jeffreyp's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely feel mixed about this memoir. It starts off strong with insights into Young's art, work and relationships with family, other artists and her partners--and she really bares her soul, which almost always makes an interesting memoir. Very intimate details about her relationships are given, with some thought, but something about the style of writing left me wanting a good deal of the time. The book begins and ends with much self-examination, and these are the parts I liked the best. The bulk of the book is a series of loosely related life events, which is kind of how we all live our lives, but that choice didn't give me the meaty, explicit connections that I like in memoirs.
On the other hand, it is this style that lends the books some of its strength--when we look back at our lives, we can try to force a simple, coherent narrative, but that's always a bit contrived. Young leaves her life messy in this memoir, and that's to be commended, even if as a reader it sometimes wasn't as satisfying.
I suspect that future memoirs, if she continues writing them, will be better than this one as she hones her writing craft--a book centering on the founding of Femina Potens would be most welcome, for instance, as the bits and pieces we get about it skim the surface. I want to hear (even) more about how feminism, art, submission and motherhood all play out for her.
On the other hand, it is this style that lends the books some of its strength--when we look back at our lives, we can try to force a simple, coherent narrative, but that's always a bit contrived. Young leaves her life messy in this memoir, and that's to be commended, even if as a reader it sometimes wasn't as satisfying.
I suspect that future memoirs, if she continues writing them, will be better than this one as she hones her writing craft--a book centering on the founding of Femina Potens would be most welcome, for instance, as the bits and pieces we get about it skim the surface. I want to hear (even) more about how feminism, art, submission and motherhood all play out for her.
itsnkbitch's review against another edition
3.0
Daddy is a memoir about Madison Young, porn-actress&director, sex educator, and art curator. Thematically, the through line this book keeps going back to is Madison's search for her Daddy. However, Madison proves herself to be a very independent person with her own work, passions, and interests that are also explored in the space of this book. She owns her own art-gallery in San Francisco, for example, where she features feminist and queer voices. She finances the gallery through sex work, primarily by modeling and acting in shoots and films. She never is fully-defined by her interest in submission or her relationship with her Daddy. Her interest in kink is a compliment to her complex and compelling life.
I really like Madison Young herself. I really respect that she straight up was like: hey, my birth-Father growing up was not exactly world's best Dad. He cheated on my Mother and was a p/t Dad, not taking responsibility and just enjoying the fun. Yet, I had that fun. I I loved him and felt safe around him anyway.
I like that she blended that narrative with her kink narrative, showing us the reader that Madison is open to the possibility that her interest in D/lg could be from her actual Father, but, at the same time, just because something stems in dysfunction doesn't mean it is that dysfunction.
Also, I'm very excited to read sex-workers, kinksters, and queer feminists write their stories. When I picked this book up (at Bluestockings, NYC), I was mostly motivated at reading a D/lg story, not knowing that what I was getting was a much more textured, much more important perspective.
That all said -- the writing in this story has some issues. Not the prose, which was clean, beautiful at times, and easy to digest. But The Big Ideas in this story, which were primarily skimped around on.
There is a lot of assumption that the reader has the same point of view as Madison, which is frustrating because I much rather read her explore her point of view. For example, she often mentions that her sex work is a feminist move because she has agency. That’s an argument I totally get behind, but I need more than like a literal sentence here or there telling us that she is in control and she is fighting the patriarchy by having control? Like this arguement is a complete book in itself -- there has to be more she could divulge on it. If not on a political level, than at least on an emotional level. She’s a feminist sex worker from a traditional family -- there is a whole emotional arc there and we breeze right past it. And... that’s just one example of many... >>;
Also the Daddy himself? He becomes a douchebag... and his redemption path doesn’t do it for me. But it does for Madison -- so that's an awkward confliction to have. Espec when this is a memoir...
But to end on a positive note -- another big part of this book is San Francisco. The book is an ode to the sex-work, feminist, queer, kink, and art community venn-diagram that used to define San Fran. I use past-tense because ... these communities are dying out. When Madison Young had to close her art gallery -- that was a sign of the times. It’s sad, but it is also really interesting to learn about what San Fran used to be, and really compels me to fly out before everything interesting about San Fran dissolves into dust.
I really like Madison Young herself. I really respect that she straight up was like: hey, my birth-Father growing up was not exactly world's best Dad. He cheated on my Mother and was a p/t Dad, not taking responsibility and just enjoying the fun. Yet, I had that fun. I I loved him and felt safe around him anyway.
I like that she blended that narrative with her kink narrative, showing us the reader that Madison is open to the possibility that her interest in D/lg could be from her actual Father, but, at the same time, just because something stems in dysfunction doesn't mean it is that dysfunction.
Also, I'm very excited to read sex-workers, kinksters, and queer feminists write their stories. When I picked this book up (at Bluestockings, NYC), I was mostly motivated at reading a D/lg story, not knowing that what I was getting was a much more textured, much more important perspective.
That all said -- the writing in this story has some issues. Not the prose, which was clean, beautiful at times, and easy to digest. But The Big Ideas in this story, which were primarily skimped around on.
There is a lot of assumption that the reader has the same point of view as Madison, which is frustrating because I much rather read her explore her point of view. For example, she often mentions that her sex work is a feminist move because she has agency. That’s an argument I totally get behind, but I need more than like a literal sentence here or there telling us that she is in control and she is fighting the patriarchy by having control? Like this arguement is a complete book in itself -- there has to be more she could divulge on it. If not on a political level, than at least on an emotional level. She’s a feminist sex worker from a traditional family -- there is a whole emotional arc there and we breeze right past it. And... that’s just one example of many... >>;
Also the Daddy himself? He becomes a douchebag... and his redemption path doesn’t do it for me. But it does for Madison -- so that's an awkward confliction to have. Espec when this is a memoir...
But to end on a positive note -- another big part of this book is San Francisco. The book is an ode to the sex-work, feminist, queer, kink, and art community venn-diagram that used to define San Fran. I use past-tense because ... these communities are dying out. When Madison Young had to close her art gallery -- that was a sign of the times. It’s sad, but it is also really interesting to learn about what San Fran used to be, and really compels me to fly out before everything interesting about San Fran dissolves into dust.
xanister's review against another edition
5.0
If you know nothing about the world of Kink and porn you might not know who Madison Young is. You might not be able to fully appreciate the book and things in it might bother you. However, as a story its amazing to see the trials that Madison went through to get to where she is today.
When I got this book I knew very little about Madison. I had seen interviews, followed her workshops and saw her appearance on Training of O with James Mogul which she talks about in the book. Her spot with James on Training of O remains one of the most intense and interesting scenes I've ever watched. However, this book was an eye opener and not always in a good way. It's not all sunshine and rainbows (floggers and leather). There are points where you might wince or wish you could help Ms. Young in her troubles. I'm sure a psychiatrist would have a field day with this book but they would miss the passion and the connection that exists.
The book is written in a very interesting style and very conversational in tone. It's informal and passionate and if you enjoy Madison's work on screen or off I think you'll benefit to hear about her start and her progression through the industry. The fact that I know about feminist porn is entirely because of her and her work to bring not just porn but kink porn to a female audience is amazing!
I'll admit the one BIG thing that I feel was missing from this has nothing to do with the actual book! I want a follow up with James' side. He seems to be the quieter of the two and his personal life is kept as just that, personal but the nuggets that we see in the book make it all the more interesting. I just want more!
My one tiny little bother with the book is one that I have absolutely no right to complain over. The title and use of the word "Daddy" through the book made me twitch but that's just a personal preference. I have no issue with the content just someone using that word and "little girl" in a sexual context squicks me a little bit. Again, do not let this deter you from this book. It is an excellent read and one that may change your mind about certain segments of the industry.
When I got this book I knew very little about Madison. I had seen interviews, followed her workshops and saw her appearance on Training of O with James Mogul which she talks about in the book. Her spot with James on Training of O remains one of the most intense and interesting scenes I've ever watched. However, this book was an eye opener and not always in a good way. It's not all sunshine and rainbows (floggers and leather). There are points where you might wince or wish you could help Ms. Young in her troubles. I'm sure a psychiatrist would have a field day with this book but they would miss the passion and the connection that exists.
The book is written in a very interesting style and very conversational in tone. It's informal and passionate and if you enjoy Madison's work on screen or off I think you'll benefit to hear about her start and her progression through the industry. The fact that I know about feminist porn is entirely because of her and her work to bring not just porn but kink porn to a female audience is amazing!
I'll admit the one BIG thing that I feel was missing from this has nothing to do with the actual book! I want a follow up with James' side. He seems to be the quieter of the two and his personal life is kept as just that, personal but the nuggets that we see in the book make it all the more interesting. I just want more!
My one tiny little bother with the book is one that I have absolutely no right to complain over. The title and use of the word "Daddy" through the book made me twitch but that's just a personal preference. I have no issue with the content just someone using that word and "little girl" in a sexual context squicks me a little bit. Again, do not let this deter you from this book. It is an excellent read and one that may change your mind about certain segments of the industry.
karend's review
3.0
I was not familiar with Ms. Young's career before I got this book as part of a package deal. It was interesting to read the vignettes of her experiences in the worlds of art and porn, less interesting to read of her midwestern childhood (maybe because I had one of those myself and hers wasn't woven into her later experiences in a way that felt it really needed to be in the book at all).
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