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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed Not So Pure and Simple. I think this makes for a great YA read because it touches on some themes that teenagers and even some adults in their early twenties may have questions about.
Although Del joined the Purity Pledge to get closer to his crush, Kiera, he definitely learned some valuable lessons in how women are treated and how men view women. He himself believed that he was a nice guy, but through the eyes of the women that know him, he quickly learned that there was more to life than just showing women you're interested or attempting to save them.
Lamar Giles definitely touched on men expecting something in return for their kind gestures towards women and it was refreshing to see this from the male perspective. Women fear men due to the experiences that they have had and it is good to know that this is not lost on some men. I am glad that a man with a platform is checking men and letting them know that women do not need to return their affection and that they should be okay with women saying "no".
If you have teenagers or young adults then I suggest you try to get them to read this book. It had some great lessons in it.
Although Del joined the Purity Pledge to get closer to his crush, Kiera, he definitely learned some valuable lessons in how women are treated and how men view women. He himself believed that he was a nice guy, but through the eyes of the women that know him, he quickly learned that there was more to life than just showing women you're interested or attempting to save them.
Lamar Giles definitely touched on men expecting something in return for their kind gestures towards women and it was refreshing to see this from the male perspective. Women fear men due to the experiences that they have had and it is good to know that this is not lost on some men. I am glad that a man with a platform is checking men and letting them know that women do not need to return their affection and that they should be okay with women saying "no".
If you have teenagers or young adults then I suggest you try to get them to read this book. It had some great lessons in it.
I'm going to be honest: I wasn't sure about this book for most of it. I didn't hate Del, but I didn't like him, either. But then this book takes a really sharp turn and I love it. I love Del's sister and I love the person Del's starting to become.
This is going to be a polarizing book for a lot of reasons (which is good, because people talking about this book means people are reading it) but I hope people read the whole thing before deciding. Because this book has a lot to say and it's all important. And we're getting into that right now.
SPOILERS BELOW:
Del does a lot of good things for bad reasons. His main motivation is to make Kiera fall for him, but he doesn't really seem to care about her as a person. Like, who IS she? What does she like, what does she want for her own life? He has no idea. But he'll figure everything out later. And then he's called out for it, and he realizes...he's wrong. And it is literally my favorite thing, because then he tries to change. (He's a jerk at first, of course, as we all tend to be when we hear the truth about ourselves if it's not a truth we like.) But then he thinks about it and accepts it and tries to be better. And he tries to help other guys be better. Because women do not owe you your time and attention. And if you try to be "the nice guy" in order to get women's time and attention, you are not actually a nice guy.
This is going to be a polarizing book for a lot of reasons (which is good, because people talking about this book means people are reading it) but I hope people read the whole thing before deciding. Because this book has a lot to say and it's all important. And we're getting into that right now.
SPOILERS BELOW:
Del does a lot of good things for bad reasons. His main motivation is to make Kiera fall for him, but he doesn't really seem to care about her as a person. Like, who IS she? What does she like, what does she want for her own life? He has no idea. But he'll figure everything out later. And then he's called out for it, and he realizes...he's wrong. And it is literally my favorite thing, because then he tries to change. (He's a jerk at first, of course, as we all tend to be when we hear the truth about ourselves if it's not a truth we like.) But then he thinks about it and accepts it and tries to be better. And he tries to help other guys be better. Because women do not owe you your time and attention. And if you try to be "the nice guy" in order to get women's time and attention, you are not actually a nice guy.
It’s probably more of a 3.5 but I’m rounding up.
I didn’t even know about this book until a few weeks ago but when I saw the author tweet about the kind of themes he was talking about in it, I wanted to give it a try. And I’ve previously read an anthology edited by Lamar Giles called Fresh Ink which was amazing, so I was expecting this to be equally compelling.
It’s actually been a while since I’ve read a YA contemporary because I’ve started feeling a bit too old for them, so I’m trying not to project my adult perceptions onto the book. The book was very easy to read, engaging in a way that made me not want to put it down more than a couple of times. I thought the conversation style between the teenagers was realistic but I truly don’t have any experience to compare it to. The author also manages to keep the fun going while interspersing the narrative with some serious discussions and introspection and I thought that was done real well.
Religion plays a major role in the storyline here and while it’s another experience that I can’t comment about its authenticity, I thought the importance of being a part of the church and adhering to its teachings among the characters was depicted very realistically. And I liked the message that though some in the leadership and elderly congregants might stick to old school principles, it’s the young people with their new ideas and new perspectives that can make the church and religion itself much more progressive and inclusive.
The other major theme throughout the book is male entitlement and how men (and young boys) dismiss the opinions or just about any assertion by a woman, assume that they themselves are always right, consider themselves entitled to women’s time and space and bodies, and then lash out when their so-called feelings aren’t reciprocated. Obviously toxic masculinity can’t be eradicated by reading one book but the author definitely tries to talk about how young boys can be taught to recognize such behavior within themselves and try to change.
The author also tries to talk about the dichotomy of a church preaching abstinence and purity pledges, trying to prevent the school from following a comprehensive sex ed program despite an increasing rate of teen pregnancies and how this adversely affects the young women who do end up getting pregnant and then slut shamed, but no one even cares who the responsible father was. The undue burden put on women in every aspect of their lives is shown extremely realistically in a couple of chapters which hit very close to my heart and those few chapters are definitely what make me want to recommend this book to everyone.
Del is like any teenager who has a crush on a girl and finally thinks it’s his time because she has broken up with her boyfriend. He is also reluctant to go the church but finding Kiera at the same place gives him an opportunity to impress her and that’s how he gets involved in the activities. On one hand he makes some lasting friendships in the church group, realizes the importance of the community and how it can be a force of good and change; but on the other hand, he never deviates from his almost obsession with Kiera and neglects many other important tasks in his life. He is obviously encouraged by his other friends which just shows how much peers influence the behavior and how much more parents have to be in communication with their kids. I thought the author did a great job making Del sympathetic enough that we find him a relatable teenager but also are able to recognize his faults - I just wanted to give him a good shake sometimes and make him see how wrong he was.
The whole friend group is very diverse with very distinct personalities, their own unique relationship with faith and the church and with each other. There are conflicts and difficulties but they also resolve in their own ways and I enjoyed the varied dynamics between each of them. Del’s sister Cressie plays a very small but one of the most important parts in the story and I loved the transcripts of her YouTube videos. While I didn’t like that the author uses the concept of men learning to respect women’s boundaries when something happens to a woman in their family, I think the change has to start somewhere and this is as good a reason as any. I also found Del’s parents dynamic very interesting - they are so much in sync in many ways but still there’s an element of dismissal of a woman’s beliefs and fears and I thought that was so realistic as well.
To conclude, this is a great teen contemporary that gives a very unique perspective on religion, toxic masculinity, and female agency without beating down its message or portraying anyone as the villain. It’s charming, relatable, with a great cast of characters and a very important message that I think deserves a read. I would definitely recommend it to any teenage readers or parents of young kids, as well as anyone who enjoys reading contemporary stories rooted in reality.
I didn’t even know about this book until a few weeks ago but when I saw the author tweet about the kind of themes he was talking about in it, I wanted to give it a try. And I’ve previously read an anthology edited by Lamar Giles called Fresh Ink which was amazing, so I was expecting this to be equally compelling.
It’s actually been a while since I’ve read a YA contemporary because I’ve started feeling a bit too old for them, so I’m trying not to project my adult perceptions onto the book. The book was very easy to read, engaging in a way that made me not want to put it down more than a couple of times. I thought the conversation style between the teenagers was realistic but I truly don’t have any experience to compare it to. The author also manages to keep the fun going while interspersing the narrative with some serious discussions and introspection and I thought that was done real well.
Religion plays a major role in the storyline here and while it’s another experience that I can’t comment about its authenticity, I thought the importance of being a part of the church and adhering to its teachings among the characters was depicted very realistically. And I liked the message that though some in the leadership and elderly congregants might stick to old school principles, it’s the young people with their new ideas and new perspectives that can make the church and religion itself much more progressive and inclusive.
The other major theme throughout the book is male entitlement and how men (and young boys) dismiss the opinions or just about any assertion by a woman, assume that they themselves are always right, consider themselves entitled to women’s time and space and bodies, and then lash out when their so-called feelings aren’t reciprocated. Obviously toxic masculinity can’t be eradicated by reading one book but the author definitely tries to talk about how young boys can be taught to recognize such behavior within themselves and try to change.
The author also tries to talk about the dichotomy of a church preaching abstinence and purity pledges, trying to prevent the school from following a comprehensive sex ed program despite an increasing rate of teen pregnancies and how this adversely affects the young women who do end up getting pregnant and then slut shamed, but no one even cares who the responsible father was. The undue burden put on women in every aspect of their lives is shown extremely realistically in a couple of chapters which hit very close to my heart and those few chapters are definitely what make me want to recommend this book to everyone.
Del is like any teenager who has a crush on a girl and finally thinks it’s his time because she has broken up with her boyfriend. He is also reluctant to go the church but finding Kiera at the same place gives him an opportunity to impress her and that’s how he gets involved in the activities. On one hand he makes some lasting friendships in the church group, realizes the importance of the community and how it can be a force of good and change; but on the other hand, he never deviates from his almost obsession with Kiera and neglects many other important tasks in his life. He is obviously encouraged by his other friends which just shows how much peers influence the behavior and how much more parents have to be in communication with their kids. I thought the author did a great job making Del sympathetic enough that we find him a relatable teenager but also are able to recognize his faults - I just wanted to give him a good shake sometimes and make him see how wrong he was.
The whole friend group is very diverse with very distinct personalities, their own unique relationship with faith and the church and with each other. There are conflicts and difficulties but they also resolve in their own ways and I enjoyed the varied dynamics between each of them. Del’s sister Cressie plays a very small but one of the most important parts in the story and I loved the transcripts of her YouTube videos. While I didn’t like that the author uses the concept of men learning to respect women’s boundaries when something happens to a woman in their family, I think the change has to start somewhere and this is as good a reason as any. I also found Del’s parents dynamic very interesting - they are so much in sync in many ways but still there’s an element of dismissal of a woman’s beliefs and fears and I thought that was so realistic as well.
To conclude, this is a great teen contemporary that gives a very unique perspective on religion, toxic masculinity, and female agency without beating down its message or portraying anyone as the villain. It’s charming, relatable, with a great cast of characters and a very important message that I think deserves a read. I would definitely recommend it to any teenage readers or parents of young kids, as well as anyone who enjoys reading contemporary stories rooted in reality.
I waited to read this one because of the religious aspect, but it wasn't preachy or anything, just a really good, well written story. Review to come.
**EDIT 05/30/20**
You can find more of my reviews here at my blog: Take Me Away...
I was a little iffy about this one because of the religious aspect, but I really didn’t have anything to worry about. This book was so good and the twist was so unexpected. Definitely wasn’t something I expected.
Del has had a crush on Kiera since he could remember. Now he’s down to the very last thing he could think of…. Joining a church club with her just so she could notice him. But his best friend doesn’t believe anything in just one girl and his friend Jameer is not really any help. Del isn’t the only one that likes her, so things start to get crazy as Del tried to fight the others off. But no one even thinks about what it is Kiera wants.
I was scared I wouldn’t like this because of the religious aspect. But I gave it a try anyways. And I’m so glad I did! I didn’t see the twist at the end coming. I was glad for it though, because at first I wasn’t too happy with some of the things that were happening in the story. But it all turned out for the best.
The characters were a different story. I liked most of them, but the main character wasn’t really my favorite. He definitely grew on me, so I can’t be too mad at him. Kiera and Del’s older sister what made me keep reading this book. They were what made this story for me.
As for the plot, I felt like there were too many story lines going on. The pastor, the Purity Pledge, the Youtube Videos, the best friend’s drama, it kept going on and on. I know that seems normal in a realistic fiction novel, but its normally just an event or something. In this one its the same events that happen throughout the entire novel over and over. I would have just rathered it just wasn’t so much going on.
This was full or surprises! It wasn’t something I would have normally picked up, but it was great to read something out of my comfort zone. I always like to find something different than the usual I read, so this was a welcome surprise. I hope this one will surprise other readers as they read and like it too.
**EDIT 05/30/20**
You can find more of my reviews here at my blog: Take Me Away...
I was a little iffy about this one because of the religious aspect, but I really didn’t have anything to worry about. This book was so good and the twist was so unexpected. Definitely wasn’t something I expected.
Del has had a crush on Kiera since he could remember. Now he’s down to the very last thing he could think of…. Joining a church club with her just so she could notice him. But his best friend doesn’t believe anything in just one girl and his friend Jameer is not really any help. Del isn’t the only one that likes her, so things start to get crazy as Del tried to fight the others off. But no one even thinks about what it is Kiera wants.
I was scared I wouldn’t like this because of the religious aspect. But I gave it a try anyways. And I’m so glad I did! I didn’t see the twist at the end coming. I was glad for it though, because at first I wasn’t too happy with some of the things that were happening in the story. But it all turned out for the best.
The characters were a different story. I liked most of them, but the main character wasn’t really my favorite. He definitely grew on me, so I can’t be too mad at him. Kiera and Del’s older sister what made me keep reading this book. They were what made this story for me.
As for the plot, I felt like there were too many story lines going on. The pastor, the Purity Pledge, the Youtube Videos, the best friend’s drama, it kept going on and on. I know that seems normal in a realistic fiction novel, but its normally just an event or something. In this one its the same events that happen throughout the entire novel over and over. I would have just rathered it just wasn’t so much going on.
This was full or surprises! It wasn’t something I would have normally picked up, but it was great to read something out of my comfort zone. I always like to find something different than the usual I read, so this was a welcome surprise. I hope this one will surprise other readers as they read and like it too.
I did not think I would enjoy this as much as I did. Granted, there were aspects of the story I wasn’t a huge fan of, but given that I’m pushing 30 and this is a young adult novel, I am most certainly not the intended audience. But I honestly believe this works for the target demographic and needs to be read by them. It tackles so many issues as it relates to male privilege that need to be addressed and challenged. I look forward to more stuff from the author!
I think the topics this book handles are important, however, I didn't find it a pleasurable reading experience, and as someone who is already "woke" to these topics, I just felt icky rather than educated for most of the novel. It's for sure one teenage boys should be introduced to, but for me, the feminist aspects fell flat and Del was not likeable at all. Most of the girls in this novel are much more interesting and complex characters than Del, so I think it would have been awesome to see a more feminist version through their eyes.
This book does read quite easily, and the writing flows really well so that I didn't hit a point where it felt too slow or too fast. Del, whilst I personally don't like him, does have an interesting and unique voice that reads very casually, making it easy to keep reading.
I really think this book could have a positive impact and I do hope reaches the hands of young and uneducated boys and men, but for me, it simply wasn't enjoyable.
This book does read quite easily, and the writing flows really well so that I didn't hit a point where it felt too slow or too fast. Del, whilst I personally don't like him, does have an interesting and unique voice that reads very casually, making it easy to keep reading.
I really think this book could have a positive impact and I do hope reaches the hands of young and uneducated boys and men, but for me, it simply wasn't enjoyable.
Thank you to Harper360 ya for sending me this arc for an honest review!
I'm not even sure where to start with this book, so I guess the beginning would be good. From the first chapter, our main character Del objectifies women and feels comfortable talking about them in a disgusting manner with his friends. As both a woman and a feminist, this was incredibly uncomfortable to read about. Del is "in love" with Kiera and believes that they were simply meant to be together, yet he ignores all the signs that she's just not interested in him like that. He joins the purity pledge, thinking it will let them get closer and eventually he can "have her" all to himself. But it doesn't work that way. No means no. Sadly, it takes up until around 340 pages for Del to actually realise and accept this. Del's sister Cressie is a great character, she educates him and helps him to see how his actions are both wrong and harmful. I think the book should have been from her perspective, she's so wise and the book would be more informative about stigmas around toxic masculinity had it been from her perspective.
Either way, this book was tough to read, it wasn't all bad though, some parts were funny and the friendships Del forms (once he realises they're actual friendships and not pawns in his game) are quite sweet.
Overall, I think the ending of the book could be very useful to educate men and boys on how actions have consequences and that they aren't owed anything from a female simply because they acknowledge their existence.
I'm not even sure where to start with this book, so I guess the beginning would be good. From the first chapter, our main character Del objectifies women and feels comfortable talking about them in a disgusting manner with his friends. As both a woman and a feminist, this was incredibly uncomfortable to read about. Del is "in love" with Kiera and believes that they were simply meant to be together, yet he ignores all the signs that she's just not interested in him like that. He joins the purity pledge, thinking it will let them get closer and eventually he can "have her" all to himself. But it doesn't work that way. No means no. Sadly, it takes up until around 340 pages for Del to actually realise and accept this. Del's sister Cressie is a great character, she educates him and helps him to see how his actions are both wrong and harmful. I think the book should have been from her perspective, she's so wise and the book would be more informative about stigmas around toxic masculinity had it been from her perspective.
Either way, this book was tough to read, it wasn't all bad though, some parts were funny and the friendships Del forms (once he realises they're actual friendships and not pawns in his game) are quite sweet.
Overall, I think the ending of the book could be very useful to educate men and boys on how actions have consequences and that they aren't owed anything from a female simply because they acknowledge their existence.
This book is nothing short of truly intelligent. So many themes such as sex, gender, religion, separation of church and state, were explored and in such a way where everything was interconnected. I have never seen a YA novel tackle so many controversial themes and not only did this book do that, it did it flawlessly. Every character had many complex layers yet you were still able to genuinely root for and be invested in their story arcs. I can tell that Lamar Giles put in a lot of time and effort to make sure that the themes and storylines explored, especially the ones surrounding sexism and misogyny towards women, in a way where they discussed the issues these female characters were dealing with head on but not in a way that mansplained, simplified or glorified them. I greatly appreciated that level of detail in his writing and I expect nothing less than that now whenever I read books exploring complex issues. This novel is a truly stunning literary masterpiece that every person needs to read.