Book Review: Susie Bright, editor, Herotica
Yes, I went on an erotica kick. Why do you ask?
58) Herotica, edited by Susie Bright, 153 pages
This groundbreaking 1988 anthology of erotica written by women still stands up to inspection nearly twenty years later. Instead of being a mix of standout stories and duds, this one is of a more uniform quality. There is nothing really shocking or controversial here, this is not a confrontational book. For the time, however, it represented a great step forward, and, gratifyingly, these stories, by and large, hold up.
Even more remarkable is the fact that these stories were almost all written before what could be called the age of professional women's erotica writers. These were amateurs, giving it their all. And what they have to say is truly fascinating. Some are tender, some steamy, some poignant; all represent a female perspective. A perspective that, until this book was published, was sorely lacking.
Interesting both for its literary significance as well as its actual content. Definitely worth checking out, especially for those interested in charting the movement from its beginning. It is (ready for the bad pun?) a seminal work.
58) Herotica, edited by Susie Bright, 153 pages
This groundbreaking 1988 anthology of erotica written by women still stands up to inspection nearly twenty years later. Instead of being a mix of standout stories and duds, this one is of a more uniform quality. There is nothing really shocking or controversial here, this is not a confrontational book. For the time, however, it represented a great step forward, and, gratifyingly, these stories, by and large, hold up.
Even more remarkable is the fact that these stories were almost all written before what could be called the age of professional women's erotica writers. These were amateurs, giving it their all. And what they have to say is truly fascinating. Some are tender, some steamy, some poignant; all represent a female perspective. A perspective that, until this book was published, was sorely lacking.
Interesting both for its literary significance as well as its actual content. Definitely worth checking out, especially for those interested in charting the movement from its beginning. It is (ready for the bad pun?) a seminal work.