By: Mary Roach
Format: Paperback
Published: W. W. Norton & Co.; Apr. 2009
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Roach is not like other science writers. She doesn't write about genes or black holes or Schrödinger's cat. Instead, she ventures out to the fringes of science, where the oddballs ponder how cadavers decay (in her debut, Stiff) and whether you can weigh a person's soul (in Spook). Now she explores the sexiest subject of all: sex, and such questions as, what is an orgasm? How is it possible for paraplegics to have them? What does woman want, and can a man give it to her if her clitoris is too far from her vagina? The payoff comes with subjects like female orgasm (yes, it's complicated), and characters like Ahmed Shafik, who defies Cairo's religious repressiveness to conduct his sex research. Roach's forays offer fascinating evidence of the full range of human weirdness, the nonsense that has often passed for medical science and, more poignantly, the extreme lengths to which people will go to find sexual satisfaction.
My Take: After reading Roach's 'Stiff' in my pre-blogging days and being shocked by how fascinating I could find the dead and by how fascinating people could find me reading a book with a cadaver on the cover while sitting on public transportation, I just knew I had to read more of her books! When I learned that her next book was about sex, well after blushing a little of course, I wanted to read it. Roach, I must mention is also a local Bay Area author living in Oakland, CA so she is even nearer and dearer to my heart as I always want to support the local authors! So I jumped in excited to see what kind of interesting facts she had to teach me about, well, sex!
So, first of all, much like 'Stiff' got me weird looks wherever I read it, so did a book entitled 'Bonk'! I think people were confused because the cover looks all scientific with the microscope on it but then it says Bonk on it or maybe, being in San Francisco, they were thinking it says bong, who knows! At any rate people stared!
Oh I haven't actually said anything about the book yet have I? Well it was fascinating. It wasn't a page turner per se but it was full of really interesting facts. The kind where you want to hit the person next to you and be like "did you know...". I mean, the history of sex research is fascinating because it was so guarded up until, like oh, the 1980s! Roach goes into serious detail on a wide range of subjects to really analyze every sexual subject you can imagine and she travels the world over to get into the heart of it, although often times she can end up right back in San Francisco to get into a lot of the research of it. Surprise!
So, while I think I probably liked 'Stiff' better just because I didn't think I would like that topic at all and then, bam I loved it and 'Bonk' at times almost bordered on the little too tedious, for the most part it was really interesting and now, when you invite me to a dinner party, I will have a lot more interesting things to say when I get have one extra drink ;)
Cover Lust: I think this cover was just perfect for this book! Much like the book, it's a little bit witty and a little bit scientific with a microscope staring down at a couple making out. Love it!
(I got this book from PBS)
Lol, now I wanna read her books too. They sound fascinating, and loving the cover
ReplyDeleteI read this book a couple of years ago, and I would only read it at home because of the looks as well. Usually I take books to work to read, but as a teacher I thought I should leave this one at home :)
ReplyDeleteI thought this one was okay as well. Stiff was better, and I also got bored in parts. Overall it was interesting, but I do want to read her new one about space. Have you checked it out?
Blodeuedd - You should check out her books! They are fun!
ReplyDeleteJennifer - Good, I am glad I am not the only who got funny looks :) No, I still need to read her newest one but I hear it's great!
i always wanted to try a mary roach book too! i think i'll start with stiff though.
ReplyDeleteI always intend to read Mary Roach, but she is one author I never seem to get to. All of her books sound interesting to me, but for some reason Stiff sounds most intriguing (I'm a little afraid of what that says about me!)
ReplyDeleteI drive Carl crazy when I read books with great little tidbits like that. He tells me he doesn't need to read the book after I tell him all the details.
ReplyDeletesounds like an interesting book, something that I will like.
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to read Stiff since a member of my book club brought it up. I'll have to tell her about this one and add it to my list.
ReplyDeleteI've had the audio version of Stiff on my ipod for the past year... don't know what I'm waiting for! This sounds good, too. I can just imagine the weird looks though, lol!
ReplyDeleteThis is one to add to my list and especially now that I know it is a Bay Area author!
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