Why Girls Are Weird

I've read dozens of the twenty/thirty-something girl books. You know, where she has a crappy job and lusts after a gay or unworthy guy, drinks to excess with her girlfriends, and possibly shops too much. Usually I skip entire paragraphs, just praying the end will come quickly so she can pay down her debt and hook up with Mr. Wonderful.I promise you, this book, while similar in plot, is legitimately funny. I barely skipped any pages! Read it on a plane or by the pool. I sincerely hope to see more from Pamela Ribon, and less from the shopaholics.

I really do identify with Anna K. - or is it Pamela Ribon that I identify with???????? Since I am also a Pamela and live in Austin, perhaps it's only the Pam Girls in Austin who are the strange ones. Honestly, Why Girls Are Weird was a fun read. I laughed so loud that I woke up both my dog and my husband! Whether or not you're female and whether or not you're a "Pam" - you will enjoy this book about relationships with our friends, lovers, siblings, and parents. There will be at least one character that everyone can relate to and say, "Oh my, that's just exactly like someone in my life."

I found the book on the new paperback section and was immediately taken with the cute cover and catchy title. I got home and cracked it open meaning to just sample a few pages before dinner. But at 1am I finished, neck sore, hungry, and the dog unwalked. I'm not a big fan of chick lit. It seems to me that the market has been saturated to the point of brain freeze -- seeing all those similarly-covered books. But Why Girls Are Weird rises far above. Mostly for two reasons that I can figure out.1 -- The narrative voice of Anna K. is not the whiny simpering heroine of most. Sure she has man trouble and body issues, but hers is the voice of the smart girl. The girl who doesn't necessarily wholeheartedly embrace part and parcle the girlishness being a girl, but still remains firmly feminine. She is what I would want my daughter to be. Thoughtful and introspective, even when girly or man-crazy.2 -- Ribon is funny. She has funny-chops the likes of which I haven't come across in a while. I discovered her website after reading the book and am very glad to have more of her to read. Ribon should be taking the SNL or Friends writing room by storm and kicking out the hacks, if there is any justice in the world for funny women.Why Girls Are Weird will make you feel cuddly and empowered at the same time. And that's a rare feat.

A few months ago I discovered the author's web site, and on a whim bought the book. The chapter on how six-year-old girls *really* play with Barbies is reason alone to read it. Her writing style is very accessible, making this 300-page book a fast read. The story itself is entertaining, touching, funny, and true; there were so many moments I went, "I do that! I know that! I thought I was the only person who ever !" Perhaps that is why people who follow online journals feel like we "know" the people writing them, since they write about everyday stuff and we eagerly identify. The more interesting parts are the protagonist Anna's thoughts on the web journaling phenomenon: why people do it; how much of what's written in online journals is true; just how much of her life should be accesible to her readers; and where to draw the boundaries between a person's on-line and off-line lives. An entertaining read, and the chapters are short so it's a good book for people who can only read a few pages in one sitting. (I have friends with kids and businesses to run, so this factor is important when choosing books.)

....Those of us who have been following pamie.com for some time have known that Pamela Ribon is a talented writer. She'll make you laugh until your sides ache, and then she'll turn around and break your heart and leave you trying to wipe the tears out of your eyes before the person in the cube across from yours realizes you're crying. So when I heard she had written a book, I couldn't wait to read it.Once I actually got my hands on the book, I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting, and I was again reminded of why she's one of my favorite writers. This is a terrifically crafted story. While it may appeal to the same demographic as Bridget Jones, don't be fooled into thinking it's another knock off. Reading this book was like hanging out with your best friend and getting to read her journal all at the same time. It's funny, it's touching, and it has a lot of heart. Girls - this should be required reading. You should buy this book just for the piece on "How to Fake a Football Orgasm" alone (if I'd read that before last year's football season I might have saved a relationship). Guys, if you want to know how to get to us - read this book.