A review by charlottereed
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure by John Cleland

2.0

Another book that I had to read for my Rise of the Novel class. Pre.recs. - Pamela and Joseph Andrews. After the first couple sex passages, it gets boring. And it gets farther and farther away from a realistic woman's mind. At first I though well this guy can write from a female perspective. And then let the penis worship begin. The more and more sex is described the more and more it becomes a glorification of male dominance. After all never once is she physically on top. The best part about the book for sure is the language Cleland uses to speak of these sexual encounters. Many a time I had to re-read passages cause I didn't know what was going where. The best reason to read this book, I believe, is simply to read a novel that although published in the 18th century wasn't legal until the 1960's ad 1970's. Oh and another note. Lady Chatterley's Lover (D.H Lawrence) was embarrassing, whereas Fanny Hill was so ridiculous that it was remotely enjoyable. If that at all makes sense.