Best Sex Writing 2010

by Rachel Kramer Bussel, Esther Perel (Contributor)

Book by

Genres: Sexuality, Nonfiction, Essays, Anthologies

239 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2009

About the author

I'm the editor of the Best Women's Erotica of the Year series and over 70 anthologies including The Big Book of Orgasms and Come Again: Sex Toy Erotica. I've also written a wide range of erotica about everything from French fries to fishnets. I write about books, culture, sexuality and relationships, teach erotica writing workshops and consult with erotica authors and sex writers to help them advance their careers. I read a wide range of genres, from erotica to romance to mystery to memoir to graphic novels and anything that strikes my fancy. See my website for my newsletter with book giveaways and writing samples.

Reviews

[Dawn-Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Kramer Bussel has once again put together a collection of interesting, sometimes eye-opening, essays in the latest edition of her Best Sex Writing series. I like to think that there is not a lot that surprises me, but a few of these pieces had me thinking about things I had never considered before. Like “BDSM and Playing With Race.” Hearing about racial slave play was nothing new, but the reactions faced by the author were most definitely a surprise. It was interesting to find just where some members of the kink community draw that line. And I have to admit that due to a fascination with fetishes that don’t actually involve the act of sex, “It’s a Shame About Ray” was an engrossing read. Plus there were a few pieces, like “The Girl Who Only Sometimes Said No” and “The Anatomy of an Affair” that I identified with to some extent. A couple of pieces were a bit dry and definitely more journalism-minded, but they were still fairly interesting. There wasn’t anything that made me want to quit reading and put the collection down, or skip over it to the next entry. From alternative lifestyles to sex education and sex laws to the history of Tijuana bibles, there is definitely something here for everyone.

[Jennifer Worrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are not erotic fiction stories, but essays regarding sexuality, many of which are not much sexy as smart, thoughtful, and fascinating. There are some great ones, namely: The Girl Who Only Sometimes Said No (hilarious), Loving Lesbians, What Really Turns Men On, It's a Shame About Ray, and Hot. Digital. Sexual. Underground.

[Marcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of essays. Enjoyed it.

[Kentsoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The truth is, I almost never read Sex books, not because I'm uninterested in the subject, but because I can rarely find any that add to my knowledge or make me feel included or even hold my interest without being frustratingly PC or obviously agenda-driven. More often than not, I start one and give up about halfway through, wondering if I should try writing my own book.

Editirx Rachel Kramer Bussel's new collection "Best Sex Writing 2010" has only increased my desire to write for such a volume, but not for the above reasons. Far from leaving me feeling disinterested/disenfranchised regarding sex, the 25 essays in this volume have me feeling more included and inspired than I've felt in a long time.

Subject-wise, the book is all over the place, but in a wonderful way. If there was a left-field way to think about sex, Miss Bussell seems to have found someone to do. Once we get past the PC, hyper-academic hokum, human sex is amazingly diverse; part kaleidoscope, part rorshach test, unpredictable and endlessly fascinating. "BSW'10"'s contributors reflect this fact, tackling subjects as mechanical and (seemingly) mundane as condom manufacture and marketing, as personal as a wife's plans for an extramarital affair, as potentially explosive as BDSM "race" play, as controversial as teen "sexting". Bussel's contributors never let us get too comfortable with them or ourselves, pushing and pulling us past one fun house mirror after another, always wondering if we'll see ourselves in the next one.

What thrilled me most is how well men are represented in the book. One of the unfortunate assumptions of our society is that men are incapable (or unwilling) to speak/write thoughtfully about sex, the male voice relegated to the pages of "Lad's Mags" and Comedy Central standup specials. "BSW'10" features several male-authored essays that explode this myth (at least a little). From a gay escort's loving description of a fetish session, a straight man's pean to the female bush, to a man's love for sexual wordplay, the male contributors to the book helped ease my personal vagina-envy...for a little while anyway.

What I'm trying to say is that "Best Sex Writing 2010" is the kind of book that makes me want to dust off my composition book and try to write something of my own good enough for the 2011 edition...Which I'll be looking forward to even if I can't be in it myself.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOT erotica. Very interesting nonfiction essays.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good writing on all things sex, but NOT erotica.

[Giada Da Ros]

Very interesting book. Most essays are definitely worth reading.