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The Erotic Lives of Women

Book Review

At first glance, this looks like it could be another Taschen book. But as soon as you open it up, you realize it's a little more--and definitely a lot deeper. Linda Troeller and Marion Schneider wanted to know more about the erotic fantasies of women, their initial experiences and the sexuality of aging women. This wonderful book is the result of their quest to satisfy their curiousity. The two began by interviewing each other, and then went on to interview friends and acquaintances. Throughout these explorations, the women share their secrets and their knowledge. It was the authors' belief that women need to share their secrets in order to learn from one another, and in exposing their private relaitonships with their bodies, the subjects have helped remove some of the stigma and restrictions society places on our sexuality. "The world of emotions makes many people insecure," Troeller says. "Eroticism in its most extreme forms is not easily combined with everyday expressions of life. Instead of being a pleasurable event, we tend to distance ourselves from such powerful feelings. They endanger our society." This book is filled with the divulgences of women from around the world, accompanied by explicit photgraphs. Their ages, races, religious beliefs and range of sexual experiences vary radically. And because they are being so open and honest, what they have to say is very sexy. Women readers will find solace and reassurance in the incredibly personal feelings the subjects share. Male readers will experience an entirely new facet of women's sexuality and no doubt benefit greatly from the the frankness of these brave women. And regardless of one's gender, reading this book will leave you feeling much less alone with your own sexuality.

The Erotic Lives of Women
by Linda Troeller and Marion Schneider
ISBN 3-931141-74-8
www.scalo.com