The Lesbian Kama Sutra

by Kat Harding

The Lesbian Kama Sutra applies the spirit and intention of the original Kama Sutra--the expression of uninhibited pleasure through sex--to the lives of women. Celebrating the love between women with clear, empowering text and a rich visual tapestry of images, the book offers a frank and open discussion of the lesbian sexual experience, revealing the intimate relationships women have with other women.

Background on the historical views and visual representation of lesbians in art is accompanied by detailed instruction on a repertoire of positions and techniques that will help the modern woman enhance her lovemaking skills throughout all stages of life, from the teen to the post-menopausal years. In addition to advice on meeting partners, dating, seduction and relationships, there is information on bisexuality, sex toys and other aspects of same-gender love.

Genres: Lesbian, LGBT, Nonfiction, Queer

144 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[notgettingenough]

When I pointed this out to Manny in a bookstore last night, I just knew he'd flick through it and use it to get cheap goodreads votes without buying it or reading it avidly.

How right was I?

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

PS: Unfortunately I fell asleep while he was adding up his votes last night, so I can't say if he learnt anything.

[Manny]

Leafing through this book earlier today at a local bookstore, I was struck by a passage where the author indignantly reacts to the question (common, she claims) as to whether lesbians can have "real" sex. This brought to mind an exchange from Kissing Jessica Stein which I remember finding very amusing when I saw it a few years ago:

Jessica: But what do lesbians do?

Helen: Well, think about what actually works. That's what lesbians do.
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Not points out that she noticed this book first, so any votes I may have received should really have been hers. Sorry, Not! As soon as your review is up, I will link to it and positively demand that anyone visiting this page go there instead.
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Not's review, containing steamy revelations about her personal life, is now available here. As I said, don't vote for me, vote for her! Though this is getting confusingly self-referential.

[Honeythief]

Calling this illustrated lesbian sex guide "The Lesbian Kama Sutra" was, in my opinion, raising expectations to a level that unfortunately the guide doesn't live up to, and merely inviting unfavourable comparisons.

I really liked the fact that the guide's illustrations included an eclectic range of works of art depicting sex between women through the centuries, but I often found the black and white pencil drawings of sexual positions unintentionally hilarious rather than erotic. (Although that might say more about me, than the illustrations themselves. *g*)

And I found the first 50 or so pages in which lesbianism was discussed in a cultural and social context a little superfluous in what purports to be a sex manual.

If you've ever wondered what lesbians do in bed, then this book will satisfy your curiosity. But if you're looking for a lesbian version of 'The Joy of Sex', or hoping to become a lesbian 'sexpert', then my advice would be to look elsewhere.

[Kiwi]

I picked this up at the (independent, queer-owned-and-operated) erotic boutique down the road; I was ecstatic to support them. I think I most value this book for its paintings of lesbian eroticism through history--and for it's art of present day lesbians. Visually, it's a wonderful book.

A number of the topics it brings up are pretty great, too. I wasn't always thrilled with the nitty-gritty of the details or the writing itself, but I enjoyed it well enough, so no complaints. My housemate caught me reading it in the kitchen room (not so much 'caught' as if it were anything I was trying to hide) and asked if it could be one of the coffee-table books of the household. He loves being risqué that way. I'm happy to oblige, though! Especially after I note down some of my favourite prints. :D

[D]

A most delightful guide that will certainly enhance your erotic encounters. My partner gave me this book as a gift and we have found several new techniques. Our experimentation has enabled us to reach higher, almost mystical, levels of sexual ecstasy:) Highly recommended. Kat, thank you so very much for writing this wonderful resource!

[Angela Gutierrez]

Recommending this book to not just lesbians but those who are questioning, bisexual, and to those who want to understand what being a lesbian is. This book will not just automatically make you a sex guru—albeit, with practice and communication maybe you will become one. But it also has a good visual presentation. Each page is thick and the visuals are really stunning giving you a lesbian art museum in a book which I commend.

This book will also educate you about the history of lesbianism which have span from hundreds of years. And what it is to become a lesbian and who we are not. It has tips on preparing for love, and on love making. It also educates us women of the basics of sex (whether straight or gay sex).

It educates to remove the shame and the stigma from within: that being a lesbian should be celebrated despite the societal resistance and condemnation. We, ourselves, could and should celebrate it. That we are a part of the beautiful variety of humans and not cursed, not a sin.That we are not just defined as “a lesbian is a woman who just wants to become a man”, that’s just plain stupid. We are much, much more.

[Matty]

Cute idea but the title is just ‘click bait’

[Douglas Lord]

Harding’s lushly illustrated tome uses a lot of classic looking paintings to illustrate many points, which will simultaneously allure and weird you out. Most of those women have those Mona Lisa smiles and you just won’t stop thinking of all the grade-school questions that teachers ask when studying that particular da Vinci masterwork. Is she smiling? Why is she smiling? Is she happy? What is she thinking about? Who is she? The text tends to be a little impersonal and explains, expounds, and riffs lesbian themes via the Kama Sutra mothership. Harding covers masturbation, touch, oral, kisses, technique thoroughly, always encouraging readers toward being gentle, respectful, akin in some ways to Dan Savage’s advice of being Good, Giving and Game.

Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.

[Bill]

I ordered this from Amazon in hardcover. (I own, from a previous hetero marriage, "Pocket Kama Sutra" by Anne Hooper, and have in recent months downloaded a text-only ebook English translation of the original Kama Sutra, free from Project Gutenberg. I've read parts of that ebook, but it is a difficult text to study, very scholarly in orientation.) I'm looking forward to this hardcover book which has photographs as well as text and instructions, and is written for lesbians to enjoy.

Now that I've finished it, I must say I was somewhat disappointed in the depth to which it went; I was left wanting more depth. That said, however, I'm not sorry I purchased it, and I'll reread it many more times in the future, I'm sure. I think it also makes a nice "coffee table" book, to be deliberately left out for guests to see (when the owner is in the right mood), in hopes that it might spark some interesting conversations with those guests.

[Kristen]

this book is great. i love it and the lesbians.because i am one.

[Taylor]

What can I say - it comes with the teritory