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janine1122 's review for:
The Female of the Species
by Mindy McGinnis
3.5 stars.
The biggest thing keeping me from giving this book a 4 is the "main" character herself, Alex.
While I felt like I knew the other major characters (Peekay and Jack), and even some of the more minor characters (Branley, Sara), I never really actually felt like I knew or understood Alex. She was robotic in the way she acted, talked, and even thought. I didn't totally understand why she was the way she was -- sure, her sister's death played into it a bit, but there were enough hints that she had her violent tendencies far earlier in her life than the tragedy that befell her sister.
I felt like Alex was in the book more as a tool than an actual character -- it was through her that the reader and the other characters found themselves confronting rape culture and slut shaming, examining their feelings and behaviors. And I thought overall this was well done - serious topics were handled without feeling too preachy. But this was Alex's main role, and she lacked full character development otherwise.
I also didn't find her relationship with Jack believable. I bought into why he was interested in Alex, but not why she was interested in him. I completely expected her to be turned off by the typical jock type, with a new girl whenever he wanted one. I didn't understand her initial attraction to him, other than he paid her attention. And she didn't seem like the type of girl for which that would work. I just didn't feel like I understood her, despite the book really revolving around her for the most part. There was a major disconnect between her and everything else that took place.
I did, however, really love both Jack and Peekay. I liked getting Jack's perspective, and realizing that he both was and wasn't the stereotype of the hot jock. He recognized areas where he was weak, and gave into temptation. His relationship with Branley was complicated and interesting, and sometimes very frustrating. I also really enjoyed Peekay/Claire, and the dynamic she had going on in her life as the daughter of the town preacher. I liked seeing her growth throughout the course of the book, and loved how both her and Jack's relationships with their parents were portrayed throughout the course of the book.
One thing I struggled with was the violence towards animals. Alex and Peekay volunteer at the local animal shelter, and some terrible things came into play through that storyline. We also learn that Jack works at a slaughterhouse, and were treated to a disturbing scene of him at work. These were hard for me, because animal violence is always hard for me. I understood why some of the parts were included, but not all of them.
In the end, I enjoyed the book, and hard a hard time putting it down (finishing it in a day), but I wanted to feel like I knew Alex better, and that brought the rating down for me.
The biggest thing keeping me from giving this book a 4 is the "main" character herself, Alex.
While I felt like I knew the other major characters (Peekay and Jack), and even some of the more minor characters (Branley, Sara), I never really actually felt like I knew or understood Alex. She was robotic in the way she acted, talked, and even thought. I didn't totally understand why she was the way she was -- sure, her sister's death played into it a bit, but there were enough hints that she had her violent tendencies far earlier in her life than the tragedy that befell her sister.
I felt like Alex was in the book more as a tool than an actual character -- it was through her that the reader and the other characters found themselves confronting rape culture and slut shaming, examining their feelings and behaviors. And I thought overall this was well done - serious topics were handled without feeling too preachy. But this was Alex's main role, and she lacked full character development otherwise.
I also didn't find her relationship with Jack believable. I bought into why he was interested in Alex, but not why she was interested in him. I completely expected her to be turned off by the typical jock type, with a new girl whenever he wanted one. I didn't understand her initial attraction to him, other than he paid her attention. And she didn't seem like the type of girl for which that would work. I just didn't feel like I understood her, despite the book really revolving around her for the most part. There was a major disconnect between her and everything else that took place.
I did, however, really love both Jack and Peekay. I liked getting Jack's perspective, and realizing that he both was and wasn't the stereotype of the hot jock. He recognized areas where he was weak, and gave into temptation. His relationship with Branley was complicated and interesting, and sometimes very frustrating. I also really enjoyed Peekay/Claire, and the dynamic she had going on in her life as the daughter of the town preacher. I liked seeing her growth throughout the course of the book, and loved how both her and Jack's relationships with their parents were portrayed throughout the course of the book.
One thing I struggled with was the violence towards animals. Alex and Peekay volunteer at the local animal shelter, and some terrible things came into play through that storyline. We also learn that Jack works at a slaughterhouse, and were treated to a disturbing scene of him at work. These were hard for me, because animal violence is always hard for me. I understood why some of the parts were included, but not all of them.
In the end, I enjoyed the book, and hard a hard time putting it down (finishing it in a day), but I wanted to feel like I knew Alex better, and that brought the rating down for me.