Opening Up, Ethical Sluts, and Wild Wild Women Like Me

I've known about Dossie Easton and Janice Hardy's The Ethical Slut for a little over a year now.  I'm a fan of Easton and Hardy's easy, approachable writing style, and The Ethical Slut doesn't seem to be any different, nor does the sample I've read thus far disappoint.  If anything, I find this may be a very helpful and healing read.

Dear Readers, I was what you might consider a slut.  When I was in my teens and twenties, I enjoyed the tiny tingles between my legs, I participated quite often in mutual and single masturbation, and once I got that cherry popped, I really enjoyed sex.  I mean I really, really enjoyed sex!  Of course I was safe.  I'm not stupid.  No slut really truly is.  But some of that changed when I was in college.

Lots of young men--and a few young women, too--rather enjoyed my company, as well as my body.  Quite a few of the young men also ruined any sort of "good" reputation I had.

Then something truly hideous happened.  I was gang-raped.

At that time, there was a phrase that I had never been exposed to before I went to college:  "You can't rape the willing."

Really?  I wasn't willing to be dragged into a dorm room.  I wasn't willing to be humiliated, literally shat and pissed upon (those of you who are down with water sports, anal and scat--more power to ya, but this is part of why I don't dig it.  I'm not judging those who are down, but this is part of why I'm not).  When you've had what little power you're tapping into ripped from you by force and humiliation, it's a helluva long way back to get your confidence, groove, and sanity back.  I was known as a train girl, and I didn't even know what the fuck a train girl was.  Irony, indeed--my grandfather worked for the railroad.  Would he have done to me what these young me did?  Hell no!  Would he have stopped it if he could?  You better believe it!

Anyways--Easton and Hardy's work make me want to reclaim the moniker of slut.  They make me want to celebrate my body, my sexuality, my weirdness.  They make me want to travel back in time to slap a Victorian man.

Please excuse me, Dear Readers, while I embrace and get back in touch with my inner Wildness.

More Reviews, but Some Arguments, Too!

So I downloaded LOTS of samples from Jessica Valenti last night.  Interesting stuff.  I can't say that I agree with all of it, but I will say this--feminism is NOT a bad word, nor is it a bad thing to be.  What IS bad--racism, CLASSISM, and men getting all offended if a woman calls them ugly, or makes an anti-male, raunchy, sexist joke.  Uh--fellas?  Y'all did that shit in front of women for centuries.  So now that some of you are "claiming" to be sensitive and in touch with your feminine sides, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be so PC that you can't take a joke or withstand a little harmless ribbing.

Not as pissed off as I was, but work has been sapping my energy.  But I love when I'm in boss-lady mode!

What I'm Reading and How Things May Change Even More

I got curious about a feminist blog today, and had to wait until I returned home to try and look at it.  It's blocked at work.  But I'm curious about reading more from the blog's main author and co-founder, Jessica Valenti.

Currently, I'm reading Different Loving.  But I'll soon be downloading samples of and eventually checking out the work of Ms. Valenti.  For now, you might want to peruse Feministing.com.

A New Book Review

Right now, I only have the sample.  It's a book about Master/slave relations.  I'll keep you posted as soon as I snap it's virtual spine, ha-ha-ha.  It's cooling down here.  I'm glad.  I hate hot weather anymore.  I am also quite tired of summer. I'm quite tired of lots of things, pushy "submissives" being one of them.  if you are the pushy submissive who keeps messaging me (but who is NOT my friend at FL) then please fuck off.  Just fuck off, dude.  If you'd read my profile, you'd know I'm involved with someone.  Don't like it?  Toughski Schitzki.  Wilkommen am der Polisch Army.  I'd get verbally abusive, but you'd probably dig that.

Oh yeah--the book review.  I swear, I'll read more than the sample if it's worthy.

A Forewarning

I have been working non-stop as a librarian since 1995.  I am a voracious reader who hates any form of censorship, book-banning, or any attempts to silence people, no matter what they are trying to say.  Some of my upcoming reviews will make people uncomfortable.  Some of them will not deal with BDSM or D/s, but will be works which have been banned or censored or kept out of public view for public reading consumption for various reasons--racist, Communist, homophobic, promotes homosexuality, promotes hatred, promotes religions besides Christianity/Judaism, and of course there's the porn, some of which may deal with BDSM and D/s, but most of which just describes sex, orgasms, and kink in general.

LET ME MAKE THIS CRYSTAL-CLEAR, DEAR READERS. . . YOU WILL DISAGREE WITH ME.  THAT IS PERFECTLY OK.  I MAY OR MAY NOT DISAGREE WITH YOU.  THAT IS ALSO PERFECTLY OK.  I WILL LOSE READERSHIP.  THAT IS OK.  BUT I WILL NOT ALLOW ANY VOICES TO BE SILENCED SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DISAGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER.  I WILL ALSO NOT TOLERATE ABUSE OR DIATRIBES BASED ON NOTHING BUT OVER-EMOTIONAL OPINIONS AND PLOYS TO TRY AND SWAY MY OPINION.  CLEAR?  GOOD!

Feel free to comment or e-mail.  It may take me awhile, but I will get back to you.  Yes, this also has a great deal to do with my current moderately-depressed state.  

Quick Update

So not only am I homesick and moderately depressed, I'm also pissed off.  While perusing a new acquisition today, I caught mention of a book by Barry Lyga, Boy Toy, about a young man who is raped by his teacher, who convinces him she's in love with him.  While attempting to download it onto my Kindle, I ran across another title, Sex Toys and Naughty Boys, which I also intend to review.  If I review Lyga's Boy Toy on this blog, it will be in regard to censorship, not kink.  The other title, however, will deal more with the kink than the censorship.  Or will it. . . . ?

Current Reading--Just Kids, by Patti Smith

I first purchased and downloaded this when I first bought my Kindle.  It was this and Stephen King's Full Dark No Stars that were my first official purchases.  I've started, re-started, and am now trying to finish this wonderful and touching memoir from one of my favorite Women.  I've known this song since I was 10.  I've been a fan of Patti Smith and her Group since I was 12.  They were, for me, the original Beat/punk band.  Look for a full review upon finishing this title.  For now, please enjoy this:

Burlesque Aerobics

I don't know about you, dear Readers, but I'd rather do Bettie's joint mobility warm-up before kettlebells than the standard.  I'm on a burlesque kick at present, with 2 reviews coming up after the Independence Day holiday here in the States.  Please enjoy this wee snippet starring my favorite, Bettie Page.

Another Review

Well, I can tell you what I may NOT be reviewing, as opposed to what I've recently discovered.  The Mistress Thalia--is speaking directly to submissive men, but I doubt I'll be purchasing it.  She tends to have the same attitude that subs aren't necessary that was expressed with much dismay over at the submissivemale blog.  Why should I pay for someone to yell at me?  If I want yelled at, I'll go visit one of my old bosses.  But why would I do that?

Now--there's another one I will be reviewing, written by a British Dominant woman who I can DEFINITELY relate to.  I'll also be purchasing the full copy of Mistress Celia's Find Your Domme.  I'm also interested to know. . . . would you all still read if I wrote book reviews that didn't feature D/s or BDSM as the underlying theme?  How do you feel about--horror?  Please advise at y'all's earliest convenience.  Just click my e-mail from my profile here on blogger, and I'll respond as soon as I can.

Upcoming Reviews

Late last night, in a fit of pique, I began downloading samples of classic Victorian erotica, as well as some classic D/s and BDSM titles.  Jay Wiseman's SM 101 is one that kept me up late, simply reading the sample.  When I get paid again next week, this is one I'll be purchasing to read in its entirety.  This one is in InformedConsent's Top 100 Titles, and based on the sample I downloaded, I can see why.

Another one I'll be reviewing soon is Letters from a Dominatrix, in which a pro Domme writes open letters to potential submissives in regard to how to be a better sub, and how to find the Domme of his/her dreams.

I'll keep you posted, dear Readers.  Thanks for your patience!

New Reading Material

My pin-up art books are in. . . 2 are by the incomparable and wonderful Olivia deBerardinis and her husband, Joel Beren, Let Them Eat Cheesecake and a book dedicated entirely to the art and poses of Bettie Page, and a study of Gil Elvgren's work.  I'll review them after I've given them more than just a quick glance-through, but I already like what I've seen.  Of course, I knew I would, and I hope, dear readers, you will too.  Now go enjoy your cheesecake and eat it too!  I command it!