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Your Own Kind of Girl

A Memoir

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Your Own Kind of Girl

By: Clare Bowditch
Narrated by: Clare Bowditch
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About this listen

Award-winning singer and actress Clare Bowditch confronts her inner critic in this no-holds-barred memoir.

This is the story I promised myself, aged 21, that I would one day be brave enough - and well enough - to write.

Clare Bowditch has always had a knack for telling stories. Through her music and performing, this beloved Australian artist has touched hundreds of thousands of lives. But what of the stories she used to tell herself? That 'real life' begins only once you're thin or beautiful, that good things happen only to other people.

Your Own Kind of Girl reveals a childhood punctuated by grief, anxiety and compulsion and tells how these forces shaped Clare's life for better and for worse. This is a heartbreaking, wise and at times playful memoir. Clare's own story told raw and as it happened. A reminder that even on the darkest of nights, victory is closer than it seems.

With startling candour, Clare lays bare her truth in the hope that doing so will inspire anyone who's ever done battle with their inner critic. This is the work of a woman who has found her true power - and wants to pass it on.

Happiness, we discover, is possible only when we take charge of the stories we tell ourselves.

©2019 Clare Bowditch (P)2019 Story Baker Pty Ltd Body Positivity Indigenous Creators Mental Health Awareness Women's Voices Memoir Celebrity Heartfelt Funny Inspiring Feel-Good

Critic Reviews

"The words that kept coming to me over and over again as I read this book were authenticity and decency. Clare Bowditch made me feel how wonderful and difficult and amazing it is to be a human." (Leigh Sales)

"Brutal at times but funny as f**k. This book will change a lot of lives for the better." (Bernard Fanning)

"Reading this book felt as intimate as having a long, heart-breakingly vulnerable yet hilarious conversation with Clare by a fire with wine in hand. It is a celebration of the human struggle, how we can learn to befriend (and say "f**k off" to) our demons, and ultimately write our own story. There is so much hope in this book." (Missy Higgins)

All stars
Most relevant  
Deeply moving. So easy to relate to the feelings conveyed in her story. And it was as if Clare herself was sitting in my kitchen, talking to me, while I worked. Loved this rollercoaster.

Just What I Needed to Hear.

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Life affirming, stigma dissolving, heart warming. I can’t recommend this beautiful audio book enough . Left me feeling a little bit braver to step out my front door🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Your own can of girl.

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Such a brave funny raw real story of life read so beautifully. Many tears and smiles throughout.
Thank you for your honesty

Brilliant and gentle and funny and vulnerable

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Honestly, I had never heard of the author, and I bought on the strength of the snippet on audible. I have only a little in common with her life story, but she tells it with a clarity and honesty that reflects a sincere amount of personal growth that I was swept along with her urge to tell it. And I enjoyed it for the most part. It may not be a literary great, or tickle the biography snob, but it is undeniably authentic, and being narrated by the author made this a shared journey with the listener. The subject matter covers coming of age in 70s/80s, relationship with food/weight/selftalk, an emotional breakdown/through, and the inner struggle of artists (and actual for those in Oz in the 80/90s). Not for everyone perhaps, but I found myself reflecting on the era I grew up in and it was worth the price of a ticket. Thanks Clare.

What a raw reflective tale of a life

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I've always loved Clare's music, her lyrics, her voice and the meaning behind her songs. Clare shares her story in the most intimate way, inspiring other girls and women to think about the stories we tell ourselves and how we can tame our inner voice and listen to her for good rather than out of fear.

A beautifully and refreshingly honest memoir

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Magnificently written, enhanced by Clare's delivery. I found this engaging, moving, funny and brave. This book will stay with me for a very long time.

Masterpiece

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I laughed out loud and I cried. Such a beautiful and raw book. It was particularly great listening to it in Clare’s own voice and hearing her songs. Thanks!

Loved it!

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I went into listening to this story with no idea what to expect, not having heard of Clare before and not sure I’d enjoy it because it isn’t the type of book I’d normally choose. What I found was amazing ! A raw, honest and intriguing story of who she was and is.

Amazing

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Beautifully told story with so much heart and connection. Truly felt like I was part of the family by the end of it and am looking forward to trying out Maria's bonus apple tart recipe 👌 thankyou for pushing through and for sharing your story, I found a lot of myself through your words 🙏

Absolutely Recommend

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I really loved listening to this book. I identified with many things in it, being a bigger woman and someone who has suffered from anxiety and depression. The greatest gift though was that i realised that perhaps it’s not too late to open up and let my life flow like she did after her breakdown. I let my Frank win when I closed up out of fear and dropped out of art school in 1990 and I now work with numbers and data and systems because they are safe and you can get a right answer. I’m now wondering how I can move from focusing on the analytical, to building a life that includes more feeling and expression and creating. Thank you for giving me that spark!

Beautiful Honestly

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