Ever since she first burst onto the scene in 2006, Lily Allen has been a maverick of the music industry.
The wry honesty of her songwriting makes the London-born artist a unique talent, and love her or loathe her, there is no denying that this is one woman who is not afraid of speaking the truth. However, this outspokenness mixed with her party girl lifestyle has also made Allen a prime target, with every success, failure and controversy meticulously documented in the press.
Now, Allen is telling her side of the story in her debut novel, “My Thoughts Exactly”. Written with the same authenticity as her music, this candid account of her own experiences with fame, family and mental illness, is a truly compelling read. In every aspect of the book, Allen writes with an incredible amount of self-awareness. She is not only honest about her flaws but seeks to understand their existence within her character and the experiences that have impacted her behaviours. Allen recounts the way in which her constant battle for approval as a child later manifested in a struggle with co-dependency. As a naïve, young woman she was ill-equipped to deal with her sudden fame and soon lost herself in the sex, drugs and rock’n’roll lifestyle. The several infidelities Allen committed whilst on her Sheezus tour were the knee-jerk reaction to the isolation and depression she contended with after suffering a traumatic miscarriage.
It is obvious to the reader that Allen has not chosen to write about such episodes for sympathy or pity. As quick as Allen is to recall her adversities, she also recognises her extreme privilege and the opportunities her upper-class background has afforded her. This is not some poor little rich girl story, but simply one woman recounting her personal experience in the only way she can: in her own words.
So how did the tabloids react to the release of “My Thoughts Exactly”? Did they choose to focus on the challenging issues that Allen discusses in the book relating to coping with mental illness and addiction, the struggle of being a working mum or female body image in this new Instagram age? Of course not. The Daily Mail wrote about her sexual encounter with the then married Liam Gallagher in 2009. The Sun fixated on the fact that Allen once hired a female escort whilst she was on tour.
If anything, the media response is a perfect example of why we need more woman like Lily Allen and more stories like “My Thoughts Exactly”. Unfiltered, imperfect and unabashedly honest – Allen calls upon women to speak up about the issues that are important to them and not those that society tells them they should care about. In her own words: “When women share their stories, loudly and clearly and honestly, things begin to change – for the better.”
Now let’s hear some more.
The image is from the Waterstones website where you can also purchase Lily Allen’s “My Thoughts Exactly”.
Feature Image- Flikr User Raph_PH
