the girl's guide to hunting and fishing

To start, this book (by Melissa Bank) has nothing to do with literal hunting or fishing. It has to do with the elaborate dances we as females do throughout life to attract 'the one.'

I saw this book on a list of 'books to read before you turn 30' and serendipitously spotted it at a thrift store a week later. As I am turning 30 later this month, I sped through the book this last couple weeks, striving to see what made it make the 'list.'

The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing was engaging and a quick read for me. I was able to identify with some of the main character Jane's experiences. Jane narrates most chapters, and each is told at a different period of her life (adolescence, twenties, middle aged, beyond). I enjoyed watching Jane grow as a more self respecting woman as she aged.

This book was definitely not life changing for me in the ways that many others have been. The one take away I have is that through all the different periods of her life, Jane's voice was still Jane. Yes, she grew wiser through experience, she stood up for herself more, she began to love and respect herself more. Yet, her voice was consistent. I have heard many older women say they feel like their 20 year old self in an older body and reading this book helped me understand that. Even as Jane aged, she still had the same hopes, dreams, memories, sass, etc.

I would recommend this book to other women my age who want a quick read that will have them laughing, relating and reminiscing.