by VIVID Girls
Regan Books, $10.17 (at amazon)
You'd think a sex how-to book half-written by porn stars would be part fantasy and not too lucid at that. But this book, actually written by Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman with the help of 7 VIVID studios contract beauties is hot, hot, hot. This is the book every guy's looking for. In the center, you get -- well not exactly centerfolds -- the Vivid girls in their street clothes so to speak, looking every bit as gorgeous and voluptuous as clothed porn stars can: the ever famous Jenna, the sultry Tawny, the gorgeous Kira Kener, plus blond bombshells Dasha and Briana, the dark and sultry Mercedez, the perky blond young thing, Sunrise, and simply sexy Savanna. Besides the visuals, all these sex-driven ladies offer frank tips, discuss their preferences and secrets, and make for a book that's not only steamy but informative -- who would have thought?
Those little sidebar "Vivid Tip" boxes make you feel like you're a fly on the wall in the ladies room at a porn shoot as the girls discuss, for example, their favorite lube and why they like it. The votes come in, as varied as the girls themselves -- 3 KYs, 2 IDs and an Eros -- so you don't get the sense that they're pushing product.
In fact, you learn something in every comment, for example, Mercedez: "I don't like the water-based lubes because I feel like I stick to him while we're having sex. Silicone lube leaves my skin smooth and moisturized afterward." These sidebars are chock full of tidbits you always wanted to know about -- for example, what does a porn star do when she has to film a sex scene during her period?The main point driven home by these little tip boxes (check out "BJ Cheat Sheet"), or the pullout starlet quotes ("I can have an orgasm without any fingers or penetration if my clit is being worked properly" -- Savanna), or the porn star "stats" is that every girl is deliciously different. Take some time, enjoy it, get to know your woman.
"It's really important for a man to communicate with her," says Jenna (Jameson) in a pullout quote, "to ask what technique she likes. There are so many ways to do it, and every girl is different." And to follow up, the writers add: "When you first start going down on a woman, experimentation is key."And while the book also reinforces that there's no one surefire method to get her or him off (and it does contain instructions for both), the endless tips have you convinced you're ready for anyone, whoever she may be.
The chapters start off with "Fantasy Files" -- brief but juicy tales about nymphos going to town on each other or taking on multiple cocks: "She trembles slightly as she is led into the royal bedchamber..." Not only do these hot tales suck you in right away, but as excerpts from books, they give you a taste of another whole world of reading possibilities.
Then you get to the how-to, which is so lucidly written you think you're comparing notes in the john. The writing comes from a new generation of language for discussing sex; it's bright, fun, cute and sexy, and the chapter titles say it all: "pre-production" (preparing for sex), "lip service" (kissing), "adjust those headlights" (breast play -- and lots of it, imaginative and new), "Shag Tag" (positions), and, well you get the picture.
All these ingredients -- the porn stars, the pictures, the tip boxes, the pullout quotes -- come from a very tired formula the publishing world often uses to present sex a) to compete with the brevity and directness of the internet and b) because they know when people are in the mood to learn about sex, they don't want to be parsing and deciphering, they want to be getting hot.
This book breathes life into the formula! It's so clear and so dense with content, you learn tons of things in a small amount of space. And on top of that, it's FUN. Take the chapter on cunnilingus: "going down (on her)" (yes, they ignore title capitalization; this is sex, not the library!) Within 3 pages, you get recommendations of good films to watch to learn a primary trick of cunnilingus: start slow. You get some basic positions (how a guy can keep from getting tired) and basic tongue techniques, yet you hardly realize you're learning all that. Next you get the personal preferences of the stars.
"It's better when you stick your tongue out if it is relaxed," says Mercedez. "I can definitely come from soft licking if it's done right."
"Some guys think they really have to work you hard!" Savanna exclaims. "At first, do it really lightly with soft strokes. When the clit gets hard and swollen, then you can work it harder. I think guys should err on the side of being gentle, and she can always grab his head and grind it in harder."
This approach is like SexBook Of Sex - Find Sex with Real People for Free Advice Lines, only compressed. You get a key question, like "how long should I go down on a woman for?" and then you get a consensus of opinions from the girls (the writers refer to them as "Team Vivid"). With both a male and female writer to deliver the nuts and bolts content, this book has all the bases covered; it has managed to strike that extremely rare balance that doesn't seem written for one sex or the other. Obviously How to Have a XXX Sex Life has great appeal for guys, but women will
One of my personal favorites is the chapter on director Chi Chi LaRue. Known primarily for directing gay films, LaRue has crossed over to direct heterosexual porn for VIVID. "Sure a woman's breasts are important to the look of the film, but I found that if you have a good amount of focus on the guy, the film will appeal more to women." Yay!
Really, I've seen a lot of schlock topple over my desk, much of it too formulaic, or too cutesy, or too technical, or just not getting it at all -- but this book is the real deal.
