LITERATURE
A Complicated Woman Published towards the end of last year, this book of essays, notes, lyrics and fragments of thoughts from the artist more commonly known as Self Esteem is funny, uplifting, reassuring and motivating all in the same moment. This self-described ‘anti-bible for modern womanhood’ is based on Taylor’s many, many iPhone notes, numbering in the tens of thousands, which she jots down whenever inspiration strikes and either shares on social media or files away for future reference. These are used to create new songs, pull together plays or – in this case – inspire her very first book. Just as Taylor does in her music, this book tackles the impossible weight of modern expectations pressing down on women, and the confusing whirl of living multiple realities at once: or, as she more succinctly says in one of her lyrics, “I’m still 15 years old, surely.” During interviews, she’s said that the process of bringing the chapters together revealed that certain topics and questions kept coming up in her notes, year after year, with seemingly no answer or resolution. Though this was said with her trademark acerbic and slightly self-deprecating wit, it didn’t and doesn’t feel like a hopeless situation: identifying the reappearing themes at the core of our lives can be so beneficial when trying to take a step forward. You might not know how to answer those questions, but you can learn how to live alongside them. If you’re hoping to make a big change this year, grab yourself a copy of this book, get Self Esteem’s music in your ears and stride forward with confidence. REBECCA LUCY TAYLOR
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