More Than Moranthology

Caitlin live at the Bloomsbury Theater has been my September highlight and we're not even fully through LFW yet! Muma, sister and I laughed, welled up, lapped up and sat up in awe of this charismatic woman whose new book Moranthology is blatantly my new manual for life. I kid you not, she has confidently become my go-to for general answers and outrageous commentary on anything from humanitarianism, the pay wall debate and sweat pads.

 On stage with interviewer and friend (there were many a PJ (private joke) derived from boozy dinner parties: JEALOUS) Alex Heminsley, Caitlin is a little nervous. This is notable after she gazes across a full house of Moran groupies. Perhaps it was nerves that drove her initial urgency to be funny and foolish and fabulous at every gasp of breath, but very quickly Caitlin had us all (her knowing girls as she calls us adorers of How To Be A Woman) hanging on every line. 

What is it about this actually very normal, very intelligent woman? Well for starters exactly that, she writes insightful, beautiful, accessible columns that 'point things out'. She has an opinion and a voice that is both engaging and compelling. When we weren't transfixed by her storytelling (embellished with a lotta hilarious) we were wowed by the profound sentiment of her own beliefs and values.

Feminism, twitter, masturbation, success, family, Melody Maker and cheese were all touched upon. Then during a Smash Hits skewed Q+A session (nifty use of biscuit tin) we got to ask the ol gal herself about matters like the Olympic and Paralympic games, sex, celebrity goss to which she championed us with whirl wind answers. All of which have confirmed the fact that I must befriend her IMMEDIATELY, so that I can smuggly cross off 'dinner with Caitlin, Grace Dent and Co.' from my 'Things To Do Before I Am Thirty' list. 

If I wasn't schmoozed before hand (totally was, she had me at hello) I then picked up my Stylist copy this week and squealed at first sight of her moosh plastered all over the cover. Flicking greedily to her article feature I swooned over her wonderful words:

''We have to start feeding the trolls (The Daily Mail): feeding them with achingly polite emails and comments, reminding them of how billions of people prefer to communicate with each other, every day, in the most unregulated arena of all: courteously.''

If you have not already got your Moranthology fix, do so immediately! I have my own signed copy propped lovingly on my bedside table...ahhhhh girl crush.

How to be a Woman...

Arse entrenching underwear, Britpop, cheese, Jilly Cooper, ket holes, misfits and library escapes. I love this book CAPITAL LETTERS. Moran's catalogue of experience growing up and living as a woman is jaw dropping and simply WOW; so much so that her colloquial scribbling truly does sock it to you. Yes I am a feminist, and yes I can give it my all! Hysterical and entirely relatable she makes our modern day insecurities as: girls, women, singles, couples, parents, professionals, friends, freaks...the list goes on...something laughable. By laughable I mean ridiculous- how could we possibly fear patriarchy, especially today, when both MEN and WOMEN can have a bash at living, loving, learning and getting it all wrong in the process.

What has compelled me, actually floored me with realisation, is Moran's fundamental line ‘Is it polite? Are the men doing it? Are the men worrying about it?' There's no preaching and no demoralising of men, they are a different species yes, but have the capacity to be less childhood fantasy, more making it work as mates...with fun extras.

I LOVE this book and have a raging appetite for the next dose. I have even found myself drifting through Waterstones looking for something that will suffice until then but just kept being drawn back to her on the shelf. Worse perhaps is my pouncing on those who pick it up to read the blurb, READ IT JUST READ IT I bellow; 'She's changed my world'. Or when I beam at those clutching it on the tube; half of me is delighting in their shared reading choice, half envious of their page turning frenzy. I have raved about it to everyone; the girls at work are taking turns with my battered copy or have impatiently bought their own. Negative feedback from the likes of that lot have been duly noted, black marked, and followed up with a regretful email or shitty Skype message.

Whilst I await my next Moran fix I have her article in The Times every Saturday and damn this broad can tweet like a trooper too (@caitlinmoran) P.S Read this article she wrote on libraries if you have a spare moment it is...I have no more words, ok then AMAZING: http://t.co/wr0VQCo