Murder of Crows discussion

I’m not a fan of the main character Mike for the sole reason his character is… man. I’m not saying I hate that he’s a man, I hate that his personality is “Well, you’re an attractive 18 year old woman, get used to men looking at you with lust,” and, “He’s your dad and you're a child. You don't know what you’re talking about,” and, “I’m a big bad shooter that can outrun anyone just because I can,” as well as referring to Velda as “kid” when their intimate sessions get a little too intense. I hate that he dismisses everyone else ((view spoiler)[especially Sue through the entirety of the book about her accusations of her dad until Mike gets information from other men. He seems to disregard her because she is a “child” but then chooses to make out and flirt with her throughout the book, also gross (hide spoiler)]) and he holds himself above others. I understand that this was first published in the 60s so that’s the expected personality of a man, but I still find it nauseating because a character like him would be written now as an antagonistic narcissist that is rightfully hated. He just seems entitled to all the world has and women are just objects in this book. I don’t even think Velda has a personality outside of “woman” and “Mike’s love interest” in this book. I bet this whole series wouldn’t pass the Bechdel test.

This part is totally on me but I feel like I missed a lot when reading this book because it is number eight in the series so I will have to go back and read the first seven. I don’t think it was detrimental to the plot of this particular book but it would’ve helped with the passing comments of “Well, you know what happened to Kid Hand,” and I’m just bamboozled like, “No, I don’t, please tell me.”

It was interesting to take a look back into some earlier writing styles without coping out for an Agatha Christie book, but I don’t know if I can stand how people are represented in this way without it being intentional (like a satire character). I might still have to get the first books before this just to make myself feel better about starting in the middle of a series, but I don’t know if that means I will finish the entire series (I’m not sure if that means to book thirteen which would be the last book Mickey Spillane wrote of the series or book twenty six when it was continued by Max Allen Collins).