The question of an erotic readership has always vexed scholars. With little evidence of anyone's actually reading erotic material, scholars have made due with variations of an "ideal reader" approach. Insofar as it presupposes authorial intention and a stable meaning this theoretical model proves unsatisfactory. Using an interdisciplinary approach, Carnal Reading proposes a new theory of erotic reading that refigures bodily responses as constitutive of cognitive understanding. Chapters explore the enthusiasm inspired by religious reading, the impressionable and "permeable" nature of the early modern body, contemporary literary critiques and the potential eroticism immanent in language.
Beginning with a startling endorsement of the patristic view of Judaism—that it was a "carnal" religion, in contrast to the spiritual vision of the Church—Daniel Boyarin argues that rabbinic Judaism was based on a set of assumptions about the human body that were profoundly different from those of Christianity. The body—specifically, the sexualized body—could not be renounced, for the Rabbis believed as a religious principle in the generation of offspring and hence in intercourse sanctioned by marriage. This belief bound men and women together and made impossible the various modes of gender separation practiced by early Christians. The commitment to coupling did not imply a resolution of the unequal distribution of power that characterized relations between the sexes in all late-antique societies. But Boyarin argues strenuously that the male construction and treatment of women in rabbinic Judaism did not rest on a loathing of the female body. Thus, without ignoring the currents of sexual domination that course through the Talmudic texts, Boyarin insists that the rabbinic account of human sexuality, different from that of the Hellenistic Judaisms and Pauline Christianity, has something important and empowering to teach us today.
From head to toe to breast to behind, Charles Hodgson's Carnal Knowledge is a delightfully intoxicating tour of the words we use to describe our bodies. Did you know: -eye is one of the oldest written words in the English language? -callipygian means "having beautiful buttocks"? -gam, a slang word for "leg," comes from the French word jambe? A treat for anyone who gets a kick out of words, Carnal Knowledge is also the perfect gift for anyone interested in the human body and the many (many, many) ways it's been described.
A chilling paranormal romance: Two weeks ago demon-hunters Moira O’Donnell and Rafe Cooper conquered Evil. But now Lust has taken hold in the City of Angels... The small Californian town of Santa Louisa is still reeling from the lethal rampage of the demon Envy, one of the Seven Deadly Sins released from Hell by black magic. But when more bodies bearing satanic marks surface in Los Angeles, former witch Moira O'Donnell knows the terror is beginning again. For a trendy LA nightclub has become a hot spot of lustful demonic activity. And as a supernatural war erupts, Moira and Rafe, her tortured and indomitable ally, are caught in the crossfire. Cornered by mortal and unearthly enemies, they must conquer their greatest fears to survive. But their growing passion for each other gives the demon Lust exactly what it needs to defeat them both.
Dark, sexy mafia romance where the fast-paced tension of John Wick meets the high stakes love of Romeo and Juliet. Carnal (adjective): 1) Relating to the pleasures of the body 2) Given to sensual indulgence 3) The man who kidnapped me The devil has blue eyes, an Irish accent, and a hatred for me that runs deep. He blames me for starting a war. Consorting with his enemies. Getting his men killed. Though I’m innocent on all charges, he wants his pound of flesh. With an eye on revenge, he makes me his captive. But as we'll both soon discover, there are more powerful urges than that for revenge. When the devil meets his match but she’s his sworn enemy, that’s when the real war begins. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Crossfire saga. MISLED Special Task Force agent Derek Atkinson has a craving for luscious vampire Sable Taylor. But Sable's a bounty hunter, which makes him direct competition in the capture of wanted criminals. Despite the obvious attraction between them, she won't give him a chance and after two years, he's tired of waiting for her to come around. So he's got a plan to give them both what they want... each other. Sable's on a dangerous mission. She's not who Derek thinks she is, so anything personal just isn't possible. But like most master vampires, Derek's wily and used to having his way. When he traps her on his ship, she decides to indulge. Two straight days of mind-blowing sex should be enough, but it isn't, not for either of them. Her heart is involved now, but Sable can't let Derek get too close. If he finds out what she's doing, he'll never forgive her. Derek, however, refuses to let go. Now he's getting shot at and asking questions she shouldn't answer. Sable has to reveal the truth... Derek's love has been misled... KISS OF THE NIGHT Special Task Force agent Alexei Night has had a crush on Interstellar Council Representative Briana Michaels ever since the first time he saw her on the vid comm. But their lives are worlds apart. He's a vampire. She's not. There's no possibility of a relationship between them. Yet he still dreams of her... When Briana's unpopular position supporting vampiric rights threatens her family, Alex leaps at the chance to protect her and be with her. It's a two-week journey to her homeworld, and he'll spend it making love with the woman he can't keep, trying to get enough of her to last an eternity. Their erotic connection is easily established but their bond doesn't overshadow the danger surrounding Briana. A hopeless romance with a woman whose mortal life is threatened... Things can't get any worse for Alex. And then somehow...they do.
Acclaimed personal writing from one of our most out-spoken essayists, on disability, on family, on being an impolite woman, and on the opporunities and "gifts" of a difficult life.
When crime hits Manhattan’s rarefied circles, Stone Barrington finds himself in the bull’s-eye in this #1 New York Times bestseller. Stone Barrington seems to have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. When Manhattan’s elite are beset by a series of clever crimes—and Stone is a material witness—he and his former partner Dino Bacchetti find themselves drawn into the world of high-end security and fraud, where insider knowledge and access are limited to a privileged few, and the wealthy are made vulnerable by the very systems meant to keep them safe. As Stone and Dino delve deeper into their investigation, they learn that the mastermind behind the incidents may have some intimate ties to Stone...and that the biggest heist is still to come.
Credited with sparking the current memoir explosion, Mary Karr’s The Liars’ Club spent more than a year at the top of the New York Times list. She followed with two other smash bestsellers: Cherry and Lit, which were critical hits as well. For thirty years Karr has also taught the form, winning teaching prizes at Syracuse. (The writing program there produced such acclaimed authors as Cheryl Strayed, Keith Gessen, and Koren Zailckas.) In The Art of Memoir, she synthesizes her expertise as professor and therapy patient, writer and spiritual seeker, recovered alcoholic and “black belt sinner,” providing a unique window into the mechanics and art of the form that is as irreverent, insightful, and entertaining as her own work in the genre. Anchored by excerpts from her favorite memoirs and anecdotes from fellow writers’ experience, The Art of Memoir lays bare Karr’s own process. (Plus all those inside stories about how she dealt with family and friends get told— and the dark spaces in her own skull probed in depth.) As she breaks down the key elements of great literary memoir, she breaks open our concepts of memory and identity, and illuminates the cathartic power of reflecting on the past; anybody with an inner life or complicated history, whether writer or reader, will relate. Joining such classics as Stephen King’s On Writing and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, The Art of Memoir is an elegant and accessible exploration of one of today’s most popular literary forms—a tour de force from an accomplished master pulling back the curtain on her craft.
Get progressive, positive, and constructive sex tips and ideas from one of today's most popular sex educators. When it comes to sex, there's practically no question that Zoë Ligon hasn't heard and researched. Her Instagram and YouTube videos, as well as product reviews, are extremely popular for their up-front approach. Now, she brings her wealth of experience and open-minded attitude to a sex-positive guidebook that's honest, inclusive, and right on time. Lusciously illustrated, this book takes readers through every aspect of sexuality--from body basics and physiology to maintaining healthy relationships. It highlights the usefulness of sex toys in aiding solo and partnered exploration and explains why there should really be no stigma around using these practical tools. It also includes advice on setting boundaries, being respectful of other people's gender identities, and thinking outside the orgasm. Elizabeth Renstrom's dreamy, colorful photographs drive home Ligon's philosophy that there's no one "right" way to have sex. With its focus on intimacy, body positivity, and self-care, Carnal Knowledge can lead you to enjoy sex with security and confidence.
