Feminist-penned erotic novel goes on sale in Britain

I've just finished this book and I have to say that although it is quite full-on in places in terms of it being deliberately provocative and graphic (it's about an 18 year-old girl in a proctology unit having her hemorrhoids removed and how she keeps herself entertained mentally and physcally during her stay) it raises some fantastic questions about how women see their bodies, hygiene and sexual 'peversion' and it's totally moved the goal posts of how i view my own body. Although there was one section that made me feel nauseous, it's arguably very empowering.

I would urge both women and men to read this - contrary to the debates above it's not about hot sex - it far more than that and it certainly challenges the definition of chick lit!

Would be keen to hear from someone who has actually read the book - but not from people who feel it necessary to discuss the author's age (28 or there abouts; she's a German MTV presenter which in itself is quite fascinating).

I'm sure female eroticism is just as good and varied as the authors.

I would like to read what women think is hot sex.

I think women have achieved many aspects of equality that men have yet to understand or accept. So for us as men to say that is not a civil liberty to be earned by women is just plain dumb and ignorant on our part. An example of Women writing erotica is Lonnie Barbach,Ph.D. -Erotic Interludes 1986. So for editors in Germany and the U.K. to claim it is too "pornographic'' for the public need to be reminded of what a male editor and reviewer said about Erotic Interludes when it came out as a groundbreaking book of women's stories. "I found this celebration of women's sexuality by women completely fascinating ...The stories are literary, fun and eyepopping-and further proof women can -and do-everything." -Paul Zindel.

If the feminist movement is about equal rights, then by all means she should be able to write porn or whatever she chooses to. Why do people think the feminist movement is about neutering men and making women sexless creatures?

so what if the character is an 18-year-old WOMAN...she's legal and allowed to have a sex life

If a man can justly right erotically, then a woman has every right to. And let's be honest women can be more erotically imaginitive and creative, without loosing thier head over it. I say good for her, and all women in general.

morons the girl in the book is 18..try reading it ALL before replying.

Good for her! Ok so I think "erotic novels" are hilarious and beyond cheesy....but this should emphasize the point that feminism is not about being anti sexual or man hating.

There are feminists who work in pornography and I myself have known several feminist strippers. Hell i personally believe women should start taking a larger roll(aside from acting and modeling) in the sex industry as a feminist movement! Take back our sexuality! Women are told to repress are sexuality by society when we should be embracing it and enjoying it just as much as men do! I love watching porn, seeing strippers and have had a subscription to Penthouse and Hustler. FYI the current Chairman and CEO of Playboy is a woman! I want to see more of this! Theres a strip club in San Francisco owned and operated by all the women who work there! Now thats power!

Feminism is about choice, its about being able to do what you want and not be persecuted or looked down upon for being a woman. Its about being whatever you want to be whether its a firefighter, a stay at home mom or a porn writer. All that defines a feminist IMO is someone who fights for equality, respect and freedom for women.

Damn, that's inspirational.

Write leg squeezing novels and still call yourself a progressive woman? That's me.

Nice to see someone that understands that feminist does not mean rampant man hater. Of course a feminist can right porn. She would just make it from a female or couples perspective.

It might be hot and juicy until they show that picture of the girl who penned it. I wonder what else she has done with that pen...

Sorry, that was wrong of me. I apologize.

Some people fainted?! Ha! Of course you can be a feminist and write erotic fiction, why should women who support equal rights for both genders not be able to express their sexuality? Understanding what women want makes these writers more feminist.

They act as though this is the first piece of erotic literature written by a feminist - its certainly not. There are many writers out there who consider themselves feminist and who write erotic literature -

http://sexualities.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/2/2/167

http://selenakitt.com/

http://www.poppyzbrite.com/

http://susiebright.blogs.com/

There's more, but this is I think is a good set of examples. Am I reading this wrong, and they only want to talk about feminist writers in the UK?

What's up with people fainting at public readings?

This is Blatant promotionalism! What Trash...

you can faint from feeling horny at a public reading? sounds like a publicity-myth to me..

whose to say that erotica can't be feminist? obviously it depends heavily on the narrative, but I think it's great that women are getting recognition for penning such works.

The book is about an 18-year old not written by one. That is the author in the picture.

She sure is pretty. Im gonna get that book for my gf in effort to support feminism.

Maybe she just wrote a Novel? The girl in the wiki picture is the same one.

maybe that broad looks old cause that ain't a picture of the right person. Go here for the right one.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Charlotte_Roche.jpg

Look at the wrinkles at the corners and the bags under her eyes.
She ain't no 18 years old. 28 maybe, but not 18.
I think she's in her mid thirties actually.

I don't understand how this drivel rates up to a five. What is the deal with this. What CRAP!! WHO CARES!!

18? Haha... She isn't 18 years old... :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Roche

"Apparently Wetlands is such a juicy tale that fans at public readings reportedly got so hot and bothered that some fainted."

I find this very hard to believe, PR blurb perhaps?

Sexual equality surely must appeal to feminists as well?

Of course women can write porn and be feminists. What is Sex in the City?

If you want to see men and women enjoy equal rights and share responsibility for those rights, then you're a feminist.

This does not bar you from writing erotic fiction or from working in the pornography industry. The two are not mutually exclusive.