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The Visceral Tear
Transgressive underground literature is alive and well in the UK. A woman living in Manchester has written a long and difficult experimental ode to her lifelong masturbatory habits, which is by turns shocking, funny, sad, distressing, erotic, contradictory, infuriating, vulnerable, aggressive...Every single chapter entirely based purely around sexual fantasies and memories and descriptions of orgasm. Something to upset everyone in here, this is up there with Genet, Burroughs or Sade for explicit and taboo content and the stream of consciousness prose is often impressive. Heterosexual younger men should read this book, they may learn some things. And older men come to think of it, and any woman hung up in guilt about their sexuality, or caught in the sugar and spice trap! Highest possible recommendation for anyone interested in human sexuality in all its beautiful and troubling forms. (Simon M)
242 pages, Paperback
Published September 14, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 11, 2016
It would be no exaggeration to crown Sue Fox the Queen of Cuntdom. No, I’m not being disparaging here: The Visceral Tear is a celebration of all things relating to the female genitalia. I’m being tactful, of course, and the fact of the matter is that Fox not only picks up where Germaine Greer left off in the 70s but moves things forward into the 21st century – or should that be the 21st cuntury? – and then some.
Sue’s prose style presents a powerful, singular voice, as she writes on every imaginable aspect of the vagina. From masturbation to menstruation via penetration and the perineum, she leaves nothing untouched, metaphorically or literally. At times positively gynaecological, at others highly spiritual, Fox writes with a frankness that’s refreshing. To many, it will be shocking. But such a reaction says more of the individual and of society than of the writing itself.
Specifically, Fox explores all aspects of ‘cunt’, revelling in the power of both the word and the organ. Why do people take such issue with those four simple letters? Why, she asks, is something so wonderful deemed so offensive? What are people scared of? In Sue’s hands, cunt is not a dirty word. It’s the only word. To be clear: The Visceral Tear is the ultimate book of cunt. She presents cunt as totemic, all-powerful, all consuming, as a symbol and as a thing; the key to and the core of what it means to be a woman, the very definition and embodiment of female sexuality.
Sue writes brilliant filth, but she equally writes eloquently and philosophically, blending fiction and autobiography with academic treatise. Like her subject, she’s a versatile writer, and The Visceral Tear is many things: powerful, profound, moving, uncomfortable, overwhelming, gritty, witty, honest, blunt, terrifying, audacious, funny.
Is it porn? In places, yes. But then, what constitutes pornography is as much a matter of taste as anything. And Sue Fox is abundantly aware of this. She wants you to get off on this book, and to be repelled, often at the same time. The Visceral Tear is a bold work which unflinchingly challenges all sensibilities. It’s because of this that The Visceral Tear is an essential read, for all sexes and genders.
Sue’s prose style presents a powerful, singular voice, as she writes on every imaginable aspect of the vagina. From masturbation to menstruation via penetration and the perineum, she leaves nothing untouched, metaphorically or literally. At times positively gynaecological, at others highly spiritual, Fox writes with a frankness that’s refreshing. To many, it will be shocking. But such a reaction says more of the individual and of society than of the writing itself.
Specifically, Fox explores all aspects of ‘cunt’, revelling in the power of both the word and the organ. Why do people take such issue with those four simple letters? Why, she asks, is something so wonderful deemed so offensive? What are people scared of? In Sue’s hands, cunt is not a dirty word. It’s the only word. To be clear: The Visceral Tear is the ultimate book of cunt. She presents cunt as totemic, all-powerful, all consuming, as a symbol and as a thing; the key to and the core of what it means to be a woman, the very definition and embodiment of female sexuality.
Sue writes brilliant filth, but she equally writes eloquently and philosophically, blending fiction and autobiography with academic treatise. Like her subject, she’s a versatile writer, and The Visceral Tear is many things: powerful, profound, moving, uncomfortable, overwhelming, gritty, witty, honest, blunt, terrifying, audacious, funny.
Is it porn? In places, yes. But then, what constitutes pornography is as much a matter of taste as anything. And Sue Fox is abundantly aware of this. She wants you to get off on this book, and to be repelled, often at the same time. The Visceral Tear is a bold work which unflinchingly challenges all sensibilities. It’s because of this that The Visceral Tear is an essential read, for all sexes and genders.
January 25, 2022
Sue is an artist, photographer and sex Maverick, fascinated by death and even more so by life, the pages of this transgressive novel are poetic and a true work of art.
Each chapter is a diary entry, giving the reader a voyeristic approach to the world of this artist. There is fantasy mixed with reality, the ecstasy of really being able to lose yourself in moments of pure pleasure and find yourself at the same time. Sue has opened up and articulated beautifully and artistically just how powerful it is to be a woman. She certainly doesn't shy away from any parts of her life and like many works of art Sue isn't always painting a pretty picture with her imagination, there are times when The Visceral Tear becomes shockingly dark especially as she recounts memories from her childhood but such a novel needed the brutality to bring the essence of what the story was about, it screams life and sex through every page.
The Visceral Tear is more than a book, it's a modern day bible; a mission statement and manifesto for women who, I believe can relate to at least one feeling or emotion Sue describes within her novel. Fantasies are entwined alongside historical and educational information testament to the hard work and years of research Sue has gifted this book.
Sue has made me feel empowered as a woman, as Oscar Wilde famously said "Everything in the world is about sex except Sex. Sex is about power" and boy does Sue reclaim her power! Sue is the voice for women!
Each chapter is a diary entry, giving the reader a voyeristic approach to the world of this artist. There is fantasy mixed with reality, the ecstasy of really being able to lose yourself in moments of pure pleasure and find yourself at the same time. Sue has opened up and articulated beautifully and artistically just how powerful it is to be a woman. She certainly doesn't shy away from any parts of her life and like many works of art Sue isn't always painting a pretty picture with her imagination, there are times when The Visceral Tear becomes shockingly dark especially as she recounts memories from her childhood but such a novel needed the brutality to bring the essence of what the story was about, it screams life and sex through every page.
The Visceral Tear is more than a book, it's a modern day bible; a mission statement and manifesto for women who, I believe can relate to at least one feeling or emotion Sue describes within her novel. Fantasies are entwined alongside historical and educational information testament to the hard work and years of research Sue has gifted this book.
Sue has made me feel empowered as a woman, as Oscar Wilde famously said "Everything in the world is about sex except Sex. Sex is about power" and boy does Sue reclaim her power! Sue is the voice for women!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews