Modern Sex

What better way to kick off the new year than with the gift of sex? Sex writing, I mean of course. Rachel Kramer Bussel's new anthology, Best Sex Writing 2008, looks like a must-read. Salon calls it "A fun, nimble book that never loses its sense of humor about itself." The press release says it "captures the heart and soul of what's happening behind the bedroom door, where lust, desire, gender, identity, sex work, and politics collide." But Rachel puts in best in the opening line of her introduction: "Sex. One little word, so much drama." Love that in the very first graf, Rachel looks back with a reference to Carole Vance's anthology from the 1982 conference "Toward a Politics of Sexuality" at Barnard College, called Pleasure and Danger, noting how sex is an ever-evolving set of acts, philosophies, and identities that "teaches us, thrills us, empowers us, confuses us, electrifies us." In all sorts of complex ways.

Check out the book's blog, read the intro, and, if in NYC, join Rachel and friends at the book release party on January 22 at, where else, Rapture Cafe. There will be cupcakes. Details here. And stay tuned--I hope to be writing a bit more on the collection here on GWP.