Turning On The Girls: Summary and book reviews of Turning On The Girls by Cheryl Benard, plus links to an excerpt from Turning On The Girls and a biography of Cheryl Benard.

It's 2000 something, the world has just been taken over by women, and things are wonderful, or at least they will be just as soon as the new rulers finish fixing things. And here's Lisa, a dedicated young employee of the new government, ready to do her part. Why does she have stacks of pornography, love stories, and romance novels on her desk? Well, that's her job! To come up with politically correct sexual fantasies for women. No more lovesick simpering, no more masochistic daydreams! Women are going to learn to be turned on by healthier, more dignified fantasies -- just as soon as Lisa can come up with some. And if you think that sounds like a fun assignment, why don't you try it. Don't tell her boss, but Lisa's pretty much totally stuck! Fortunately, she has her trusty assistant, Justin. He's about to graduate from the Revolution's men's reeducation program, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to make this project a success. Working in the Ministry for all of these very serious ladies can wear a guy out, but Justin keeps himself entertained with a private project of his own: to investigate whether, contrary to appearances, liberated women actually do have a sense of humor. Meanwhile, not all men are pleased with this kinder, gentler world. Harmony, a secret men's movement, is planning a violent uprising to put women back in their place. Lisa and Justin are recruited by security forces to infiltrate Harmony. Before long they find themselves in Zone Six -- where the un-reformable men reside -- on the run, trying to save the world as they know it. Cheryl Benard's deftly comic novel gives us a chance to envision a world designed by women and to reflect on how such a world would differ from our own.

Media Reviews

Publisher's Weekly [A] rollicking good novel.... Deeper than a mere what-if fantasy, this contra-Atwoodesque social fiction may satirize political correctness, but it also manages to salute present and future feminist triumphs, albeit in roundabout fashion.... this book will succeed primarily through word of mouth, of which there will be plenty.   Kirkus Reviews Futuristic satire with a scattershot approach Benard (Moghul Buffet, 1998) targets everything from goddess worship and holistic healing to the self-righteous excesses of 1970s-style feminism, enlivening her somewhat cerebral style with plenty of erotic snippets.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by Angela
Comedic Relief!
This book is great for us older, tired feminists as well as the young daring ones, and any and all who think that we can make a better world than the one we have. So much "education" without even knowing it! Laughter is good for the...   Read More

Review (not rated) by go2yourlibrary
Our discussion about this book was really good! Half our members thought this book was hilarious--funny!! witty!! a comment on society!! The other half of the group thought it insulting, patronizing and sexist.
Character and plot certainly...   Read More

Review (not rated) by go2yourlibrary
Our bookclub, Words And Flava, has decided to read this book for our August selection. We will let you know how our discussion goes!

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