Book Review: Tampa

This is one of those books that you feel a bit uncomfortable about reading in public. Tampa, by Alissa Nutting is about a gorgeous twenty-six year old woman, Celeste Price, married into money, and beginning her first year as a middle grade teacher. But here’s the thing: Celeste is also obsessed with pubescent boys. In this book, Nutting details Celeste’s single-minded pursuit of her eighth grade students in explicit detail. This novel was inspired by Debra LaFave’s case in 2005.

You don’t often hear about female sex offenders, and I was intrigued by this book because it seems to address sex with minors from that unique perspective. There seem to be many more stories told about older men and younger women.

Tampa offers some great commentary on a bunch of things, for example how differently a relationship involving an older woman with a young boy is treated, both by society and by the law, versus how a relationship between an older man and a young girl is treated.

Along those same lines, there is a clear downplaying of young female sexuality. Young woman who are involved in sexual situations tend to be assumed victims, and their right to be sexual beings is taken away from them, where as if a young man is involved in a sexual situation, it is assumed that they wanted it.

It was also interesting to see what somebody who is young and beautiful is able to get away with. For example, here is a quote from LeFave’s lawyer, John Fitzgibbons: “To place Debbie into a Florida state women’s penitentiary, to place an attractive young woman in that kind of hellhole, is like putting a piece of raw meat in with the lions.” Spoiler alert: Debra LaFave didn’t go to prison. But if Debra LaFave were a man who was attracted to children, he would definitely have had to do jailtime.

While this book was difficult to read, I’m glad that I did.Tampa offers a unique and interesting perspective on an often considered taboo sexual preference, and as somebody who considers themself to be sex-positive, I think it’s important to find empathy for people whose sexualities are very different from our own. I can’t say that I would recommend it to every person that I know, but if you are looking to feel challenged and more than a bit uncomfortable, go forth.

Rating: 8/10