“Best Sex Writing 2013” Erotic Reading Review

“Best Sex Writing 2013” is an annual anthology of essays about the culture of sex that was going on that year. Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel and published by Cleis Press, this annual anthology helps show how the state of the culture of sex is changing over time. This anthology has been going on since 2005, so it’s nice to see the changes that have happened over time. “Best Sex Writing 2013” has 229 pages, and in those pages, there are 20 different essays about sexual culture.

As the theme suggests, this book is full of relevant essays on sexual culture. They aren’t just “mainstream sexuality” essays either. While delving into this book, you’ll read about a man whose childhood was spent drawing nude women, sex in the elderly population, polaymory, how vibrators are changing, sex at reststops, Tim Tebou and his sexuality, adult baby sexuality, a transgendered person’s journey, an open letter to how the leather community has changed, masochism and how it relates to sexuality, how AIDS changed the gay community, submission and how it effects her personality identity, hookers and prostitution, child prostitution and how it isn’t being solved, reproductive choices and the current war over it, and many more.

As a note, you also can find essays in this collection from large names such as Carol Queen, Madison Young, Rachel Kramer Bussel, and more.

I found a lot of the essays to be really interesting, but I definitely had a couple of essays that I found more interesting than others. All of the essays, though, in Cleis Press style, are good-quality essays with factual information and very little grammatical errors. The topics are unique, and it’s not just about boring statistics. The essays are about alternative parts of sexuality as well as the well-accepted parts, and that really makes everything more awesome.

One of the essays, “Can a Vibrator Inspire an Age of Great American Sex?” written by Andy Isaacson, follows the changing of vibrators over the years. In particular, a lot of the essay focuses on JimmyJane and how the focus on luxury and design in the JimmyJane vibrators has helped change how vibrators are seen. It has a lot of interviews with Ethan Imboden, the creator of JimmyJane vibrators. It’s really just a cool look into how vibrators have changed as well as JimmyJane vibrators in general.

Another article, “Sex by the Numbers” by Rachel Swan, focuses on polyamory. She follows a couple of people who are in polyamorous relationships and talks about what they enjoy about the relationships. It looks into the problems that have come up with the polyamory movement. For those who aren’t into polyamory, this essay is a unique look into what emotions go with polyamory as well as some of the reasons that people get into it.

Another good one is “Very Legal: Sex and Love in Retirement”. In a really unique look at a population that’s rarely considered “sexual”, this essay, written by Alex Morris, looks at senior citizens and sexuality. It looks at how the elderly regard sex differently as well as some of the changes that happen in relationships as people get older. It also looks at the idea of dating in a retirement or nursing home. Sex in the elderly is not usually looked at, and this is a really unique essay that explores it.

When it comes to “Best Sex Writing 2013“, this is an amazing book. The essays are interesting and unique without being boring. They aren’t just rehashing some of the old facts of the year. Instead, they’re looking into the history of sexuality as well as seeing how these issues could change the future of sexuality too. All of the essays are well-written and enjoyable to read. Thanks to Cleis Press for sending out this sexual culture book for my review.

The Erotic Reading Review is a regular column written by Kayla. This column brings you reviews over erotica, instructional, and other types of sex-related books.