Bitch is the new black

Helena Andrews is a young woman with a CV that most new graduates would contemplate exchanging a limb (or at least an ovary) for. An Ivy League graduate, she’s written for the New York Times, Marie Claire and O Magazine. All before hitting the big 3-0. As a result of her talents last year she got a book deal with Harper Collins to write her memoir. Before the book even hit the shelves it was picked up by Shonda Rhimes (creator of Grey's Anatomy and Private practice) to be turned into a movie.

The books title?

‘Bitch is the new black’

Bitch is a slur I’m no fan of. It’s a pejorative term that reflects the patriarchy still alive in our society. A bitch is generally a woman who doesn’t adhere to the behavior expected of her. Most women labeled bitches would be called an ‘alpha male’ if nature had given them a Y chromosome! So though intrigued by the book and Helena’s story, such a loaded title made me a bit wary of the books content.

Then I read the book.

And I LOVED it.

To say it’s solely about being a "bitch" or being "black" (the protagonist is the latter, but I personally wouldn't call her the former) would be an insulting simplification. Of course race and bitches do feature, but to view the book through such narrow paradigms would be misunderstanding its spirit. The book explores a plethora of topics with humour and frankness. From politics to religion, gender, identity, dating, homosexuality, abortion, suicide down to stalking your ex's new girlfriend on the internet (don't judge we've all been there!).

It’s been a while since I read book that so aptly pulls down the veil between the public personas us women project and the private person we hide.

As you guys already know, every time I feel inspired by something it normally prompts a 'blog list'. So as is my tradition.....

10 things Bitch is the new Black solidified for me

1) At some point in her life most (if not all) women will have a ‘Dexter’

A ‘Dexter’ is any man a woman keeps around due to a lack of options and a momentary lapse in judgment. Our 'Dexter' is that pivotal relationship, which teaches us that we can love a man who is wholly inappropriate for us.

Every time we break up with our Dexter we swear (well lie) to ourselves that we will never get back together. Then somehow they end up in our bedrooms. We loathe them, love them and (eventually) leave them. Yet whatever the outcome, we never forget our ‘Dexter’.

2) Every woman needs a ‘Gina’

A ‘Gina’ is our loyal, crazy, frank, lovable and permanent friend. Some friends are in it just for the ride, but Gina's? They ride, die and then somehow manage to resurrect themselves to plot another harebrained scheme involving the destruction of a member of the opposite sex. A Gina is the co-conspirator who enables our insanity but is bold enough (and loves us enough) to tell us when we’re being completely delusional.

3) Acronyms are stupid

4) The ‘Good Men Drought’ isn't limited to the UK

Estelle's "American Boy" gave me the (false) hope that whilst on my American travels I’d stumble across my American Boy who’d make all the frogs I’ve kissed before become nothing but a distant memory. Apparently not. The ‘Good Men Drought is a global phenomenon. Crap.

Sidebar: I'm Team Blackberry however Steve jobs if you're reading..... The day you folks at Apple create an iPhone that can detect all single, fully employed, attractive males (of a decent height and character) who aren’t petrified of my mother…. I will jump ship.

5) Whether we like it or not, one day one of our friend’s will die.

Death is depressing so I’d rather not expound on this point. What I will say is I’m still hoping (and praying) all of us get to grow old with our friends and then get raptured to (shoe) heaven.

6) Cultivating a good relationship with our mums is one of most fulfilling things we can ever do.

Helena's mum (her name's Frances) will probably need her own book soon. She’s the type of woman that could take a plane hostage armed with no weapons yet somehow make all the hostages on the plane fall in love with her.

7) Being in your twenties doesn't get any easier with time, but it does become funnier (in a gallows humour kind of way)

8) Having a boss that lacks emotional intelligence is a rite of passage.

9) When a woman is unafraid to embrace who she really is, the sky's the limit.

10) Life Goes on so you must move on.

After death, being made redundant (or fired), being kidnapped...Whatever life throws at you, you’ll eventually have to move on. Because even if you don’t, life will.

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So there’s my blog list, inspired by ‘Bitch is the new Black’ ! If you liked the list (and even if you didn’t) order the book : ) -→ Click here.

Sidebar: For those of you making your behinds sore by sitting on the fence about the book you can read an excerpt at Honey Magazine! Click here.

Since I love you all that much, courtesy of the lovely people at Harper Collins and LuxeLife Media we’re the first UK website to be given complimentary copies!!! I've got two copies to give away as a gift to one of you guys and it's also a way of me saying thank you for tolerating my madness.

To enter you need to either be following me on Google connect, Twitter , Blog Lovin or be a Youtube subscriber (click any of the related icons on this page and it'll direct you straight to the relevant site). If you’re none of these, please take the time to become one, it’ll take all of 3 minutes and you could potentially win a great book!

Sidebar: If you're in my family, don't you dare apply. Especially you aunty. Yes you aunty!

Leave a comment on this post (say whatever comes to mind it doesn't even have to relate to the post, heck you could write ‘Banana’s have feelings too’) and crucially your email. The two winners will be chosen at random. I’m going to keep the competition open for a week and announce the winners in next week Friday's blog!

Till next time,

Christiana

xxx


P.S I know I have a lot of readers overseas, but this competition is only open to my UK readers. I'm sorry please don't virtually punch/hex me, I have a great giveaway coming up for everyone later this month : )