Scan barcode
A review by dontstopreadin
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
5.0
This is one of the most important books I have ever read. I love it so very much. I will be posting a video review for this shortly, and will link it here once it is up. In the meantime, here are some thoughts. But first, trigger warnings.
TW: rape, sexual assault, violence, animal injury.
I loved how authentic this book is.
It’s visceral and dark and brutal. It’s harsh and doesn’t shy away from what things are really like in today’s society for girls. It touches on the female experience and rape culture in a way that has rarely, if ever, done justice to the world we live in. It isn’t exaggerated, but it is perhaps overwhelming in its content because most of this doesn’t happen to the same person in the same course of six months. However, it. All. Happens. It. All. Is. Real.
We begin the novel hearing about our main character – Alex – deciding to kill the guy who rapped and then brutally murdered her sister. As our story takes off this is an event that has already happened, the murder itself is not our plot. However it is our first introduction to Alex and it is a part of her. Something we, as the reader, cannot forget. And then we see Alex volunteering with animals. We see her kind and soft demeanor contrasted to the harsh and vengeful character we thought we knew. And suddenly I was in love with Alex and her sassy, don’t give an eff demeanor. I rooted for her, even though I know she is a killer. She stands up for women, she is violent against men who violate women. She is a hero and a villian at the same time.
We also follow two other characters that don’t have the huge flaw of murder on their record, but have other flaws, the flaws that are the point of this narrative. They perpetuate the sexist ideals we do not want. At first you stop in shock, thinking “isn’t this the opposite of what this book is about?” However, they go through character growth.
They also show what is happening, what others are saying and by sharing their perspective also why they think that way. It is fascinating.
This book is incredibly important. This book is powerful. This book is everything I wanted and so much more than I could have ever expected. Please pick this book up!
TW: rape, sexual assault, violence, animal injury.
I loved how authentic this book is.
It’s visceral and dark and brutal. It’s harsh and doesn’t shy away from what things are really like in today’s society for girls. It touches on the female experience and rape culture in a way that has rarely, if ever, done justice to the world we live in. It isn’t exaggerated, but it is perhaps overwhelming in its content because most of this doesn’t happen to the same person in the same course of six months. However, it. All. Happens. It. All. Is. Real.
We begin the novel hearing about our main character – Alex – deciding to kill the guy who rapped and then brutally murdered her sister. As our story takes off this is an event that has already happened, the murder itself is not our plot. However it is our first introduction to Alex and it is a part of her. Something we, as the reader, cannot forget. And then we see Alex volunteering with animals. We see her kind and soft demeanor contrasted to the harsh and vengeful character we thought we knew. And suddenly I was in love with Alex and her sassy, don’t give an eff demeanor. I rooted for her, even though I know she is a killer. She stands up for women, she is violent against men who violate women. She is a hero and a villian at the same time.
We also follow two other characters that don’t have the huge flaw of murder on their record, but have other flaws, the flaws that are the point of this narrative. They perpetuate the sexist ideals we do not want. At first you stop in shock, thinking “isn’t this the opposite of what this book is about?” However, they go through character growth.
They also show what is happening, what others are saying and by sharing their perspective also why they think that way. It is fascinating.
This book is incredibly important. This book is powerful. This book is everything I wanted and so much more than I could have ever expected. Please pick this book up!