Scan barcode
sydneybedell's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy
kwaeisig's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I wish the book had more stories from cisgendered heterosexual women in loving relationships and positive sex lives & I also wish there were more representations of Black women from the diaspora from the USA.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Ableism, Biphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Classism
I think this book makes us stop and think about what sex is and means for the diaspora of Black women across the globe. It has no one definition and is an ever changing concept and women age and grow and experience new things throughout their lives. The way sex is viewed starts young and many times children are having sexual acts among themselves which is disheartening and troublesome and difficult to acknowledge. As many parents work to shield their children from such exposure, somehow, they are still being exposed be it from the media or their peers or watching adult interactions/mannerisms. I think this book does a good job by highlighting the similarities in all of our differences as Black women and how at the end of the day, we all wants to be understood, respected, listened to, and honored, while also having the freedom to have guiltless shameless sex that ends in orgasm without regret, sexual assault, or rape. This books makes you think of the younger generation of children that are on the cusp of puberty and how they are being socialized to understand (or not understand) their bodies, the reproductive system, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sex as an act, consent, and so much more. I can only hope that they are more knowledgeable than those that have come before them and are more powerful in how they navigate the world we all live in. Though some of the stories were quite sad, some were also motivational, relatable, and provided glimpses of hope for a better tomorrow. And for that I give thanks to the author for spending 5 years compiling these very real stories and sharing them.seeceeread's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
3.5
π "Sexually speaking, it feels to me like this is the best chapter of my life. I'm the most self-aware that I have ever been. I am flexible. I am π«πΆπͺπ€πΊ. I am up for sex however, whenever, whatever."
A frien put me on by giving "a fat five stars" to this interview collection with "stories across age, religion, sexuality, gender and relationship status." Darkoa crisscrosses continents and a few languages to achieve such diversity in perspective. Subjects are remarkably candid β I often marveled at the details shared. For much of the book, I thought the women were forthcoming due to friendship (many have known the author for years) but in the end, NDS explains that it's moreso because interviewees were determined to break their silence to achieve pleasure and healing. Every story comes with its own content warning to encourage prepared engagement.
Some parts felt extremely relatable, even sadly predictable: partners' jealousy, youthful naivete that gave way to self-assurance, sexual assault. Still, I was agape at some of the drama and shenanigans: cheating, boarding school trysts, cheating, repeatedly returning to Red Flag Relationships, cheating, confiscated sex toys at the airport, more cheating. I'm curious about the set of questions that guided NDS.
I did not like the audio presentation. Several narrators sound prepared for more traditional theater, and they overperform the "characters" they inhabit, which perhaps added to my sense of distance from some contributors.
A frien put me on by giving "a fat five stars" to this interview collection with "stories across age, religion, sexuality, gender and relationship status." Darkoa crisscrosses continents and a few languages to achieve such diversity in perspective. Subjects are remarkably candid β I often marveled at the details shared. For much of the book, I thought the women were forthcoming due to friendship (many have known the author for years) but in the end, NDS explains that it's moreso because interviewees were determined to break their silence to achieve pleasure and healing. Every story comes with its own content warning to encourage prepared engagement.
Some parts felt extremely relatable, even sadly predictable: partners' jealousy, youthful naivete that gave way to self-assurance, sexual assault. Still, I was agape at some of the drama and shenanigans: cheating, boarding school trysts, cheating, repeatedly returning to Red Flag Relationships, cheating, confiscated sex toys at the airport, more cheating. I'm curious about the set of questions that guided NDS.
I did not like the audio presentation. Several narrators sound prepared for more traditional theater, and they overperform the "characters" they inhabit, which perhaps added to my sense of distance from some contributors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual harassment