I don't really have time for pleasure reading, but I made an exception for "Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution in Music" by Maris Meltzer. Anyone who reads this blog will know that I love anything and everything from the 90s, so this book was really preaching to the choir! It's probably the most simple and comprehensive book you could ever read on the topic of riot grrrl and how it changed women's roles in music. Its only 145 pages, and I was so engrossed that I read it in one single sitting!
I have loved riot grrrl ever since I was 15. Its kinda cheesy but I'd say bands like Bikini Kill, Hole and Huggy Bear were formative and probably made me the person who I am today (all this was documented in a mega-post discussing "life-defining music"). Though I don't really listen to riot grrrl half as much as I used to, reading this book brought back so many memories of searching the internet and libraries for as much info on riot grrrl as I could possibly read. As a result, I had actually already read most of the articles that Meltzer references in the first chapter!
Growing up in the 90s, it was funny to think about how this music that got me through high school actually influenced the stuff I remember listening to when I was in Grade 1, like the Spice Girls! I always wanted to be Sporty Spice...
After reading it, I was inspired to channel my inner Kathleen Hanna!
In conclusion, Girl Power is an amazing read. Its the perfect primer if you aren't familiar with 90s music and want to know more.
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