Sarah Forbes

This was a fascinating and enlightening memoir. Well written and highly informative even if you think you know all there is to know I guarantee you will be surprised by at least a few of the facts found in these pages. I grew up in an age where talk shows were more than just celebrity gossip and tests for paternity, so I was probably 16 the first time I saw a chubby man waddle onto a tv stage to proclaim he was leaving his wife because he found a woman willing to change his diapers and breast feed him. I suppose I am saying that to make it clear that I have not led a sheltered life and I am quite aware that for any repulsive thing you can think of somewhere there is a person who is as turned on by it as you are disgusted by it. Yet I had never heard these rumors about Cleopatra, nor did I know there were animals that participate in necrophilia. I've learned a multitude of new words such as sploshing and merkin and am now aware of which creature has a penis on it's head! Aside from the informative and entertaining aspects of the history of sex the author also shares with us a bit of her own life, which was quite interesting as well. Although this is not usually the type of book I reach for I must say it was quite well done. 5 of 5 stars from me.

I received an advance copy for review… (altro)

As evident by the popularity of Romance Novels, the best-selling book (and movie) “Fifty Shades of Grey”, or even letters in the newspapers to “Dear Abby”, etc., sex is a popular subject. And then of course, there’s a shadier side of sex, involving porn, S&M, bondage, and bizarre sexual devices, which isn't commonly discussed in mixed-company. This book, "Sex in the Museum" tends to bridge these two areas, without unnecessarily emphasizing the latter.

Having lived in New York City, I was aware of the Museum of Sex, and always thought of it as focusing on the more bizarre side of sex and sexual activities, and felt it was too odd to visit. But when I heard about Sarah Forbes’ book ”Sex in the Museum”, and found it recommended, I cautiously decided to read it. And I was actually pleasantly surprised. I can’t say I knew exactly what to expect, but was suspicious that it would be full or taboo subjects, erotica, or simply descriptions of weird devices and practices. Actually, it was quite different and relatively bland from a sex perspective. Instead, it was more of a personal memoir of the author, Sarah Forbes, and her transition from a young anthropology graduate to becoming the curator at the museum. She describes how she came to take the job, added some humorous personal anecdotes, and how she went about setting up special exhibits. The author’s background in anthropology came out in her descriptions and interest in several of the museum’s collections and exhibits, and how they demonstrate how sexual norms have changed over generations and societies.
… (altro)

http://msarki.tumblr.com/post/142799373173/sex-in-the-museum-my-unlikely-career-...

The promise was certainly there for an exciting read. The question posed to me would be the degree of honesty Sarah Forbes would muster regarding her own personal story of her surprising emergence as a sort of “sex worker” coming unlikely on the heels of her graduating from a conventional academic study in anthropology. Forbes provided herself with an entire book in which to elaborate and explore, in what was hoped to be in the spirit of jeopardy, her tenure as sex curator. The Museum of Sex would afford her, to a curious degree, enough decadence and titillation that can only be imagined by her potential readers. In my mind, because of these unique circumstances, Sarah Forbes was required to present more than just a mere reporting of what she had learned. Her daily bombardment of sexual subcultures alone should have prompted even the slightest personal bout of salaciousness. It seems almost frigid to me for Forbes to remain distanced and so desiring to be perceived as scholarly while immersed in this environment of wanton sex. Even her formal accounting of her own wedding presented an almost flippant reporting of extreme lust, but offered no additional details in which the reader might actually believe her. There was no feeling anywhere. Her words were dead.

Sarah Forbes did present a few sexual kinks she discovered in her involvement as curator, but to no degree that was stimulating or exciting in any way, and certainly no kinks presented of her own. There was never a question of what was good, bad, deviant or normal sexual behavior as promised in the blurbs. Throughout my reading I remained indifferent and unsatisfied. But because of my obvious interest I can only hope that deviant behavior will always remain titillating to the extent of its being considered forbidden and something that additionally still must be somehow exhumed. Unfortunately I discovered nothing in these pages that felt threatening to a degree in which I myself might shudder as reformed Lutherans are wont to do.

The sharing of her love story, her prior dating and eventual marriage to her new husband, is what I most found unnecessary and totally lacking. It seemed to me that this was the main object behind her writing this book. That and composing a self-help book for today’s woman regarding relationships and parenting. Throughout the duration of her romantic inclinations I was thinking “who cares?” And as much as I always insist in my reading for the personality of the writer to come through on the page, it is doubly important that she be interesting and liked. Neither of these required attributes impressed themselves upon me.

For as much as her background as an anthropologist excited me, just for its possibilities in uncovering sex, Sarah was a bore. Any writer promising the extent of titillation that this book did, who then describes a romantic date eating fast-food in, of all places, at a MacDonald’s in New York City and then bragging about how great the experience was, obviously should be avoided at all costs. Problem was this silly anecdote describing her most momentous date with her future husband came a bit too late in which I might have successfully bailed. Unfortunately the work failed to deliver on any promises made. And it is what I have come to expect from the blurbs and hype of today’s popular culture filling the backs of almost every dust jacket a publisher needs to sell.
… (altro)

(ARC was provided to read and review.)

I was lucky this year to be able to visit with one of my groups one of the author's talks at the Edinburgh Book Festival. (A fabulous event which takes place for a couple of weeks every year in August on Edinburgh's Charlotte Square and if you happen to be in Scotland at that time of year, don't miss it.)
Seeing Sarah Forbes interact with her young audience, I can fully understand why her books are so much fun to read and why there are so many Elspeth fans.
The Perilous Voyage is the second book in the Elspeth series, but even if you haven't read the first one, you will easily get into the story.

Elspeth Hart has just escaped the Pandora Pants School for Show-Offs, where she was held captive by the truly horrible Miss Crabb (which if I remember rightly from Part 1 is her aunt) and the even more horrible (because VERY smelly) Gladys Goulash.
Sadly, for Elspeth things aren't looking as bright as she had hoped, because her parents weren't at home when she finally arrived.
They had left in the meantime to search for their missing daughter, and in their hurry they forgot to mention in the written message they left behind, where exactly they went.
To make matters worse, Miss Crabb and Gladys have broken into Elspeth's home and stolen the famous Extra Special Sticky Toffee Sauce recipe.
Elspeth has a very good idea where the two nasty ladies went, the HMS Unsinkable, and the two will also almost certainly know of her parents whereabouts. Elspeth is determined to sneak aboard and get the recipe back, whatever it takes. Luckily her friend Rory and his sidekick, the pet lizard Lazlo, join her on her adventure and on the cruise ship they meet another very likeable character, Cassie.
What now follows is a fun read with plenty of twists and turns to keep the young reader happily hooked, but will the trio succeed and find the famous and unique recipe? And where exactly are Elspeth's parents?

The book bursts with highly enjoyable ideas and exciting moments, all beautifully enhanced with splendid black and white illustrations.
Elspeth is a hugely likeable character. Courageous, smart and utterly cute with the most stunning black hair, you can't help but root for the young girl right from the start.
The story itself is divided into small chapters, which are just the right size for the target audience, children between 6 and 10. My younger daughter had a lot of fun reading the book.
There's no doubt, Part 3 of the story will follow, as there's a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, which means, be aware, not every problem will be solved when you've read the last page of this installment.

Four solid and sticky toffee-stars from me and I'm looking forward to Elspeth Hart's next adventure.… (altro)