if you take a look through my account here, you'll see that I read A Whole Lot of erotica, in various languages, mostly in comic format, but a lot of written prose too. I wrote my dissertation on erotica, I love it that much! I'm asexual, so I don't experience sexual attraction or arousal the way most people seem to, which I think is what draws me so much to this form of human expression. erotic fantasy can tell us so much about each other, without saying very much at all. so of course, when my close friend gifted me this for christmas - thank you, by the way! - after I'd kept sneaking looks at it on our bookshop visits, I was ecstatic, much to my family's resignation. 

I thought I'd have devoured this in absolutely no time at all, but it actually took a little more time. partially because, yeah, these fantasies are really erotic, and yeah, they kind of got me going! but also because they're so intimate, so vivid, so real, that I had to take time to digest them. it's not erotica, not really, but it is. it's phenomenal. 

I found myself drawn into each of these - apart from the one that's just three words long, for that very reason - and thinking "yeah, actually! that's super hot!" at most of them, or "good for her!" at all the rest. since I've read and seen a lot of erotic and pornographic content, I wasn't exactly scandalized by any of these, but I was definitely surprised by a few. all very much worth reading. why? because there's so much to learn about ourselves and others. 

while I was reading this, I had a few interesting conversations with friends and family. my grandmother, who was a part of the feminist movement of the sixties, was especially adamant in telling me that it is crucial that women know themselves and their bodies in regards to what arouses us, and what doesn't. it is part of our fight for rights. if we do not know what we love, if we do not ask for it, if we do not demand it, then what are we even doing in bed? submitting in ways that do not benefit us, or something like that, she'd said. she was speaking especially about the heterosexual experience, since she'd had none other, but I agree that it's very important for us queer people to know ourselves the same. 

anyways, I'm greatly impressed by the sheer feat that pulling this book together was. I hope it can inspire women to love themselves with more fervor, to know themselves down to their marrow. and I hope it can inspire men to care more for their partners and their pleasure. non-binary and genderqueer people? you too. you don't get off scott-free !!