Susannah aka Suzie is a “clueless philosophy student” (so she says) who lives in the 1970s and studies at Sussex University. Living with her Jason, her boyfriend who’s a decade older than her, gives her the perfect shelter from the customary students’ campus life. Except, she doesn’t realise that he’s gay.

Suzie indulges in philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger and Søren Kierkegaard who speak of male philosophy and are to some extent, misogynists. And it is such philosophy, like Nietzsche’s view of how people should remain unattached that forced her into having an affair with her tutorial partner Rob. That and perhaps the paling sex life between her and her homosexual live-in boyfriend.

When the not so inevitable happens (going on the pill every now and then when you’re sexually active obviously doesn’t help), Suzie approaches Kierkegaard and other European philosophers on their take. Her decision is only revealed at the very end of the book, leaving readers to flitter anxiously through the pages in a bid to find out, “Will she? Or will she not?”

Written by Charlotte Greig, a singer-songwriter who has produced 5 albums but is a debut novelist, the book is a refreshing read and is different from the average chick literature. Devoid of the usual romance and feel good factor you get from reading chick lits, the book even has a dark side to it. As the narrator, Suzie says modern women will decide their destiny and that they’ll do anything to get what they want.

The book is presented in 3 modules, “Friedrich Nietzsche: Human, All Too Human”, “Martin Heidegger: Being and Time” and “Søren Kierkegaard: Fear and Trembling”. While the paperback might seem like it’s quite a heavy read, what with all the male philosophy from these dead men, it isn’t that bad. There is a smidgen about feminism and Greig doesn’t impose any ideologies on the reader even when Suzie flickers from one decision to another.

All in all, it is an interesting interpretation of women and their rights, the power for them to make certain verdicts and shape their own fate. Perhaps Suzie is a reflection of Greig’s opinions, for the latter also went to Sussex University and studied Intellectual History, in which comprises of subjects such as history, philosophy and politics. All of these elements are distinctly present in the book.

If you know nuts about these dead male philosophers, A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy is a good time to get acquainted with them.

UrbanWire gives A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy 4 out of 5 stars

A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy is available at all good bookstores.