9780062570291
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The Female of the Species audiobook

  • By: Mindy McGinnis
  • Narrator: Amanda Dolan
  • Length: 7 hours 7 minutes
  • Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
  • Publish date: September 20, 2016
  • Language: English
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(27471 ratings)
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The Female of the Species Audiobook Summary

Edgar Award-winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a riveting contemporary YA novel that examines rape culture through alternating perspectives. A stunning, unforgettable page-turner.

Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it.

Three years ago, when her older sister, Anna, was murdered and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best–the language of violence.

While her own crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can’t be trusted among other people. Not with Jack, the star athlete who wants to really know her but still feels guilty over the role he played the night Anna’s body was discovered. And not with Peekay, the preacher’s kid with a defiant streak who befriends Alex while they volunteer at an animal shelter. Not anyone.

As their senior year unfolds, Alex’s darker nature breaks out, setting these three teens on a collision course that will change their lives forever.

2017 Tayshas List Selection * YALSA Top 10 Best YA Fiction of 2017 * School Libray Journal Best of 2016 * Junior Library Guild Selection * The Globe and Mail Best Books of 2016 * Bustle’s Best Young Adult Books of 2016 * Mashable’s 8 Best YA Books of 2016 * Seventeen‘s 10 Best YA Books of 2016 * CCBC Choices 2017 * 2018-2019 Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award Nominee * 2019 & 2020 Choose to Read Ohio Booklist

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The Female of the Species Audiobook Narrator

Amanda Dolan is the narrator of The Female of the Species audiobook that was written by Mindy McGinnis

Mindy McGinnis is the author of Not a Drop to Drink and its companion, In a Handful of Dust, as well as This Darkness Mine, The Female of the Species, Given to the Sea, Heroine, and the Edgar Award-winning novel A Madness So Discreet. A graduate of Otterbein University with a BA in English literature and religion, Mindy lives in Ohio. You can visit her online at www.mindymcginnis.com.

About the Author(s) of The Female of the Species

Mindy McGinnis is the author of The Female of the Species

The Female of the Species Full Details

Narrator Amanda Dolan
Length 7 hours 7 minutes
Author Mindy McGinnis
Publisher Katherine Tegen Books
Release date September 20, 2016
ISBN 9780062570291

Additional info

The publisher of the The Female of the Species is Katherine Tegen Books. The imprint is Katherine Tegen Books. It is supplied by Katherine Tegen Books. The ISBN-13 is 9780062570291.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Emily May

September 23, 2016

This is how I kill someone.And I don’t feel bad about it. BRUTAL. That's how I would describe this book. It sits there all unassuming with its cute yellow cover and pictures of animals, but underneath it has some serious fangs. Rather like the female of the species, I suppose.Quick warning: this book may not be suitable to those sensitive to rape and/or animal cruelty. Make no mistake, it's a nasty book. At times it's absolutely disgustingly awful. But it's a very sharp and effective look at sexual assault and rape culture too. And somehow so fucking funny. Well, maybe if you have a sadistic sense of humour, which it turns out I do.I don't even know how to adequately explain it. The Female of the Species is told from the perspective of three different characters - Alex, whose sister was raped and murdered; Jack, the popular guy who desperately wants to get to know Alex; and Peekay, the preacher's kid whose ex-boyfriend ditched her for the beautiful Branley, and who now works at the animal shelter with Alex.Alex is haunted by her sister's murder. She is detached, strange, and knows there's something wrong with her. That there always has been. When she kills her sister's murderer and gets away with it, she realizes she might not be able to stop.It's a very dark, unflinching look at rape culture, slut-shaming and the long-lasting effects of sexual assault; not just on the victims, but on those close to them. I’m living my life waiting for the man who comes for me like one did for Anna, with hungry eyes behind the wheel and rope in the trunk.I’m ready. All of the characters are so complex and well-developed, not just in themselves but also in their relationships with their families and each other. Obviously, we know we shouldn't agree with Alex's methods of taking the law into her own hands, but it's difficult to not adore her and see her as a kind of twisted hero. There's a lot of examples like that in this book - the fine line between what we know we should do and what we really feel.So many interesting tidbits about human nature are woven into the story. Alex's straight-talking unravels why we do the things we do, and the misconeptions we hold about other people and relationships. Also, she does an amazing takedown of slut-shaming: "You shouldn't be that way about her," Alex says. "I hear what people say and I bet half of it isn't even true. And even if it is - fine. She's no different from you and me; she wants to have sex. So let her…She likes boys, and she can get them. You were hurt by that, but it wasn't Branley who hurt you. It was Adam." There are so many ways this could have ended, but the author chose the one that hit the hardest. Right in the feels. It's like someone just punched my heart right out of my chest. It was completely evil and the perfect ending to a book like this.Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Store

Emma

March 23, 2019

4.5 stars! This book was a TRIP!! So though-provoking and refreshing. This is a book that discusses important social issues through the lens of really well-developed characters and a suspenseful story. It taps into the darkness and brutal nature of our humanity in a way that’s jarring, but real. A book I’d highly recommend to anyone!TW: sexual assault, physical assault, In the week’s following me finishing the book (mind you, I finished it in two days), I felt like I read it too fast to fully process everything that went on. I decided to read it AGAIN and basically finished in one sitting! This is absolutely a book I could read over and over and get more out of it every time. In my first reading, I actually underestimate how well constructed the story is – I felt it was lacking some development, but with a second reading, I realized how complex all components of the story are. I could not be more pleased that I finally picked this one up.One of my favorite things about The Female of the Species is that while it is a contemporary story, it reads like a thriller! Mindy McGuiness writes the story in such a chilling, atmospheric way that a sense of suspense follows you the entire time. I found it to be a very unique use of mood and tone for young adult books.I ADORE the characters in The Female of the Species. Alex is the perfect anti-hero – Vengeful resilient, and morally gray. Honestly, she can be scary at times, but she also has a soft spot where you can’t help but want the best for her. Jack was surprisingly charming. He’s the star athlete and up for valedictorian, but he’s only the perfect student because he wants to escape poverty and live a more stable life. He’s the epitome of a teenage boy, meaning he is often driven by his hormones, but he is truly a good guy with a kind heart who wants to treat others fairly. As the only protagonist, he provides a thoughtful perspective on how men react to rape culture, which was beautifully done. Peekay was also a character I wasn’t super drawn to at the start, but she quickly grew on me. I loved watching her character growth as she gained awareness of herself and the people around her. It also plays with some high school stereotypes as a way to break them down which I appreciated seeing. The characters in this book are so multifaceted while still retaining the authentic nature of teenagers, which left me really impressed.The Female of the Species is incredibly thematic. It examines the lines between right and wrong, human nature and animal instinct, justice and corruption. It provides a thoughtful commentary on rape culture, the treatment of women, slut-shaming, and feminism. If gender equality and just treatment for sexual abusers are things you care about, this is an absolute MUST read.This book was REALLY REALLY great. I’m super excited to read more from Mindy McGuiness based on my first experience with her work. The refreshing writing, well-rounded characters, social commentary, and intoxicating plot work together perfectly to create a book that will remain at the top of my recommendations list for young adult contemporaries.

Leigh

August 13, 2016

A very difficult read and some of its early chapters left me reeling. I confess I went into this book expecting a feminist, Dexter-esque, wish-fulfillment experience, and I was here for it. Instead, I got a painful, complicated, ultimately redeeming story about the insidiousness of rape culture and what it takes to dismantle it. Watching flawed characters grapple with learned sexism and internalized misogyny is not always a comfortable thing, and though I was surprised by some of the choices McGinnis made, I was so impressed by the way she balanced the political and the personal. The final pages left me with tears in my eyes and a heart full of anger and hope.

Wendy Darling

February 13, 2017

"You see it in all animals - the female of the species is more deadly than the male."4.5 stars Holy shit, this is good. It sounds like it's going to be a revenge thriller, and it is--but it's also a searing takedown of rape culture and a merciless examination of the way violence begets violence. Riveting prose, three clear POVs, and a relentless story that doesn't try to provide answers, but forces you to think about the things we excuse legally and socially. In a year in which we've stood by and watched Brock Turner get a slap on the wrist, seen serial abusers publicly disparage the victims they attacked, and witnessed the repeated objectification of women on a national platform, this could not be more timely. I wish this book were in the hands of all teenagers, boys and girls, for the invaluable conversation piece that it is. There are a fair number of contemporary YA "issue" novels that deal with rape or abuse, but this one, in the guise of a thriller, hits home intellectually and emotionally in a way I haven't seen before. But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is women, said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.There are a few things you have to accept for the purposes of the story, the biggest of which is a logistical issue (view spoiler)[namely, that physically, it's not that easy to do the things Alex did to Comstock (hide spoiler)]. I'm okay with looking past that, however, because the author provides enough convincing detail to make it worthwhile. The only thing that really niggles me a bit (aside from a slightly rushed ending) is that, in my view, Alex's feelings for Jack develop and progress a bit too quickly to fit the near-feral, loner mindset she was in. There's definitely chemistry between them, but I was still never fully convinced the two of them would have been a thing that quickly, especially considering his background and baggage. However, I liked that Alex didn't judge Jack or other girls for his past, I liked the way a real obstacle came between them (view spoiler)[that is, that he had a real problem absorbing the disturbing information she revealed to him; too many books let the BF/GF give the MC a pass (hide spoiler)], and I liked the fantastic way the story ended. OVARIES OF STEEL, Ms. McGinniss. Bonus: there isn't the faintest whiff of the type of pretentious posturing and tiresome smoke-and-mirrors plotting that's become so popular in YA thrillers lately. (I'm looking at you, We Were Liars.) This book has things to say, and the writing cuts like a razor so that words nearly bleed off the page.I'm really pissed off at the weirdly quirky cover art for this book, however. WTF is that? It does absolutely no justice to the intensity of the blistering words and emotions inside. This book is full of feminine rage, and while some readers might flinch at the violence within, I think it's rage that's been justly earned. Trigger warnings for violence, sexual and otherwise.

karen

June 21, 2018

congratulations! semifinalist in goodreads' best young adult fiction category 2016! meets where to fucking begin?this is going to be a hugely polarizing book. if you're easily made squeamish by naughty language, depictions of teenagers drinking, doing drugs, having sex, or by violence (animal, people, sexual) or are otherwise a highly sensitive person, this book will probably play too rough for you. but considering how very often some of the events covered in this book make the news, the world probably plays too rough for you. this book is important, honest, and in many ways realistic and it should be required reading for teenagers, but especially for teen girls. it's definitely full of lessons boys should learn, but there are even more here for girls. i say "lessons" like it's some kind of staid primer on etiquette, but it is far from that. it's a gritty whipcrack of a book that has strong characters and story, but is also peppered with frank depictions about all the insidious ways rape culture manifests in the day-to-day, and about gender, behavior, teen sexualization, peer pressure, slut-shaming, jealousy, sexting, and female rage.i will likely reference this movie a lot in the course of this review. this story is told from three first-person POVs: alex craft, who found her own path to justice when her older sister's rapist/murderer walked on a technicality - and then never walked again, peekay, the preacher's kid; the epitome of girl next door, but the actual girl next door, not the stereotypical angel - she'll drink and is pro push-up bra, and she's representing everygirl here, and jack - the golden boy who has looks, smarts, popularity, talent, the cheerleader on his arm, a colorful sexual history and now, an interest in alex. I want to know what she looks like with tousled hair. I want to know what the scar on her wrist is from. I understand now why my mom always asks me if I'm interested in any girls as opposed to if I like them.I like Branley. I've always liked Branley.I'm interested in Alex.after her sister anna was killed, and alex gave in to her darker impulses, she's remained on the sidelines of the high school experience; the perfect vantage point to study the oftentimes disturbing interactions of her peers. when she and peekay unexpectedly become friends, she illuminates some of her findings to peekay, pointing out the ways peekay has been unconsciously contributing to the "boys will be boys" attitude that ends up hurting girls and poisoning the sisterhood. she doesn't use that word, but she's definitely a feminist mouthpiece whose lectures would perhaps be off-putting if they weren't coming from a mostly likable character whose odd way of talking is largely due to experiencing life through books instead of getting her teen socialization in a more traditional way. throughout the book, there are many examples of disturbing behavior that has become normalized - nude photos sent to an ex by a girl dating someone else, to reel him in for some nostalgic casual sex, locker-room details about what female classmates look like naked and what noises they make during intercourse, girls bathroom-graffiti tearing down other girls, girls determining their own worth in terms of sexual currency, being oddly pleased when guys look at your tits when talking to you, or ogle them without the courtesy of a conversation, bitchy remarks over the provocative way another girl is dressed. ("She looks nice," says alex), slut-shaming the girl who "stole" peekay's boyfriend, "You shouldn't be that way about her," Alex says. "I hear what people say and I bet half of it isn't even true. And even if it is - fine. She's no different from you and me; she wants to have sex. So let her…She likes boys, and she can get them. You were hurt by that, but it wasn't Branley who hurt you. It was Adam." and it's accepting all these thoughtless behaviors that perpetuates the dynamic where girls turn on other girls instead of holding boys accountable for their actions.Tonight they used words they know, words that don't bother people anymore. They said bitch. They told another girl they would put their dicks in her mouth. No one protested because this is our language now.some of the examples were a bit on the prudish side. yes, the guy humping the basketball was maybe sexualizing gym class in a way that someone would find uncomfortable, but we don't know what gender he was imagining that basketball to be, and sex-gestures are not made by boys alone. i've been known to make handy or blowie gestures or even full on penetrating motions, even though i do not have a penis of my own. sex miming is not always threatening or violent, it depends on the context. it's juvenile, sure, but i mean no harm when i make jerkoff motions in place of saying "whatever." but, whatever. or, rather:over the course of the book, as alex establishes her first friendship with peekay and her first relationship with jack, these positive emotions bring her other, darker, emotions closer to the surface. she is fiercely protective of peekay, and when she is threatened one night, alex uncages the beast. but it's not always easy to put that beast back in its cage. it's definitely a firecracker of a book. but whatever you do, do not call alex a firecracker!…he said, "How's my little firecracker?"Like it was a joke, this thing inside me. A cute quirk for a girl to have, our dark leanings reduced to one word.So I said, "I'm fine."I'm not fine, and I doubt I ever will be.The books didn't help me find a word for myself; my father refused to accept the weight of it. And so I made my own.I am vengeance. and she's just excellent at being vengeance.it's not all horror and violence - there are bright shiny spots of hope and positivity. there is a scene with peekay and her friend sara having a tricky conversation with peekay's parents that is both hilarious and emotional and an example of excellent parenting.and the relationships between all of the female characters, as trust grows and resentments change, is beautifully, naturalistically, handled. alex and jack's romance is also sweet, in the way it changes jack's priorities and allows alex some happiness, albeit a complicated happiness.I text Alex and tell her good night, she responds with the same, and I hold my phone tightly, too aware that the present is all we have if I can't mention the past and she won't talk about the future.but alex is a complicated kind of girl - she's lived through an experience that shattered her family - turning her mother into an alcoholic who never leaves the house,Nothing is ours; nothing is sacred. The one thing we shared was pulled into pieces, memorialized and mythologized so that everyone could participate in it. When she was missing, Anna's picture was tacked in so many places around town it's what I see when I think of her, not her actual face. I see that picture next to a lost cat poster and a lawn-mowing service advertisement.I learned later they did find that cat.and has darkened her entire worldviewAnna told me I would understand about boys one day. She said that everything would change and I would look at them differently, assess their bodies and their words, the way their eyes moved when they talked to me. She said I'd not only want to answer them, but I'd learn how, knowing which words to use, how to give meaning with a pause.Then a man took her.A man took her before I learned any of these things. He took her and kept her for a while, put things inside of her. Of course the obvious thing, but also some others, like he was curious if they'd fit. Then he got bored. Then he got creative.Then my sister was gone and I thought: I understand about boys now.And she was right. Everything did change. I look at them differently and I assess their bodies and watch their eyes and weigh their words.But not in the way she meant.this book definitely left its mark on me. i murmured "holy shit" several times while reading it, because it is SO FAR beyond what YA lit of my youth was,and the fact that books like this are necessary (and they are), is depressing.it's not perfect - i have some logic-questions, and alex is just a little too knowing for her age and experiences, but a book that reminds girls to be cautious and self-respecting and to call dudes out on their bullshit, and reminds guys to be respectful and that stupid decisions have consequences, well - i'm a fan.not everyone will appreciate being punched in the face by a book. but i do.come to my blog!

Kai

January 29, 2021

“Physical attractiveness has nothing to do with it. You were alone, isolated, weak. It happened to you, but it could've been anyone. Opportunity is what matters, nothing else.”I wanted to read the Female of the Species ever since I first saw it on Goodreads, which must've been more than a year ago. As it should happen, I was to read Mindy's newest release This Darkness Mine before I could finally dive into TFOTS. This Darkness Mine; however, prepared me to have no expectations, apart from one: they would be exceeded anyway. So much was true.I can only join the club of the ones praising this novel without end. For several reasons.One of the being Mindy's obvious hang for writing. She has a unique and piercing style of writing, her sense of humour is subtle, often bitter and harsh, but always immensley smart. I caught myself grinning and laughing while I was reading on the underground. Other times I completely forgot the world around me and was pulled between the pages and into a story that is more captivating and distressing than anything else that I've read this year. Mindy's words can do that.The second reason why this book resonated so deeply with me is the strong feminist message on every written page. This story may open your eyes to internal misogyny, rape culture and slut-shaming. If they're not open to it already. Otherwise this will serve as a brutal awakening, but also as an example of what a crucial role respect and friendship play in our lives. This book will remind you that, to fight sexism and misogyny, it is important to be outspoken and direct. Staying silent helps no one, least of all yourself.I love that the YA book community, is so demanding it what it wants to read. That's us I'm talking about. We have only impatience for ignorance, for antiquated stories that don't represent us. We want equality and respect. We want diverse characters and depth. We demand fairness and thought. We want the real deal. And Mindy is one of the most promising authors when it comes to writing multi-layered characters and stories that matter.I couldn't recommend this book more. If you haven't given it any thought until now, you should put this on your list. Read it as soon as possible. Talk to me about it. I'd love to hear your thoughts.Find more of my books on Instagram

April

November 25, 2017

My emotions are all over the place.😢

Hailey

April 14, 2017

So weird but so good

Chelsea

July 29, 2020

This was INCREDIBLE

Whitney

July 19, 2017

asdfghjkl;YES Alex was so interesting to read about. Her inner monologue. Her tormented life. I dug it so hard. I loved that this took place in 3 different perspectives because they all added something different to the story that by the end of the book tied together so well. This book is power. I loved it. If anything, I'm wary about the realisticness of the events surrounding the rapes in this book. Especially in a book about really lewd high schoolers that don't seem to be afraid to harass women, I was surprised by the author's decision to have the rapists in this book be depicted as serial rapists or drug addicts. I feel like the impact would be a lot more stark if she stuck to the fact that a lot of sexual assault happens to people you're friends with or people you know. This way, the ending wouldn't feel so..... unrealistic. Hyperbolized. Idk. I think from that angle, it could have added a lot more impact.Regardless, I think this book packs a punch and I read it in less than 12 hours. It's different than most YA contemporary that you'll read.

Nilufer

March 10, 2020

5 is not enough, it deserves 10 brutal, brilliant, heart wrenching stars!This book is not an easy read! It tears your heart apart! It punches you several times on the face! It makes you cry aloud ! Your emotions scatter all over the places when you’re reading it!Raw, realistic, violent, dark but definitely fantastic!Alex is so far a different girl who only wants to be normal, she doesn’t deserve be acknowledged by her dead sister’s name, she deserves friendship, she deserves love, she deserves joy, happiness in her life. She deserves to go to college because she’s real smart. But she cannot! Because she cannot fight with her killer instincts and she cannot function as like a young girl who dreams her HEA. Her character is definitely not Dexter. She is not sociopath, cause she feels too much and she cannot know how to deal with her feelings. She knows how to defeat the real demons in outside world but she has no idea how to defeat her inner demons . That’s what seals her destiny. I’ve been totally shaken after the shocking end. But I have to admit that is fair ending of the story. Some books take your piece of soul and leave unforgettable emotional scar on your hearts. It is definitely that kind of book! I loved it so much but the words and story hurt me so much, too.bloginstagramfacebooktwitter

Laura

September 20, 2016

Everyone thinks if you fix a male dog it will lower his aggression, but most of the biters are female. It’s basic instinct to protect their womb. You see it in all animals - the female of the species is more deadly than the male. The Female of the Species is a bit harder to review because of how important a book it is. It’s a story exploring rape culture, the effects of sexual assault, over-sexualization of teenagers, gender issues, sexual objectification, and slut-shaming. Set in Ohio with alternating perspectives from Alex, Jack and Peekay.Alex Craft’s sister Anna was raped and murdered three years ago. Due to lack of evidence, the killer walks free. Alex refuses to let that happen and gets away with her crime. Her impulses cause her to live under the radar. Known only as “the girl with the dead sister” to her classmates until forming her first friendship and things unfold from there. She’s the vigilante of the book - the one out for justice! I loved her dark nature, but also her instinct to protect those in need and come to their defense. She’s a character to be admired. Let her know that Anna was on the minds of everyone today. Something that rightfully belongs to only us resurrected once again as a cautionary fairy tale, a warning to all of the Little Red Riding Hoods that there are wolves in the forest. Jack is the star athlete on track for valedictorian. He’s that guy who loves girls. He also happened to be there in a crass sort of way the night Anna’s body was discovered, so he feels bad for his part. He wants so badly to get to know Alex.Peekay is the preacher’s kid who was recently dumped for Branley leading to plenty of slut-shaming moments. She is doing her Senior Year Experience at the animal shelter with Alex who may be the first person to see her in a different light that doesn’t scream “daughter of preacher.” A beautiful friendship is developed. Because there are others like him still. Tonight they used words they know, words that don't bother people anymore. They said bitch. They told another girl they would put their dicks in her mouth. No one protested because this is our language now. Humanity is examined. Human nature vs animal nature. Instinct. Violence. The world we allow ourselves to live in because some of these actions are viewed as “normal.” Or when we let him get away with it because wearing that short skirt is “asking for it.”It’s quite eye-opening to those who have never experienced what it is like to be a woman. I explained a few different instances where I was sexually harassed in “minor” ways to my significant other and he was shocked that being a female opens you up to that kind of treatment. But it’s real and it happens. Being a teenager, you think you’re as mature and knowing as it gets, but you’re not. And being told you have to go further and have sex with someone or they won’t take you home is NOT okay. Date rape is not okay. Any form of making you feel like your body is not yours and yours alone is wrong. This book brought out emotions in me I didn’t know I still had. It took me to a deeper place I’m usually too afraid to go. I found myself envious of Alex, not because she was a vigilante but because she did something about it.I cannot recommend this book enough for the relevance of it’s message. Mindy McGinnis presents it in a way that is beautifully written, dark, and impactful. Highly recommend.

Kayla Dawn

May 22, 2019

Mindy McGinnis is very talented.It's so fascinating how she's able to actually have a different writing style for every point of view. You do not have to check who's pov you're currently reading because you'll know just by how they are thinking, speaking and acting. Most books I read that have more than one pov were not able to do that, especially not as GOOD as this one is doing it!

Berit Talks Books

February 09, 2018

5 brutally brilliant stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Wow! This book was brutal, dark, raw, and reel.....Violence begets violence... Alex has always had a little something... a little spark of anger in her.... and her sister kept it in check.;. until her sister was raped and murdered.... Then she sought vengeance..... she also felt as though she would never be normal...... when she befriended Claire and fell in love with Jack.... she felt as though perhaps she had a chance... a chance to live a normal life..... BUT as we all know in life bad things happen....This book made a very strong statement about rape, girls, and slut shaming.... even the words on the bathroom walls made you realize that as women or girls we need to spend more time building one another up rather than tearing each other down.... and the end of this book, so brutal, but absolutely the only way I think it could end...In every species, the female of the species is more deadly...An absolute must read if you are a fan of dark books with amazing characters and a powerful message! ....

Wren (fablesandwren)

September 17, 2020

*featuring the female of my duo, Marcy Louisa and all her fluff*This was the February Read for The Cheerful Wednesdays, and might I say that this was a heavy book. This book is full of all kinds of triggers. There is talk of murder, rape, child pornography, animal cruelty, substance abuse and just about anything you can think of. Some of these are actual topics that should be talked about more in order for people to understand them, and for this I thank the author for not shying away from the tougher topics.“You see it in all animals - the female of the species is more deadly than the male. Except humans.” Alex is dealing with a lot. Her sister was brutally killed and raped and left in the woods for someone to find days later after nature took her course on her. Ever since then, she has not been the same. She doesn't actually know if she changed because of what happened or she is the way she is because her sister was the only thing holding her to the ground; but what she does know is a simple rule: people who hurt other people deserve to die, and ladies and gentlemen, she is true to her word.See, Alex is 100% a murderer but in a Dexter-type of way. She only takes out the absolute trash of the world. She has a heart and she feels things too, but she lives off of her animal instinct. You kill those who hurt others in order to protect people. Unlike Dexter, she doesn't actually have to kill, she just is driven when the opportunity arises. So what happens when Alex volunteers at an animal shelter and meets the pastor's kid, Peekay? She learns what it is like to have a friend.Peekay is tired of always being associated with being the pastor's kid. She doesn't have a problem with the religion and she loves her parents with all her heart, but she wants to be known for something else for a change. With a recent break up, Peekay finds hope in her new friend and the challenges that come up along the way. Alex and Peekay are friendship goals. They support each other, they pick each other up, and there is no "frienemies" involved. They just love and support each other, which is something a lot of our culture has lacked. Women pin each other against each other and are jealous of what they can't have. I think Alex was a refreshing break for Peekay because Alex never expected anything and was always just there to help her. They both found themselves again in their friendship which is what friendship is actually about. “But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is women, said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.”Now I am not going to lie, I got really, really weird vibes from Jack. I'm not sure if it was just because the author actually got into the mind of a man and went with it, or because he is actually creepy... but I will let you figure that one out yourself. His character does have some growth in it, but honestly I just didn't find him appealing. He was kind of... gross to me. Which leads me to believe that crawling into the mind of a man will literally kill all romantic notions. One thing that really made me uncomfortable was the brutality with the animals in this book. Jack works with the butcher and is the one that takes the life of the cows, Alex and Peekay pick up dead baby animals that were thrown out of a moving vehicle... I could have lived without all those visuals and I am sorry I just put those in your head when you were 100% not asking for it. Even the emotional sadness with animals in this book almost made me just put the book down. Little background on me: I've been a vegetarian since I was 08 years old. Some days, I am vegan. You can bet your bottom dollar I eat like my namesake: a bird. I have two rescued cats and I love all animals to the absolute fullest. I even take the time to get on Amazon Smile to make sure it donates to my appointed rescue. You can say I am a little bit of a nut job, but I am a full believer of taking care of the creatures I was put on this earth to take care of (and that also includes the earth itself... also a big recycler). Now don't get me wrong, I will touch and make meat and I am not going to even give your food a second glance if you are eating a cheeseburger in front of me. But I never want to read about someone actually in the process of making the food that the majority of the world eats ever again. It was too heartbreaking for this tender-heart bird.Which brings up another dilemma of mine: why did the talk of animals being killed hurt more than the idea of some of the other topics in this book? Am I that filtered? When I have talked to some of the other people who have read this book, they all felt the same way I did. Why is it that the talk of someone killing an animal is more repulsive than the talk of someone killing another human? I can watch Criminal Minds all day, but I will never watch Old Yeller again. I love war movies, but you will see me plug my ears and close my eyes when it is apparent that a horse is about to die. I'm just bringing all of that up because I don't want people to think that I am pointing fingers. This is also a topic that I need to learn more about and talk openly with. This book is a good start to ease someone into this kind of topic and also a great one to read with a few people. I read this with my book club The Cheerful Wednesdays, and I can tell you that none of us expected this book to go as deep as it did. Overall, this book was just a really, really heavy read. I didn't resonate with the ending too well, and I am not sure if it was because I didn't like it or because I knew it was the only way for this story to conclude. Even if you took out the romance in this book, the friendship between Alex and Peekay is worth the read. Even if you took out both the romance and the friendship, the topics touched on are worth reading and learning about. - - - This book is so...incredibly...heavy 2/3rds in and man, do I have so many emotions. I feel as if I need to go smell the flowers and appreciate those people in my life who bring good things to it and possibly punch everyone who doesn’t.

Frequently asked questions

Listening to audiobooks not only easy, it is also very convenient. You can listen to audiobooks on almost every device. From your laptop to your smart phone or even a smart speaker like Apple HomePod or even Alexa. Here’s how you can get started listening to audiobooks.

  • 1. Download your favorite audiobook app such as Speechify.
  • 2. Sign up for an account.
  • 3. Browse the library for the best audiobooks and select the first one for free
  • 4. Download the audiobook file to your device
  • 5. Open the Speechify audiobook app and select the audiobook you want to listen to.
  • 6. Adjust the playback speed and other settings to your preference.
  • 7. Press play and enjoy!

While you can listen to the bestsellers on almost any device, and preferences may vary, generally smart phones are offer the most convenience factor. You could be working out, grocery shopping, or even watching your dog in the dog park on a Saturday morning.
However, most audiobook apps work across multiple devices so you can pick up that riveting new Stephen King book you started at the dog park, back on your laptop when you get back home.

Speechify is one of the best apps for audiobooks. The pricing structure is the most competitive in the market and the app is easy to use. It features the best sellers and award winning authors. Listen to your favorite books or discover new ones and listen to real voice actors read to you. Getting started is easy, the first book is free.

Research showcasing the brain health benefits of reading on a regular basis is wide-ranging and undeniable. However, research comparing the benefits of reading vs listening is much more sparse. According to professor of psychology and author Dr. Kristen Willeumier, though, there is good reason to believe that the reading experience provided by audiobooks offers many of the same brain benefits as reading a physical book.

Audiobooks are recordings of books that are read aloud by a professional voice actor. The recordings are typically available for purchase and download in digital formats such as MP3, WMA, or AAC. They can also be streamed from online services like Speechify, Audible, AppleBooks, or Spotify.
You simply download the app onto your smart phone, create your account, and in Speechify, you can choose your first book, from our vast library of best-sellers and classics, to read for free.

Audiobooks, like real books can add up over time. Here’s where you can listen to audiobooks for free. Speechify let’s you read your first best seller for free. Apart from that, we have a vast selection of free audiobooks that you can enjoy. Get the same rich experience no matter if the book was free or not.

It depends. Yes, there are free audiobooks and paid audiobooks. Speechify offers a blend of both!

It varies. The easiest way depends on a few things. The app and service you use, which device, and platform. Speechify is the easiest way to listen to audiobooks. Downloading the app is quick. It is not a large app and does not eat up space on your iPhone or Android device.
Listening to audiobooks on your smart phone, with Speechify, is the easiest way to listen to audiobooks.

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