I didn't find Diablo Cody's story to be funny or entertaining in the least. Her character reminds me of the girls that used to run in the local "punk rock" circle. They'd do anything for attention and cry "Look at me! Look at me!" although there was nothing special about them. Diablo seems intent on shocking the reader, but it comes off as tedious and crass. Two stars because it does provide a behind-the-scenes peek at the Twin Cities sex trade, but otherwise a boring disappointment.

I read this book in one sitting, I literally could not put it down. Laugh out loud funny and heartbreaking at the same time, it is a must read for anyone that isn't afraid of delving into the reality of strip clubs.

Diablo Cody documents, in an insightful way; the life and world of an occupation that is so stigmatized by society. The life of a stripper. She brings to life what these unfortunate women must go through in order to earn a decent living in order to survive. Read her book with an open mind and you will come to appreciate single mothers and women that have amibitions beyond the strip scene make this choice. Stripping, can get some women beyond the working poor if you are smart and have a little talent. How sad a commment for our society.

Until I got to this line, near the very end, I thought the book was ok, though I too was troubled by the too glib writing style and the touch of oversimplification and arrogance I felt the author displayed. Then, towards the very end, she wrote what may be the most offensive sentence I've ever read in a book: "I was never sexually abused as a child, probably because I wasn't pretty."

What???

What does appearance have to do with sexual assault at any age? This trivializes the experience of all sexual abuse survivors, and is just horrifying on so many levels I cannot believe her editor let it stand.

It soured the whole book for me, which frankly wasn't that good to begin with, but until this point at least hadn't been horrifically offensive.

I absolutely loved Cody's book and it proved to be a quick, funny and delightful read. I gave this one a read while at the beach and quickly realized how hard it would be to put it down and to stop laughing at her astute observations about people, situations and even her own life. As a former stripper, I found her tale to be right on the mark and mirrored a few of the incidents in my own life. If you're looking for a light-hearted glimpse of the stripping world, this is a funny, insightful book to begin that process!