Kate Lister (1) (1981–)

I learnt way more than I bargained for while reading this. Ask my partner - there were times I was reading this in bed next to her and would just gasp or look at her with total shock at what I was reading and how awful some of it was. I would laugh uncontrollably at some of the anecdotes. I told all my friends and even some family members about the sheer absurdity of some of the beliefs that people of the past held. I loved this book so much. It's equal parts entertaining and shocking - one chapter I'm learning about the intertwining of sex and bicycles in Victorian England, the next I'm learning about the horrors of historical douching. I loved every page, I learnt stuff I had no idea about, and I feel like a better person for having read this. If you're interested in history and sex, you have to give this book a go.… (más)

After reviewing a book about death, I thought my reading schedule could do with a little lightening up and what's the opposite of death? Life of course, but also sex!

Listening to the audiobook for A Curious History of Sex by Kate Lister is akin to watching an episode of Embarrassing Bodies; it was informative and educational and I enjoyed the creator's cheeky sense of humour.

Covering subjects like: aphrodisiacs, condoms, douching, impotence, menstruation, orgasms, pubic hair, self care, sex work, sex dolls, STDs, Viagra and vibrators, Lister manages to dispel several myths from the Victorian era, shine a light on stereotypes and attempt to debunk some long held views.

Given my previous reading experience and interest in history, there wasn't much in this book I didn't already know and I didn't find any of the content curious. Had I read this at the age of 20 though, I would have had an entirely different reading experience. I would have found the etymology of the 'C' word incredibly illuminating for a start and seized on the slang terms for areas of the body readily.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy the author's writing style, like this example in the chapter about the history of the clitoris and the discovery that the G spot was actually the C spot all along:

"...like a kind of clitoral Scooby Doo ending to a debate that has raged throughout medicine for centuries." Chapter 3

A Curious History of Sex by Kate Lister is recommended for fans of Ruth Goodman and Bill Bryson and the audiobook narrated by the author herself was a great listen.… (más)