Rating: 
Summary: Is she being ironic or serious? The answer is "no".
Review: "Turning On The Girls" reminds me of the old Saturday Night Live sketch where Chevy Chase resolves a commercial mock-debate by declaring, "Relax! New 'Shimmer' is BOTH a floor wax AND a dessert topping!" It's a novel that wants to be both a spoof of utopian feminism and a feminist utopia. It fails because those two goals are as basically incompatible as dessert topping and floor wax.For example, one character here is a ten-year-old girl, and we're treated (in the sense of therapy, not dessert) to multiple scenes of her excitedly repeating the lessons she's learned in class today. This is, for the most part, generic Women's Studies 097 material, delivered without any notable wit or insight. (Does Ms. Benard really imagine that anyone who doesn't already agree that female genital mutilation is a Bad Thing will have read this far into the book?) It would be genuinely funny if, for instance, she included a sixteen-year-old girl who's in the habit of reading banned books, getting (or trying to get) tattoos and piercings, and telling her elders where to shove their "nurturing points". But because Benard wants this to be, to some degree, a feminist utopia, she's never able to get the degree of critical distance necessary to make scenes like that possible. On the other hand, if Benard wants this to be credible as a utopia, it needs to be at least reasonably believable. We may not need an explanation as to how this revolution came about, but there really should be one for how it's sustained. When it comes to one of the tougher questions in that regard-How do they deal with dissent?-she evades the question by descending into lowbrow humor. The opposition, "Restore Harmony", are Baywatch-watching buffoons who pose no credible threat to the regime. That question is certainly one that deserves more thought. A censorial feminist dictatorship isn't going to be opposed merely by anti-feminists; it's also going to be opposed by those who are anti-censorship and anti-authoritarian. Banning Anne Rice, Ayn Rand, and (apparently) the Bible will earn one enemies from all across the political spectrum, many of whom will not be averse to violence. But of course, she has to make the new order a dictatorship: the basic premise of the novel is as a spoof on Rush Limbaugh's notion of "FemiNazis". However, Benard rather likes the idea of women being in charge of everything, so she makes them nice Nazis. And in order to prevent the result from resembling "Bambi Vs. Godzilla", she has to make the opposition nice, stupid Nazis. It just doesn't work. Nice Nazis are neither likable, believable, nor inspiring. Least forgivably of all, they're not that funny. Yeah, I know there are some who disagree, but for me, a line like "Give them an inch, and they'll have things back the way they were before, faster than you can say 'clitoridectomy'" doesn't exactly leave me rolling on the floor with laughter. Maybe Benard was aiming for balance, but the whole thing comes off more as muddled. "Turning On The Girls" is a novel that simultaneously manages to take itself too seriously to be really funny, and be too silly to take seriously.
Rating: 
Summary: At last!
Review: Benard's writing style is excellent for her subject. From the beginning she establishes an informal atmosphere as the narrator of the novel. At once she is matter-of-fact and sarcastic, drawing from both 1984 and Story of O to create a world that provokes thought just as much as it might scintillate our baser instincts. The novel begins rather slowly, acclimatizing the reader to the feminist-run version of life. The satire here is breathtaking (from laughter) as Benard pokes fun at everyone, from the ice-cold elite of the feminist regime to the pathetically paternalistic and two-dimensional counterrevolutionaries. (In portraying men in such a light, is Benard even making light of both ultra-feminist/anti-masculinist views and the male-dominated world of Orwell's 1984? The intrigue thickens.) After the orientation, the novel takes off into political intrigue, and then there is just no putting down this book. If that were not enough, the author develops the main character's story into a romancenovelesque subplot. Brava, Benard!
Rating: 
Summary: Humorous feminist fantasy with major flaws regarding gender
Review: Cheryl Benard's second novel, "Turning on the Girls", is going to cause debate wherever it's read. It's part fantasy, part science fiction, part comedy, part novel, part sociology, part . . . well, you get the idea. Don't let the cover of the book deceive you. I can understand why the publishers chose the image they did -- it specifically relates to the main character's attempt to find "acceptable" feminist erotica and her repeated encounters with women and men who keep reverting to the stereotypes of the past. The message you get from the dust jacket -- all the flowers! -- is not an accurate feel of the book's contents. This is a feminist fantasy with a humorous edge. This book confused me for quite awhile. Before I even started reading it I thought that Benard had created just another anti-feminist book. But I was wrong. It's obvious that she views certain segments of the feminist camp as a little over the top, perhaps a little too serious, but still respects and honors the feminists of the past and those to come in the future. Benard's humor hits most the target most of the time. Which brings me to my first warning: If you're uptight about your ideology, about feminism, you're guaranteed to have a least one of your sacred cows sacrificed. Benard leaves no one unscathed, whether it's New Age herbalists or macho guys with too much testosterone. Benard shows several characters, both men and women, who are disgusted with what they see around them and are just trying to find their way. Lisa finds makeup disgusting and macho men sexist. Her work partner, Justin, just really wants to belong and, most importantly, have someone to love. Benard is going in the right direction, but I don't think she went far enough. True, this book is supposed to be a politically relevant humorous fantasy. We're not supposed to get hung up on the specifics. So maybe what I'm about to argue would ruin Benard's entire story. There are two fallacies presented here that made me decide that, while I did enjoy reading "Turning on the Girls", I ultimately do NOT like the book's message. First of all, Benard presents the notorious and absolutely wrong view of global sisterhood. No where in the book do I remember a character being described in terms of race. Only after I had finished reading did I realize that I had pictured in my mind every single character as white. There's no mention as to how women were able to mend their fences and work together. Even more importantly, where did all the conservative women go? They're not all silly girls who wear long nails and makeup and cow tail to their man. The leap she makes in this regard -- with no explanation as to how all the various feminists worked together nor an explanation as to what happened to all the patriarchal women -- is disturbing because it helps to continue the fallacy that all feminists are alike. They're just not. Secondly, I'd like to know why Benard didn't include a single male who was egalitarian. With the exception of one man, Lisa's final love interest, not a single male in Benard's book is seen as admirable. Yes, her administrative assistant, Justin, is shown in a positive light overall, but he is still presented as a bit of a wimp and lacking a backbone. She gives us stereotype after stereotype of males who aren't affectionate (and need pets to learn how to be a caretaker) or men who are slobs (tell that to my brother in-law who rants about my sister's constant creation of clutter!). True, this all part of the humor, but it's all easy targets. Going after macho and wimpy men is easy. So I'm surprised that Benard didn't pick on pro-feminist egalitarian men in this novel. But alas, they're nowhere to be seen in the text... I wish that the message of Benard's book was as good as her presentation, but it isn't. "Turning on the Girls" is a great read (be warned that it takes several pages in the beginning for Benard to grab the reader) and will create a lot of debate and discussion, but it's ultimately flawed.
Rating:
Summary: Humorous feminist fantasy with major flaws regarding gender
Review: Cheryl Benard's second novel, "Turning on the Girls", is going to cause debate wherever it's read. It's part fantasy, part science fiction, part comedy, part novel, part sociology, part . . . well, you get the idea. Don't let the cover of the book deceive you. I can understand why the publishers chose the image they did -- it specifically relates to the main character's attempt to find "acceptable" feminist erotica and her repeated encounters with women and men who keep reverting to the stereotypes of the past. The message you get from the dust jacket -- all the flowers! -- is not an accurate feel of the book's contents. This is a feminist fantasy with a humorous edge. This book confused me for quite awhile. Before I even started reading it I thought that Benard had created just another anti-feminist book. But I was wrong. It's obvious that she views certain segments of the feminist camp as a little over the top, perhaps a little too serious, but still respects and honors the feminists of the past and those to come in the future. Benard's humor hits most the target most of the time. Which brings me to my first warning: If you're uptight about your ideology, about feminism, you're guaranteed to have a least one of your sacred cows sacrificed. Benard leaves no one unscathed, whether it's New Age herbalists or macho guys with too much testosterone. Benard shows several characters, both men and women, who are disgusted with what they see around them and are just trying to find their way. Lisa finds makeup disgusting and macho men sexist. Her work partner, Justin, just really wants to belong and, most importantly, have someone to love. Benard is going in the right direction, but I don't think she went far enough. True, this book is supposed to be a politically relevant humorous fantasy. We're not supposed to get hung up on the specifics. So maybe what I'm about to argue would ruin Benard's entire story. There are two fallacies presented here that made me decide that, while I did enjoy reading "Turning on the Girls", I ultimately do NOT like the book's message. First of all, Benard presents the notorious and absolutely wrong view of global sisterhood. No where in the book do I remember a character being described in terms of race. Only after I had finished reading did I realize that I had pictured in my mind every single character as white. There's no mention as to how women were able to mend their fences and work together. Even more importantly, where did all the conservative women go? They're not all silly girls who wear long nails and makeup and cow tail to their man. The leap she makes in this regard -- with no explanation as to how all the various feminists worked together nor an explanation as to what happened to all the patriarchal women -- is disturbing because it helps to continue the fallacy that all feminists are alike. They're just not. Secondly, I'd like to know why Benard didn't include a single male who was egalitarian. With the exception of one man, Lisa's final love interest, not a single male in Benard's book is seen as admirable. Yes, her administrative assistant, Justin, is shown in a positive light overall, but he is still presented as a bit of a wimp and lacking a backbone. She gives us stereotype after stereotype of males who aren't affectionate (and need pets to learn how to be a caretaker) or men who are slobs (tell that to my brother in-law who rants about my sister's constant creation of clutter!). True, this all part of the humor, but it's all easy targets. Going after macho and wimpy men is easy. So I'm surprised that Benard didn't pick on pro-feminist egalitarian men in this novel. But alas, they're nowhere to be seen in the text... I wish that the message of Benard's book was as good as her presentation, but it isn't. "Turning on the Girls" is a great read (be warned that it takes several pages in the beginning for Benard to grab the reader) and will create a lot of debate and discussion, but it's ultimately flawed.
Rating: 
Summary: Started Slow Ended GREAT!
Review: I thought this book was a bit of a slow starter, but after about the first 75 pages I was hooked! The story is engaging and the themes of matriarchy vs. patriarchy really make you think. Cheryl Benard also has a gift for NOT treating these issues as if there is one is right and one is wrong. Lots of gray areas going on here! Bottom line is this is a HIGHLY amusing, enjoyable and thought provoking novel!!
Rating:
Summary: Started Slow Ended GREAT!
Review: I thought this book was a bit of a slow starter, but after about the first 75 pages I was hooked! The story is engaging and the themes of matriarchy vs. patriarchy really make you think. Cheryl Benard also has a gift for NOT treating these issues as if there is one is right and one is wrong. Lots of gray areas going on here! Bottom line is this is a HIGHLY amusing, enjoyable and thought provoking novel!!
Rating:
Summary: Read on a whim
Review: I was perusing the shelf at the bookstore, not looking for anything in particular when I came across this book. After finding a comfy chair, I started reading it before I even left the store. It was a fascinating take on life where women were the expected leaders and pacesetters and men were kept at guarded facilities until they were ready to integrate into society. From a psychology and mildly feminist background, this book entertained me from cover to cover. I think that it was best that I found this book by mistake or I would never have stumbled upon it to read.
With that, keep in mind that you want to read this book for the story and not the practicality of waking up tomorrow to a world as described in the book. I am not suggesting that it is impossible, just that change like that described would take many years to progress.
This is a good choice for a lighthearted novel exploring the 'what-ifs' of women domination and the pit falls of falling in love against the rules.
Rating:
Summary: Slavery Can Be Funny
Review: I wonder how funny the previous reviewers would consider this book if it were about enslaving African-Americans or Jews -- or women.
Rating:
Summary: NOT a "feminist" novel but a good light-hearted beach book
Review: Jennifer Crusie meets Gloria Steinem and a good time is had by all. The author makes no secret of her intentions here -- from the start she explicitly says that her sci-fi premise (the feminists have taken over and are trying to figure out what to do with all those incorrigible men) is not plausible. But who cares? As she says, if a man like Orwell can write a novel with talking animal characters, she's "entitled." Although a light read, the author's detailed knowledge of the various genres of "erotica" and feminist writings about it (from de Sade to romance novels to Paglia to Ayn Rand) sustains the book intellectually. The Orwell reference fits, but only if you think Animal Farm and not 1984. It definitely is not one of those angry, serious 1980s "feminist sci-fi" books like Margaret Atwood's "A Handmaid's Tale" or Suzy McKee Charnas'"Walk to the End of the Earth." If your expectations are more along the lines of Connie Willis' lighter works, the Bridget Jones series, or even ... romance queen Jennifer Crusie, you won't be disappointed. One final warning -- despite the packaging, this book is not erotica.
Rating:
Summary: NOT a "feminist" novel but a good light-hearted beach book
Review: Jennifer Crusie meets Gloria Steinem and a good time is had by all. The author makes no secret of her intentions here -- from the start she explicitly says that her sci-fi premise (the feminists have taken over and are trying to figure out what to do with all those incorrigible men) is not plausible. But who cares? As she says, if a man like Orwell can write a novel with talking animal characters, she's "entitled." Although a light read, the author's detailed knowledge of the various genres of "erotica" and feminist writings about it (from de Sade to romance novels to Paglia to Ayn Rand) sustains the book intellectually. The Orwell reference fits, but only if you think Animal Farm and not 1984. It definitely is not one of those angry, serious 1980s "feminist sci-fi" books like Margaret Atwood's "A Handmaid's Tale" or Suzy McKee Charnas'"Walk to the End of the Earth." If your expectations are more along the lines of Connie Willis' lighter works, the Bridget Jones series, or even ... romance queen Jennifer Crusie, you won't be disappointed. One final warning -- despite the packaging, this book is not erotica.
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