The Best American Erotica 2006

by Susie Bright (Editor), John Updike, David Sedaris

Star-studded and with something for every sexual taste and curiosity

Famous for taking her readers to undiscovered places, Susie Bright has changed the rules for writing about sex. Erotica is no longer under-the-covers reading; it's thrilling literature that showcases the best writing around.

In Best American Erotica 2006, Bright chooses stories that toy with desire in excerpts from some of the most sexually charged and fearless writing of the year. John Updike's story recalls his narrator's first love and how they began to have sex. David Sedaris takes us into his strip poker card room. Tom Perrotta portrays a bored married man whose wife busts him as he navigates his Internet swinger life. Helen Walsh's diary shows a college student in England who drifts from a promising academic career into the arms of prostitutes.

In Best American Erotica 2006, today's most popular writers add their voices to a collection for any reader -- straight, gay, curious -- seeking memorable sex and riveting storytelling.

Contributors

Genres: Erotica, Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Romance, Sexuality

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2006

About the author

Susannah "Susie" Bright (also known as Susie Sexpert) is a writer, speaker, teacher, audio-show host, performer, all on the subject of sexuality. She is one of the first writers/activists referred to as a sex-positive feminist.

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a decade+ long reader of savage love and assorted bodice-ripper smut rags, I know that people get off on everything from pies in the face to midget sex, so I dont know if I was really expecting any continuity from a collection of 'erotic' stories. This book varied a lot, from a homo paean to the butthole to a story about a young girl have sex with the handyman below her parents house. Some were what I would consider 'erotic', but Im just a predominantly straight debutante and cant account for everyone's taste. the others were either boring, gross, or of interest more in a sort of 'so this is what it would be like to sleep with a boi in the carnie tent at the state fair' way. other stories were more about some sexual aspect of life, or memory, like david sedaris' account of playing strip poker at a jr high sleepover. not a terrible read, but not entirely memorable either. I understand why it was $4.98 (new) at green apple.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was working at a porn store when i read this. at work. and was please with the literary-ness of some of the stories. some of the stories are strange (si-fi lesbian story about a small furry many fingered alien in love with some kind of lizard woman), funny (hitler's mustache, which may have been my favorite story in the whole thing), quirky (granny pearl--which is told from the perspective of a string of pearls): but rarely particularly hot. there is exception, "high risk" was a story about gay construction workers on a high rise beam and is pretty fantastic. and tastes of course vary.

[Kristy Cunningham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of these stories were absolute rubbish

[Rosalía · Rating 1 out of 5]

The best part of this book was the intro by Susie Bright. The stories, although well-written, were weird and not titillating at all. In fact, the first "story" was actually a mythological poem. When I got to the story about the inappropriate sexual activity with a minor, I gave up. Let's face it, inappropriate sexual actions with a child is NOT erotica and anyone getting excited about it needs psychological help.

[Amanda BeReckonedwith · Rating 2 out of 5]

there were a couple great lesbian stories here that really worked, but all the big names and the excerpts from longer works were so limp and unable to stand on their own. low titilation factor- i was very disappointed.

[Windy · Rating 1 out of 5]

A couple of the stories seemed like good literature and not just smut intended to titillate... and I'm not sure who exactly some of these stories might appeal to. To each his own. I'll stick to the Nonrequired Reading collections.

[Suz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compilation of short stories. I have to say I was disappointed -not as um, spicy?, as I was hoping for. (or maybe I was looking for cayenne and it was more jalapeno).

[HeavyReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that I need to reread, as I can't remember any of the stories just from looking at the table of contents.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

w-o-w.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh

[Lubena Amen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sexual adult book, of fantasy's.

[Mara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly just a collection of strange stories that barely qualified as erotica; more like "author's personal kinks."

[Kent Winward]

10/28/06 too

[Elusive.Mystery · Rating 1 out of 5]

More of the same-old, same-old.

[Cheri]

Trying the next issue on for size.

[Shailendra]

D

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anthologies are hit and miss.