Tags
authors, blog, blogging, books, Ciara Knight, Debby Herbenick, e-books, Kat Latham, Raelyn Barclay, Read My Lips, readers, reading, Vanessa Schick
We interrupt your regularly scheduled Tarot post for a BLOG HOP.
I’ve always loved Ciara Knight’s Did I Notice Your Book? feature, and now I get to play along.
It’s that time of week again. Anyone for a writing experiment?
With all the new tools out there to monitor book sales and blurbs mentioned about their books, I’m going to highlight a new book each week. I’ll post it in the morning. If by the end of the day that author finds her book on this post I want her or him to tell us how they discovered it; word of mouth through the close network of writers, a Yahoo group mention, or through some new fangled Google tool.
Now, how will I choose this book each week? It will be a book that caught my attention. As a reader, I will keep an eye out for something that either provoked me to read the blurb, look at the author’s blog, or purchase said book.
Before I reveal my choice I want to clarify that this author has no idea that I’ve chosen his/her book.
The book I noticed was: Read My Lips: A Complete Guide to the Vagina and Vulva by Debby Herbenick, PhD, and Vanessa Schick, PhD.
Although women’s genitals have long been shrouded in secrecy and taboo, a recent surge in media attention has encouraged women and men to think about, as well as to talk more openly about, the vagina and vulva. In Read My Lips the authors, both research scientists who study sex, teach readers all about the vulva and vagina in ways that are smart, provocative, funny, heartbreaking, quirky, and inspiring. The overall message is that women and men should feel familiar with and confident about their own bodies as well as the bodies of their partners.
And from Goodreads:
Many, if not most, people remain in the dark about the actual workings of the vagina and vulva. The primary purpose of Read My Lips is to educate women and men about the vulva and vagina in a manner that is smart, informative, and entertaining. Readers, both women and men alike, will come to think differently about women’s genitals and become a little more curious and a lot more comfortable with them. They will learn more about the female body in terms of health, sex, pleasure, culture, and art. Though based on sound scientific and medical research, Read My Lips will be accessible to the masses, so women and men who are curious about the clitoris, Brazilian waxing, labiaplasty or whether the G-spot really exists, will find something of interest in these pages.
Chapters focus on sex and the vulva/vagina which, in spite of the many interesting cultural and historical aspects of vulva and vagina lore, remains of central interest to many people – as it should given that women’s genitals and how they work, especially in regard to sex, remain a mystery to so many well-intentioned lovers. In keeping with the overall theme of celebration and education, the authors take a sex-positive, pleasure-focused perspective on women’s genitals, pointing out the parts that can help women to enjoy sex and feel more comfortable in their own bodies. Tips on technique will also be shared alongside information on vaginal health.
I first noticed this book on Kat Latham’s blog and her fascinating Five Things Romance Writers Should Know About Vaginas post. Talk about a title to draw you in, LOL. But in just that short post, based on this book, I learned something I hadn’t known before. Darn romance novels 😀 It’s amazing how in the dark we women are about our own bodies though in our defense it’s really hard to see down there.
I don’t normally read a lot of women’s health type books but am intrigued by Read My Lips both as a woman and a romance writer.
Ciara Knight said:
I’m so excited you are participating in the blog hop, Raelyn. I think you win an award for the most original book chosen. LOL. I can see why you ‘noticed’ this book. You are right, a must read for romance writers. 🙂
Raelyn Barclay said:
I’m glad I got to participate Ciara, love this feature on your blog even if it does hurt the wallet more days than not 🙂 Thanks for opening it up into a blog hop.
Maria Zannini said:
Um…now I’m wondering if I should check out this book. After all these years, I have to wonder what DON’T I know about vaginas. LOL.
This post is bound to bring a lot of strange traffic to your blog. 😉
Raelyn Barclay said:
Probably more than you realize unless you’ve studied a medical text on the subject. Which, come to think of it, you probably have 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Maria.
Laura Eno said:
I vote with Ciara for most original book! It’s certainly a catchy cover.
Raelyn Barclay said:
And there’s craft ideas too Laura 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Arlee Bird said:
Can’t say I’ve read this, but it sounds interesting. Is it illustrated? That might add to the sales potential but not from serious readers perhaps.
Lee
Nicole from Madlab Post offers blogging tips at
Tossing It Out
Raelyn Barclay said:
LOL, I’m not sure if it’s illustrated or not Lee. Thanks for stopping by.
Debby Herbenick said:
Thanks so much for “noticing” our book, Read My Lips! As sex researchers/educators, we’re passionate about this topic and packed the book with all kinds of information about sex, health, art, culture, literature – and yes, vulva and vagina themed crafts (as well as stories from men and women about what they like about women’s genitals, how they learned about/discovered them, etc). I can definitely see how such information would be helpful with romance writing. Keep up the great work and thanks again for checking us out! With vulva love…. Debby
Raelyn Barclay said:
Whoot!
So glad you found it! Thanks for stopping by Debby.
Ciara Knight said:
Debby – It’s so great to meet you. Wow, now that’s a title for a book. 🙂 Thanks so much for participating. How did you find this post?
Erin Brambilla said:
1.) I have to admit the book title and cover makes me giggle in a very immature way :).
2.) I find the subject matter very interesting though (and not just because I have said body parts).
3.) YAY! The author found your post. How fun is that??
4.) Seriously though, it is strange how much we don’t know about our own bodies. Through the process of having children I’ve learned a lot about the, um, inner workings. But not necessarily the other parts. I will have to pick up this book and give it a read.
Raelyn Barclay said:
I know what you mean Erin, having children adds a whole other dimension to things, LOL. Thanks for stopping by.
Stephen Tremp said:
Well, I wasn’t expecting this. Like Erin, I’m laughing and thinking of jokes in an Austin Powers or Beavis and Butthead way heh heh heh. Thanks for the review.
Raelyn Barclay said:
ROTFL, now I’m picturing fruit in strategic places. Thanks for stopping by Stephen.
Kat Latham said:
I’m so glad you found this amazing book through my blog, Raelyn! One thing I loved about Read My Lips is how much information there was that I didn’t even realize I was ignorant of. And it’s all delivered in a very fun, engaging and empowering way. It doesn’t belittle women’s bodies but gives you much more appreciation for how incredible they are.
I totally recommend it to women and men. And I’m glad you’re helping spread the word about it!
Raelyn Barclay said:
Your post is amazing Kat. This went right on my TBR list! Thanks for stopping by.
Angela Brown said:
Now that is a catchy title for a book.
Raelyn Barclay said:
Isn’t it just 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Angela.
Rusty Webb said:
I opened up the page, saw the book cover first and thought, ‘I wonder if the author realized that their picture looks like a vagina?’
Well, the author probably realized that.
Still, it brought back tons of memories of being a young boy, just hitting puberty and finding my step mother’s book on women’s, er, stuff. Lots of hand drawn pictures of womanly mysteries.
Anyhow, glad the author found the book. And I have to admit, it actually sounds interesting.
Raelyn Barclay said:
Ha! Rusty, I remember finding a similar book 😀 Thanks for stopping by.
Trisha said:
Yet another book to add to my TBR list!! haha. this sounds very useful for EVERYONE out there … except gay men and asexuals I suppose!
Raelyn Barclay said:
LOL, you never know Trisha. Thanks for stopping by.
Jenna Reynolds said:
Thanks for the heads up about the book, Raelyn. Just from what I’ve read here and over at Ms. Latham’s blog, this book will soon be winging it’s way to me! Sorry I haven’t been visting your blog of late. I know I’ve missed some of your Tarot posts. EDJ has been crazy, and then there’s the holidays, and I’m also deep in revisions! Argh! 🙂
Raelyn Barclay said:
No worries Jenna! I get the crazy life, I really do 🙂 Wasn’t Kat’s post amazing? Thanks for stopping by.
Brinda Berry (@Brinda_Berry) said:
It is certainly eye-catching and the blurb is interesting. It did surprise me. I have to look again to see what category you fell into on the hop. 🙂
Raelyn Barclay said:
Non-fiction. Glad you found it interesting. Thanks for stopping by.
deniz said:
Hmm, it does sound sort of interesting. More like the kind of book I’d skim through at the bookstore, though…
Raelyn Barclay said:
Yeah, the skim, put back, pick up again and buy 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Deniz.
Pingback: Sunday Summary & #ROW80 « Raelyn Barclay