books 2007: Full Exposure, by Susie Bright / Three in Love, and my failure to finish it

[supercheesegirl]

Full title: Full Exposure: Opening Up to Your Sexual Creativity & Erotic Expression. I don't know, I guess I was expecting something more? Or maybe it's a case of preaching to the choir? I don't think I learned much of anything new. I did like the way she emphasized that sexual creativity isn't just about getting laid; it's a current that runs through your entire life, whether you're getting laid regularly or not. I was actually really pleased to read that, because I have some celibate friends and I liked recognizing the fact that, although they're not having sex, they are of course still sexual beings, still inspired by their sexual creativity, still expressing themselves erotically in their own way. Puts a whole new spin on nuns, I think.

My favorite parts were Bright's own stories about her personal experience, so maybe I should just see if she's got a detailed naughty memoir out there. I also really enjoyed her language--she's so bold and fun and straightforward, but at the same time you don't feel uncomfortable with her tone. She's like a confidante, like your crazy sexy aunt who's been everywhere and done everything. So I would definitely recommend this book for people who actually do need to work on opening up to their sexual creativity. But, you know, maybe not as useful for me, and I'm glad I only got it from the library and didn't buy a copy.

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I also feel that I should mention another failure to finish a book: Three in Love: Menages a Trois from Ancient to Modern Times, by Barbara M. Foster, Michael Foster, and Letha Hadady. A book about threesomes, by a trio! Sadly, it was deathly boring. Can you even believe that? It was as if they looked at all of history to come up with examples of threesomes, and felt they had to use every single example they found regardless of how well documented it was or how much they could say about it. It was like, "There was this famous musician, and he had a wife, and he had a mistress! They were a menage a trois! Then there was this famous artist, and he had a mentor, and he slept with his mentor's wife! They were a menage a trois too!" Chapters and chapters like that. I'm finding myself just really not interested in picking it up again. Off to the library book fair with that one.

Comments

[handmadedark.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to read a Susie Bright book for a number of years, but I just haven't gotten to it yet. It's almost ten years old now, but I've heard good things about Sexual State of the Union.

[deadwinter.livejournal.com]

and felt they had to use every single example they found regardless of how well documented it was or how much they could say about it.

I wonder if they were just trying really hard to not make it too titillating or sensationalist, and to make it scholarly, and did a tad too well on both accounts.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

That's certainly plausible.