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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Though I like to flatter myself that I’m a brave reader, one willing to step outside her comfort zone and try new things, often I don’t. If you look through my very favorite books, most of them share an introverted, sassy, strong-minded heroine. These are the characters I understand best: the misfits, the nerds, the hermit-inclined, the sarcastic. Sex & Violence is about someone who is almost entirely the opposite of me, but done so well that I can actually dig up sympathy for this person so wholly unlike me.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
Engaging voice that made me want to keep reading. I loved learning about Evan and his development throughout the story. Great examination of sex and violence in our society through a male perspective.
3.5ish
Evan's mom died when he was a kid, and ever since it's just been him and his father. Well, really, it's just been him, because when his father's not working, he's still staring at a computer screen. They're constantly moving, too, so nothing in Evan's life is stable. Well, except for his search for Girls Who Say Yes. There are a few at every school, girls he targets to get sex, then deletes from his phone and moves on.
When he starts fooling around with a girl at a North Carolina boarding school he ends up being beaten in a communal shower, and the girl, whom he was starting to harbor real feelings for, is also beaten and raped. His father moves them to Minnesota, to the cabin where he grew up with his brother (Evan's mysterious uncle) Soren.
Evan's bruises and scars are healing, but he still can't bring himself to take a shower, the noise of the water splashing on tile, the fact that there's no lock on the door, his nakedness, all bring him back to the mind-numbing fear and pain he experienced. Then to also remember his own guilt in that as the 'protector' he couldn't prevent Colette from getting hurt as well. He's unsure if he ever wants to be involved in other people's lives again, avoiding going out and meeting the neighbors, but his Dad and the group of teenager neighbors all help Evan to open up again.
One thing that didn't quite get there for me was the much hyped "Cupcake Lady of Tacoma." I kept expecting there to be some huge reveal (ala The Perks of Being a Wallflower) that Evan was abused by some 30-50 year old "cupcake lady" but it turns out she was maybe 19-20. Obviously, it's still statutory rape, but somehow her youth seemed to lessen the blow, at 19 she would be barely out of high school herself, still a kid in many ways. Just seemed a little weird that it was just kind of mentioned in passing when it'd been hinted at throughout the story.
I really enjoyed the unsent letters Evan collected, revealing his internal struggle, guilt and eventual healing. I also thought the novel was great because the characters, both men and women, were complex individuals, and though like us all, they dabbled in stereotypes and tried to fit into groups, they were still individuals with sometimes contradictory personality traits. I also liked, how even early on, Evan knew that he was a slut, and pointed out the injustice done to women, who are demonized and hated if they sleep with more than one partner, whereas for a guy there's no shame in sleeping with multiple partners. When it's not glorified it's expected and treated as normal. Later Soren admits that he had to let go of his grudge against Evan's dad beause women aren't objects to be owned, but people who get to make their own decisions.
Evan's mom died when he was a kid, and ever since it's just been him and his father. Well, really, it's just been him, because when his father's not working, he's still staring at a computer screen. They're constantly moving, too, so nothing in Evan's life is stable. Well, except for his search for Girls Who Say Yes. There are a few at every school, girls he targets to get sex, then deletes from his phone and moves on.
When he starts fooling around with a girl at a North Carolina boarding school he ends up being beaten in a communal shower, and the girl, whom he was starting to harbor real feelings for, is also beaten and raped. His father moves them to Minnesota, to the cabin where he grew up with his brother (Evan's mysterious uncle) Soren.
Evan's bruises and scars are healing, but he still can't bring himself to take a shower, the noise of the water splashing on tile, the fact that there's no lock on the door, his nakedness, all bring him back to the mind-numbing fear and pain he experienced. Then to also remember his own guilt in that as the 'protector' he couldn't prevent Colette from getting hurt as well. He's unsure if he ever wants to be involved in other people's lives again, avoiding going out and meeting the neighbors, but his Dad and the group of teenager neighbors all help Evan to open up again.
One thing that didn't quite get there for me was the much hyped "Cupcake Lady of Tacoma." I kept expecting there to be some huge reveal (ala The Perks of Being a Wallflower) that Evan was abused by some 30-50 year old "cupcake lady" but it turns out she was maybe 19-20. Obviously, it's still statutory rape, but somehow her youth seemed to lessen the blow, at 19 she would be barely out of high school herself, still a kid in many ways. Just seemed a little weird that it was just kind of mentioned in passing when it'd been hinted at throughout the story.
I really enjoyed the unsent letters Evan collected, revealing his internal struggle, guilt and eventual healing. I also thought the novel was great because the characters, both men and women, were complex individuals, and though like us all, they dabbled in stereotypes and tried to fit into groups, they were still individuals with sometimes contradictory personality traits. I also liked, how even early on, Evan knew that he was a slut, and pointed out the injustice done to women, who are demonized and hated if they sleep with more than one partner, whereas for a guy there's no shame in sleeping with multiple partners. When it's not glorified it's expected and treated as normal. Later Soren admits that he had to let go of his grudge against Evan's dad beause women aren't objects to be owned, but people who get to make their own decisions.
I absolutely loved Sex & Violence. It's a book that isn't plot centered but instead character driven and the characterization is done extremely well, making it my favorite aspect of the story. That said, the characters in this book are older teens and it does deal with mature content so I would recommend this book to teenagers ages 16 and up.
Sex & Violence follows Evan Carter after an unfortunate incident in his school’s bathroom. After being brutally assaulted for having a sexual relationship with another student, Evan’s father moves him to his home town. For Evan, moving isn’t anything new but the residents of the town are. Evan’s gone to a number of schools over the past few years and is used to being the guy no one is ever friends with. During his summer in Minnesota, however, things changed. Through no aspirations of his own, Evan ended up befriending the locals in his new town and, probably, had the best summer of his life.
The characterization in Sex & Violence is done beautifully. Although many of the characters say things that are offensive, it’s done in a way that doesn’t feel forced or ridiculous. Throughout the entire novel, the characters felt real. They were characterized consistently and even when they said offensive things, it didn’t feel as though the characters were saying offensive things just to say them. They were convincing.
Sex & Violence follows Evan’s character arc instead of a line of action or plot. Evan’s summer in Minnesota changed his life in more ways than one. Not only did he learn to actually deal with his dad, he made friends (through no real effort of his own), he learned to get along with his dad, bonded with his uncle, and made a lot of changes for the better for himself.
Sex & Violence follows Evan Carter after an unfortunate incident in his school’s bathroom. After being brutally assaulted for having a sexual relationship with another student, Evan’s father moves him to his home town. For Evan, moving isn’t anything new but the residents of the town are. Evan’s gone to a number of schools over the past few years and is used to being the guy no one is ever friends with. During his summer in Minnesota, however, things changed. Through no aspirations of his own, Evan ended up befriending the locals in his new town and, probably, had the best summer of his life.
The characterization in Sex & Violence is done beautifully. Although many of the characters say things that are offensive, it’s done in a way that doesn’t feel forced or ridiculous. Throughout the entire novel, the characters felt real. They were characterized consistently and even when they said offensive things, it didn’t feel as though the characters were saying offensive things just to say them. They were convincing.
Sex & Violence follows Evan’s character arc instead of a line of action or plot. Evan’s summer in Minnesota changed his life in more ways than one. Not only did he learn to actually deal with his dad, he made friends (through no real effort of his own), he learned to get along with his dad, bonded with his uncle, and made a lot of changes for the better for himself.
The amount of times MC refers to women as "chicks" makes me want to barf. Obviously this matters from a feminist perspective, but also from a realistic one??? Do teenage boys even call girls "chicks" anymore?? This entire book felt fully unrealistic. Plus, as we all know, I have no sympathy for white boys. Violence is shitty and all and no one deserves to get beat up but also... dgaf, Evan.