, I would suggest it instead.
June 29, 2015
Hated it with every ounce of my soul. The moment I realized it was written by the Nanny Diaries ladies, I knew I was in trouble because I hated that too (even though it was very popular). I spent hours of my day reading this today and by page 200 (of 300), I couldn't do it anymore- nothing made sense, nothing was happening, and it was just a hot mess. Skimmed to the final chapter (which I never do), and sure enough, ending sucked as well. What a waste of my day. Life is too short to read bad books!
January 3, 2009
This was the worst book that I have ever read. The men were loathesome. The protaganist was pathetic. And the plot was both ridiculous and offensive. I'm throwing the book in the trash after writing this review in an effort to distance myself from it.
April 14, 2009
The only thing I really have to say about this rather unremarkable book is this: now I know why it was in the $1 shelves. And honestly, that was still too much. This book isn't worth the paper it was printed on.
July 16, 2014
Worst book ever. Not a very helpful review but I can't spend anymore time on this book.
November 15, 2018
Citizen Girl is a gift from Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus for the every woman--any college educated, young career woman of my generation will relate to the struggles of Girl, the protagonist.
(Side note--since many reviewers were annoyed by her being named Girl, and her new boss being named Guy, and the company being called My Company. This isn't the writers being lazy you dipsh*ts, this is a common literary technique used in Classic literature to indicate that this is a character we can ALL RELATE TO AND THEY REPRESENT THE EVERY MAN, EVERY WOMAN, ETC. HOW DO YOU NOT GET THAT?!?!?! End rant).
Intelligent, hard working, idealistic young Girl struggles against the Capitalist juggernaut after graduation from college. She has done everything right--worked hard, gotten good grades, landed a job in her area of study that will truly make a difference. As we were all taught as little kids, if you work hard, you will be rewarded. Except, Girl has her dream job and a nightmare boss. Like many other young, intelligent women, her menopausal female boss is threatened by the promise and change this new employee brings. She stifles Girl, emotionally abuses her, and gaslights her until Girl, completely confused, tries to understand what she can do to make this woman happy (nothing) and ends up getting fired. This leads to weeks of uncertainty, of feeling useless and worthless and like she'll never find another job, validating everything her awful boss ever said to or about her, until...the perfect job comes along. Well, maybe it's perfect. Like each of us, Girl is so desperate for SOMETHING, she tries to view the new job in the best possible light. She gets a new boss, equally ridiculous, only this time it's a male who gives her no support, no guidance or leadership, and then complains whenever she asks for him to DO HIS JOB AS A MANAGER AND LEAD HER that she is a whiny Feminist. *Cue eye roll so hard my eyes get stuck* The rest of the novel details Girl's struggle to maintain her idealism in the face of corporate success. How far can she go and still live with her choices?
I HAVE HAD THESE BOSSES, Y'ALL. I HAVE BEEN GIRL. It took me a year of this abuse to figure out I wasn't doing anything wrong--this person is a Narcissistic Psychopath. Women who hold back other women are deeply, fundamentally flawed. There is nothing you can say or do that will allow you to be successful under a boss like this. Her second boss, Guy, is equally awful. He only cares about the end result, and how it will make him look. He doesn't support or grow his employees because he doesn't know how--he got his job through the good old boy network, and is completely incapable of managing people. When Girl asks for a ridiculously simple request, i.e. he give her an idea of what he wants because she is not a mind reader, he berates her and emotionally abuses her. Any time Girl has a valid question or request, it's couched behind her being a Feminist instead of the real issue--none of these people know what they are doing or how to manage an inquisitive, hard working, bright young woman. Out of their own fear of looking bad, they react and snap at her and try to keep her down. Can you tell this is hitting a bit close to home for me?
After I read a book, I like to go online and see what reviewers thought of it. I like to compare my thoughts with those of others as it usually helps me process my own feelings a little better (man, do I miss English classes. Sigh.). Let me tell you, the internet does not have love for Citizen Girl. I find that a little sad, and I also found the criticism of this novel ironic. Most reviewers complained about the main character sounding "whiny" and "giving Feminism a bad name," which is funny considering one of the novel's main themes is literally the main character being berated for being a "whiny Feminist" as she strives to maintain her moral integrity in a world hell-bent on destroying it. Any time the corporate machine does something immoral or nonsensical, i.e. ALL THE TIME, Girl's integrity kicks in and she is destroyed for standing up for her ideals. Herein lies the eternal struggle for all professional women--if you complain, you are whiny. If you are assertive, you're a bitch. It's a constant compromise between what you know is the right thing to do, and what you can live with doing to get things done in a man's world and subvert it from within. It's the battle of camouflaging who you really and what you believe in to do the most good. The fact that so many women who read this book missed that very point is, sadly, very telling.
(Other side note -- there's a lot of hate out there for Girl being whiny and immature and materialistic. Who WASN'T like that in their early 20's, starting out at their first job?! Who didn't have that embarrassing sense of entitlement? Most of you still do, so shut up!)
This book feels REALLY timely in the era of #fakenews and gas lighting occurring on an alarmingly regular basis in the media today. It also is extremely telling that just like in our current political situation, the people hating on this book are OTHER WOMEN--this weird phenomenon of white women not wanting to support their sisters in their struggles because they have some mistaken belief that it will take away from their own lives is sad and gross and it deeply depresses me. The entire point of this novel, as I see it, is the way that women are letting other women down by pretending that Feminism is bad, when it's really because they are threatened and scared that equality for all means less for them. It's an ugly truth, but a truth nonetheless.
I'm sure, though, that this entire review will just be another 'whiny Feminist rant,' so I'll not hold my breath while awaiting a response.
(Side note--since many reviewers were annoyed by her being named Girl, and her new boss being named Guy, and the company being called My Company. This isn't the writers being lazy you dipsh*ts, this is a common literary technique used in Classic literature to indicate that this is a character we can ALL RELATE TO AND THEY REPRESENT THE EVERY MAN, EVERY WOMAN, ETC. HOW DO YOU NOT GET THAT?!?!?! End rant).
Intelligent, hard working, idealistic young Girl struggles against the Capitalist juggernaut after graduation from college. She has done everything right--worked hard, gotten good grades, landed a job in her area of study that will truly make a difference. As we were all taught as little kids, if you work hard, you will be rewarded. Except, Girl has her dream job and a nightmare boss. Like many other young, intelligent women, her menopausal female boss is threatened by the promise and change this new employee brings. She stifles Girl, emotionally abuses her, and gaslights her until Girl, completely confused, tries to understand what she can do to make this woman happy (nothing) and ends up getting fired. This leads to weeks of uncertainty, of feeling useless and worthless and like she'll never find another job, validating everything her awful boss ever said to or about her, until...the perfect job comes along. Well, maybe it's perfect. Like each of us, Girl is so desperate for SOMETHING, she tries to view the new job in the best possible light. She gets a new boss, equally ridiculous, only this time it's a male who gives her no support, no guidance or leadership, and then complains whenever she asks for him to DO HIS JOB AS A MANAGER AND LEAD HER that she is a whiny Feminist. *Cue eye roll so hard my eyes get stuck* The rest of the novel details Girl's struggle to maintain her idealism in the face of corporate success. How far can she go and still live with her choices?
I HAVE HAD THESE BOSSES, Y'ALL. I HAVE BEEN GIRL. It took me a year of this abuse to figure out I wasn't doing anything wrong--this person is a Narcissistic Psychopath. Women who hold back other women are deeply, fundamentally flawed. There is nothing you can say or do that will allow you to be successful under a boss like this. Her second boss, Guy, is equally awful. He only cares about the end result, and how it will make him look. He doesn't support or grow his employees because he doesn't know how--he got his job through the good old boy network, and is completely incapable of managing people. When Girl asks for a ridiculously simple request, i.e. he give her an idea of what he wants because she is not a mind reader, he berates her and emotionally abuses her. Any time Girl has a valid question or request, it's couched behind her being a Feminist instead of the real issue--none of these people know what they are doing or how to manage an inquisitive, hard working, bright young woman. Out of their own fear of looking bad, they react and snap at her and try to keep her down. Can you tell this is hitting a bit close to home for me?
After I read a book, I like to go online and see what reviewers thought of it. I like to compare my thoughts with those of others as it usually helps me process my own feelings a little better (man, do I miss English classes. Sigh.). Let me tell you, the internet does not have love for Citizen Girl. I find that a little sad, and I also found the criticism of this novel ironic. Most reviewers complained about the main character sounding "whiny" and "giving Feminism a bad name," which is funny considering one of the novel's main themes is literally the main character being berated for being a "whiny Feminist" as she strives to maintain her moral integrity in a world hell-bent on destroying it. Any time the corporate machine does something immoral or nonsensical, i.e. ALL THE TIME, Girl's integrity kicks in and she is destroyed for standing up for her ideals. Herein lies the eternal struggle for all professional women--if you complain, you are whiny. If you are assertive, you're a bitch. It's a constant compromise between what you know is the right thing to do, and what you can live with doing to get things done in a man's world and subvert it from within. It's the battle of camouflaging who you really and what you believe in to do the most good. The fact that so many women who read this book missed that very point is, sadly, very telling.
(Other side note -- there's a lot of hate out there for Girl being whiny and immature and materialistic. Who WASN'T like that in their early 20's, starting out at their first job?! Who didn't have that embarrassing sense of entitlement? Most of you still do, so shut up!)
This book feels REALLY timely in the era of #fakenews and gas lighting occurring on an alarmingly regular basis in the media today. It also is extremely telling that just like in our current political situation, the people hating on this book are OTHER WOMEN--this weird phenomenon of white women not wanting to support their sisters in their struggles because they have some mistaken belief that it will take away from their own lives is sad and gross and it deeply depresses me. The entire point of this novel, as I see it, is the way that women are letting other women down by pretending that Feminism is bad, when it's really because they are threatened and scared that equality for all means less for them. It's an ugly truth, but a truth nonetheless.
I'm sure, though, that this entire review will just be another 'whiny Feminist rant,' so I'll not hold my breath while awaiting a response.
June 2, 2023
I didn’t like it at all. At the end the protagonists do something good but for the rest, reading this book was a waist of time. I never disliked so much a book.
June 22, 2009
I read this book only because I needed to read an unpopular book for the Summer Reading Challenge and this was the most appealing choice on the list. I don't know if my awareness of the fact that so many others hated it colored my impression of the story or not, but I tried to go into it with an open mind despite that. In an attempt to try to make the best of it, I purposely did not read Nanny Diaries so that I wouldn't have the high expectations that book apparently set for so many readers. Now I find myself wondering if I might have liked it better if I had read Nanny Diaries, as I would of at least had a positive experience to spring board off of.
Throughout the story I found myself wondering how on earth this drivel ever got published. This must have had to go through an editor, and I can not believe that any self-respecing publishing company would want to put their name on this incredibly uncreative, uninspiring, stereotypical crap. I tried throughout the story to find some redeeming quality that would make me feel at least a little bit better about having wasted my time on this book, but the authors just kept throwing in more and more unbelieveable crap - all the way through to the very end.
I realize that this was supposed to be a satire on the foibles of working in Corporate America, and having been there I can appreciate their attempt. I'm sure SOME of these things really do happen to SOME people and within SOME companies. It was just the amount of extremes and the lack of any relatable characters that made this book so hard to swallow. This book had a lot of potential and some good editing could have saved this book from it's well deserved place on the unpopular list. Unfortunately this one must have skipped the editors' desk...
Throughout the story I found myself wondering how on earth this drivel ever got published. This must have had to go through an editor, and I can not believe that any self-respecing publishing company would want to put their name on this incredibly uncreative, uninspiring, stereotypical crap. I tried throughout the story to find some redeeming quality that would make me feel at least a little bit better about having wasted my time on this book, but the authors just kept throwing in more and more unbelieveable crap - all the way through to the very end.
I realize that this was supposed to be a satire on the foibles of working in Corporate America, and having been there I can appreciate their attempt. I'm sure SOME of these things really do happen to SOME people and within SOME companies. It was just the amount of extremes and the lack of any relatable characters that made this book so hard to swallow. This book had a lot of potential and some good editing could have saved this book from it's well deserved place on the unpopular list. Unfortunately this one must have skipped the editors' desk...
July 17, 2009
Girl is a born and bred liberal feminist who wants to change the world, and also make a living wage. Set in NYC we follow her descent in the capitalist inferno, each twist becoming more bizarre than the last. Witnessing the heroine justify that every compromise with her beliefs is somehow justified simply made me feel dirty. This writing team is very clever and often snicker-out-loud funny, as they proved with their entertaining bestseller The Nanny Diaries. While that book provided a few peeks into the seamy lifestyle of the rich and a little poor-little-me heroine making moral compromises, this book pulls back the pashmina wrap to reveal a maggoty Faustian trade-off. Pass on this one.
January 3, 2011
Maybe you haven't been on the wrong side of the Want Ads, degree(s) in hand but no experience and really no clue what you want to do in life. So you take a job that looks good, you think will make you feel good, and if anything makes ends meet. That's basically what Citizen Girl is about. I don't understand the low scoring on this book. I have always felt that this book was about me. Well, not entirely as I'm not in New York and don't have access to nearly as many crazy things as our heroine, but I've been in several jobs in which my boss has just given me some bizarre directive and my single thought was "WTF?" and then had to complete my task.
I think it's a great book.
I think it's a great book.
September 27, 2008
There is absolutely nothing remarkable about this book. It reads sort of like a Devil Wears Prada without the humor or caring about the characters at all.
I've had my share of bad bosses, so I could relate a bit to Girl's plight. However, I didn't think she rang true as a feminist or a person (to be quite honest). I didn't like her, I didn't feel bad for her, and the ending was a little too late for me to feel like she finally had some convictions.
Stick with the Nanny Diaries, as least there was something fresh about that.
I've had my share of bad bosses, so I could relate a bit to Girl's plight. However, I didn't think she rang true as a feminist or a person (to be quite honest). I didn't like her, I didn't feel bad for her, and the ending was a little too late for me to feel like she finally had some convictions.
Stick with the Nanny Diaries, as least there was something fresh about that.
June 17, 2017
This book felt like a more terrible version of The Devil Wears Prada, and I HATED The Devil Wears Prada. I really need to get to a point where I can allow myself to not finish a book... I knew 3 pages in that I was going to hate this book but tortured myself by finishing it anyway. There was literally nothing I liked about this book, the characters were horrible and the plot was pointless and absurd. The publishing company who printed this must be as corrupt and poorly run as the My Company, Inc that the main character works for in the book.
March 12, 2025
Was a fun read over all , very much of its time. I know girl (main character name ik ) would be glad that the girls , gays, and theys took back the word cunt and now it means bad bitch.
June 21, 2025
I need to start trusting reviews before I read books
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