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3.38 of 5 stars
We may not admit it, but we’re all curious about what goes on in other people’s bedrooms. After all, we live in a world saturated with... read full description

reviews

Jun 20, 2009
Marjorie rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Paula Derrow is a superb editor. The essays in Behind the Bedroom Door are a terrific mix of funny, gasp-inducing, infuriating, heartrending. And yes, shockingly honest. Some of them essays talk about stuff we just don't talk about. I wanted to bitchslap some of the contributors and go out for coffee with others -- but I had strong reactions to almost everything in the collection, which is rare for me. Nothing was pretentious, boring or fake-hot.

I think my faves were Hope Edelman on More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Jan 26, 2009
Katherine rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I just started reading this book last night, ad I started with Hope Edelman's essay. I LOVED it! I can't wait to read more of the collection.
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
May 24, 2009
Emily Jane rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Behind the Bedroom Door is a very interesting, fast-reading collection of stories about the most personal lives of the women who wrote it. The premise, as presented by its editors, is to stand in for the deeply personal conversations many women are too afraid to have, even with their dearest friends. Some of the stories concern lesbianism, some abuse, some rape, some adultery, and some plain and simple love; all are intimate narratives that affirm women's sexuality.

Personally, I love More...
Mar 02, 2009
Elevate Difference rated it: 4 of 5 stars
“Daring. Provocative. Unflinchingly honest,” the book jacket proclaims of this anthology subtitled “getting it, giving it, loving it, missing it.” It is sex, and Behind the Bedroom Door is a collection of essays about sex from twenty-six contemporary women writers.

Don’t be confused. While some of these essays are sexy, this writing is neither erotic nor academic. These are personal essays covering points across the adult female life cycle, the thoughts and feelings of individual wome More...
Oct 24, 2009
Marnie rated it: 3 of 5 stars
It seems like I'm giving every book I read lately three stars. I'd give this book five stars for many of the essays inside as well as for its refreshing honesty about sex, a topic that often gets a lot of sugarcoating and exaggeration. But a small number of the essays didn't totally capture my attention. In a few instances, I blended the different stories in my head. Were there similarities that caused a natural overlap? Or did I not read it right? Maybe a little of both. I definitely appreciate More...
Feb 23, 2009
Jessica rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This collection of essays by women writers takes a highly personal look at numerous aspects of sexuality -- first experiences, married sex, pregnant sex, wanting more sex, not wanting sex, worrying about whether you want the right amount of sex, one-night stands, new relationships, old relationship, young sex, old sex, sex with women, sex with men, sex across various demographic divides. The writers express themselves openly, often movingly and often with a great deal of humor. While never gratu More...
Jan 02, 2009
Gabby rated it: 5 of 5 stars
My friend Paula wrote/edited these books and I love the first chapter so far...not a smut book but very REAL. Highly recommended!
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Aug 22, 2011
Erin rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Just fantastic--I loved pretty much every essay, even the ones that were a little off the wall. The thing about sex is that everyone thinks about it in some way at some point (that's why I love the book's subheading), but rarely do we talk about it honestly. Even in our current "anything goes" society, we're act like 13-year old boys, giggling and tittering and shocked if the subject comes up. I mean, come on--Jersey Shore has a "smush room." This is not how adults (espec More...
Feb 26, 2009
Needleroozer rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I read this book to review for the Feminist Review blog. Once my review runs on the blog, I will post it here.

“Daring. Provocative. Unflinchingly honest,” the book jacket proclaims of this anthology subtitled “getting it, giving it, loving it, missing it. “It” is sex, and Behind the Bedroom Door is a collection of essay about sex from twenty-six contemporary women writers.

Don’t be confused. While some of these essays are sexy, this writing is neither erotic nor academic. More...
Oct 03, 2011
Tom rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is an excellent collection of women's brief memoirs of sexual experiences and feelings, as well as the relationships in which the experiences took place. Although reviewed as a book for women, these chapters can provide considerable insight for men, as the authors are often incredibly open and revealing. Recommended reading for men as well as women.
Mar 28, 2009
Connie is currently reading it
This book was edited by my good friend Paula Derrow. It is full of fearless anecdotes about sex from a well chosen group of women writers. It's a fun quick read, but then you find yourself thinking about it a lot afterwards.
Sep 28, 2009
N. rated it: 2 of 5 stars
This book did not make me happy. I hardly liked what any of the writers had to say. Too many of these chapters felt like one vapid magazine article after another. Not much depth or perception here.
Apr 08, 2009
Erika rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Interesting, although I don't know anybody like the women who wrote these essays. A lot of affairs and one-night stands. Is everyone really doing that? Made me feel very traditional but lucky.
Apr 25, 2009
Jodi rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I really loved some of the essays in this book. Such a wide range of people expressed such varied thoughts and experiences that sucked me in to the point that I couldn't put this book down.
Mar 31, 2009
Andrea rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This book has started out really well. It is a quick read and is interesting and provacative and says a lot of what a person might say if totally uncensored and their audience is not going to judge them at all. I'm only a couple of essays in, but I am captivated. If only we could be as candid with our lovers and friends... perhaps the world and the bedroom would be a better place.
This was a great book and an easy read. It was better than a harlequin because it was real women talking More...
Mar 10, 2009
Monica rated it: 3 of 5 stars
It's hard to review compilations sometimes. Some essays I liked, some not so much. Some I skimmed. I'll give it 3 stars, but to be honest, I was a little disappointed, but it was better than "okay."
Sep 28, 2009
Molly rated it: 3 of 5 stars
this is a great book - to be read over time. do NOT read all at once!
Sep 16, 2009
Laura rated it: 1 of 5 stars
I hated this book. It was recommended in a parenting magazine and I just don't know why. I didn't finish it but none of the essays I read had any redeeming value to them.
Jan 25, 2009
Elaine rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This was just a fabulous book. So many women, so many different stories, and all with the same emotions bound up in the most intimate of subjects. This is something I'd recommend to every woman I know.
Apr 14, 2009
Catherine rated it: 4 of 5 stars
A refreshingly honest, hilarious, heartbreaking and touching look at the very different experiences women have in bed (and in the kitchen, and on the beach, and in a friend's bathroom, and...).
Dec 10, 2008
Paula rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I like it--because I edited it. But it's a great, unexpected, sneak peek at what really goes on in the bedrooms of women today.
2 comments like (1 person liked it)
Dec 27, 2011
Constance rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Dec 21, 2011
Elizabeth rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Dec 16, 2011
Shannonmde rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Dec 13, 2011
Juliana rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Sep 27, 2011
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Aug 22, 2011
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