24th out of 146 books
—
35 voters
Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys: Professionals Writing on Life, Love, Money, and Sex
by
David Henry Sterry (Goodreads Author),
Audacia Ray (Goodreads Author) , Jennifer Blowdryer , Georgina Spelvin , Kirk Read , Veronica Monet , Jeannette Angell (Goodreads Author) , Annie Sprinkle
,
more...
The only thing the writers in this book have in common is that they've exchanged sex for money. They're PhDs and dropouts, soccer moms and jailbirds, $2,500-a-night call girls and $10 crack hos, and everything in between. This anthology lends a voice to an underrepresented population that is simultaneously reviled and worshipped. Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys is ...more
Paperback, 333 pages
Published
July 7th 2009
by Soft Skull Press
(first published July 1st 2009)
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The only thing every writer in this book has in common is that they've exchanged sexual services for money. Ph.D.s to dropouts, soccer moms to jailbirds, $2500 a night callgirls to $10 crack hos, and everything in between. This anthology gives voice to an underrepresented population that is simultaneously shamed and glamorized, glorified and vilified, reviled and worshipped.
Hos, Hookers, Call-girls and Rentboys is a collection of short memoirs, rants, confessions, nightmares, journal...more
Hos, Hookers, Call-girls and Rentboys is a collection of short memoirs, rants, confessions, nightmares, journal...more
This book is split up into 5 sections (like the title implies...): life, love, work, sex, and money. And under each section several different people (sometimes introduced by David Henry Sterry, sometimes not, which at first made it difficult for me to know when we were switching authors) tell a story somehow involving this theme.
Like all anthologies, some stories are better than others. Some stories are hilarious, poignant, tragic, or beautiful, and some make you wonder if maybe yo...more
Like all anthologies, some stories are better than others. Some stories are hilarious, poignant, tragic, or beautiful, and some make you wonder if maybe yo...more
Sophia
rated it
As the title implies, Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys: Professionals writing on Life, Love, Money, and Sex this is a diverse anthology with contributions from individuals who have been paid for sexual services. Both their life stories and writing styles diverge greatly, ranging from PhDs to abused children, and from poems to interviews to autobiographical short stories. Since each piece is self contained, it's very easy to pick up and put down; unfortunately I didn't miss the volume when...more
I picked up this book because, 1. I was shocked it was on the shelves of the public library and 2. the lovely Audacia Ray is a contributor. I have had a hard time putting it down for the other books I HAVE to read. The stories are almost all excellent, with the section on relationships with family my favorite by far. What I love most about this book is that there is a third-wave feminist, sex positive vibe that refuses to sugar coat anything - which is what sex positive feminism *should* be but ...more
The best sex worker anthology I have ever read. And I have read them all. Literally. Way better than Working Sex, and I will paraphrase a line from my review of that book: "This should come with a sticker that says, 'Now with 25% less San Francisco Bullshit!'" ACTUAL diversity of opinions--like, you know, a pimp! Or a bunch of people who needed to be anonymous! Standouts: Sterry's chapter openers, mochaluv, Jodi Sh. Doff (too good), Kirk Read, Audacia Ray, a bunch of others I forgot bu...more
The difficulty with a book like this is, since there are dozens of writers with varying stories, some of them I loved and some of them I couldn't stand. However, I felt the need to finish the book because I was worried if I didn't, I would miss my favorite story! I love what Sterry did, putting this compilation together and giving a voice to so many different sex workers. It really does run the gamut and challenge some stereotypes. I admire his attempt to uncover the different worlds of sex work...more
(Originally published in The Skinny magazine)
Do you see what they did there? Despite the wordy title, the editors have managed to steer clear of the terms ‘sex workers’ and ‘prostitutes’, both of which invariably piss somebody off. This tactic is noteworthy, because here we have an anthology bringing together the broadest range of contributors with experience of the sex industry: from the big screen to the street, phone sex to stripping, and incalls to escorting. Between them, they’v...more
Do you see what they did there? Despite the wordy title, the editors have managed to steer clear of the terms ‘sex workers’ and ‘prostitutes’, both of which invariably piss somebody off. This tactic is noteworthy, because here we have an anthology bringing together the broadest range of contributors with experience of the sex industry: from the big screen to the street, phone sex to stripping, and incalls to escorting. Between them, they’v...more
This is an attractively packaged anthology of first-person oral histories -- each ranging in length from two paragraphs to five to six pages max -- penned by people in The Life: higher-priced call girls, street hookers, brothel workers, pimps, men and boys working off the streets or on Craigslist, S&M workers, trannies, strippers putting themselves through college, drug addicts hooking on the side, and a lot of other people whose modus operandi and identity are not always well elaborated.
...more
...more
A bold, sometimes raw, collection of essays/stories by those that populate the various levels of the sex trades. Not for the meek this writing is eye-opening in every way. The essays/stories will make you laugh or infuriate you while providing a critical bridge to the many damaged souls that have been swallowed up by this business. I was amazed at how powerful the writing was any almost all of these people were non-professional (writers). Sure at times I winced and forced my way through but...more
Zo
added it
Some fantastic stories that pull you to different corners of the dark, seedy universe that most of us have never experienced. Some will make you feel intense pain and hatred, especially the section on exploited youth. But like most multi-authored books, some of the poems and stories just don't work. Worth it for about 10-15 gems.
This book did a wonderful job of portraying the range of sex worker experiences, from the crack ho who hustles to get high to the rent boy servicing a sweet older lady to the famous porn star to the myriad horrifying stories of pimps and abuse.
It is an engrossing read and I now want to seek out the memoirs of many of the contributers.
It is an engrossing read and I now want to seek out the memoirs of many of the contributers.
Overall an entertaining and educational read. There were some really amazing stories, and some mediocre ones, as is the case with most anthologies. Some perspectives interested me more than others. My main problems with this book was the fact that it seemed to be heavily skewed towards the 'gay rent boy' and 'poor street hooker' perspectives - I would've liked to see more stories from straight male prostitutes and higher class call girls to even out the ratio - and the introductions written by S...more
So far doesn't disappoint, and such a variety of experiences! Wish I'd been able to contribute. Why am I always irrationally jealous of Audacia Ray? Can't tell you which page I'm on, as I'm skipping around delightfully as one can do with a really good anthology. It's cool that D Henry Sterry, who was prostituted as a child, instead of joining the anti-traffiking movement, joined the sex worker's rights movement instead, recognizing his experience as isolated (though not isolated enough that the ...more
hey.emily
rated it
The diverse collection of sex workers compiled in this anthology is amazing. The expertise and love with which Sterry tied everything together makes me want to check out his other work, including his memoir.
For anyone who has read anything about sex work and sexual politics: read this next. For anyone who hasn't read anything: start here.
For anyone who has read anything about sex work and sexual politics: read this next. For anyone who hasn't read anything: start here.
What an incredible mix. Most of us are blind to the this world, yet our beliefs and "values" judge at even seeing the title of the book. What a gift to expanding our world, what a challenge to suspend judgment, and perhaps even think, "I could have done that, I could have taken that path..." and then reflect, is that so "bad?"
Thanks DHS for doing this...
Thanks DHS for doing this...
Lindsey
rated it
Recommends it for:
Jennifer Bigheart
Recommended to Lindsey by:
Saw @ Barnes and Noble
Some parts seemed to be slow, but for the most part this book was very interesting, confessional, touching and funny.
Krissy
marked it as to-read
NYT review: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/books/...
there are some really amazing stories in here. i loved all the different voices that are included in this book. props to sterry for pulling it all together.
Pam
marked it as to-read
interesting review in the NYT Book Review
Bob Cutler
marked it as to-read
reviewed in the online Sunday ny times 8/23/09
via The Rumpus
Interesting book. Some of the stories were more interesting for me than others. The shockingly young age that some of these people got to me. I can't even imagine what some of these people went through. Good read.
Everyone must read this book, not because I have a story in it, but because many authors are in one neat little book about the greatest profession...
I wanted t like this far more, but to me, it re-enforced stereotypes, or perhaps it merely focused heavily on drug addicted street workers. In any case, I, who usually love sex worker books, didn't really care for this.
Well, I read a lot of it, but not all. Had to return it to the library. It was pretty good, but not phenomenal. Some of the essays, of course, were better than others. May get it out again at some point.
i read most but not all of the essays. wonderfully vivid accounts from a variety of perspectives on selling sex.
“If you want to reach the ocean of your soul, then die to all your old life, and then be silent.”
Not as shocking as I would've thought but quite intriguing still.
In this collection : Lele
Tashqeen
marked it as to-read
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David Henry Sterry
David Henry Sterry is an author, performer, educator, activist, and a man who hasn’t worn matching socks in 20 years. David is the author of 11 books, the first of which was published in 2001. Prior to becoming an author, David was a professional actor and screenwriter.
The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published (aka: Putting Your Passion into Prin...more
More about David Henry Sterry...
David Henry Sterry is an author, performer, educator, activist, and a man who hasn’t worn matching socks in 20 years. David is the author of 11 books, the first of which was published in 2001. Prior to becoming an author, David was a professional actor and screenwriter.
The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published (aka: Putting Your Passion into Prin...more
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