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A review by kaylo88
The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women: An Inside Look at Women & Sex in Medieval Times (Human Sexuality, True Stories, Women in History) by Rosalie Gilbert
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.25
I did enjoy this book overall but it also left me with mixed feelings after finishing it. The title suggests a focus on secret and scandalous information, but much of the content doesn't quite live up to that expectation. It's important to note that the book primarily discusses the lives of European women, rather than delving into the experiences of women globally.
There were aspects of the book that I really appreciated. The author clearly put in a lot of effort into researching the topic, drawing from various primary sources to provide a comprehensive view. Additionally, I found the writing style to be engaging, and there were moments where I found myself genuinely laughing.
The book is marketed as a discussion of women's sex lives, but it often felt like the focus was more on the control that society and therefore men exerted over women. This isn't a flaw at all as it's important to show that at times women had little choice at what happened in their lives. Imagine choosing to become celibate rather than having intercourse with your husband (who you were often forced to marry).
The chapters on lesbians and intersex individuals were enlightening and added depth to the topic. I am glad that these chapters were included and that there are so many historical texts about both these topics.
One particularly fascinating section discussed how women in the past might have faked evidence of their virginity during the consummation of their marriage. This was a topic I hadn't encountered before, and it has sparked my interest in further research.
Unfortunately, there were elements of the book that I found jarring. The author's use of modern-day examples and attempts at humor felt out of place in a book that otherwise presented well-researched historical information. These skits were supposed to be a funny addition between the historical information but they just didn't work for me. Additionally, there were instances where the author's tone seemed to convey a disdain for men, which I don't believe was her intention.
In conclusion, while the book was an easy and engaging read, it had its flaws. Despite its shortcomings, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to explore this topic through the book.
There were aspects of the book that I really appreciated. The author clearly put in a lot of effort into researching the topic, drawing from various primary sources to provide a comprehensive view. Additionally, I found the writing style to be engaging, and there were moments where I found myself genuinely laughing.
The book is marketed as a discussion of women's sex lives, but it often felt like the focus was more on the control that society and therefore men exerted over women. This isn't a flaw at all as it's important to show that at times women had little choice at what happened in their lives. Imagine choosing to become celibate rather than having intercourse with your husband (who you were often forced to marry).
The chapters on lesbians and intersex individuals were enlightening and added depth to the topic. I am glad that these chapters were included and that there are so many historical texts about both these topics.
One particularly fascinating section discussed how women in the past might have faked evidence of their virginity during the consummation of their marriage. This was a topic I hadn't encountered before, and it has sparked my interest in further research.
Unfortunately, there were elements of the book that I found jarring. The author's use of modern-day examples and attempts at humor felt out of place in a book that otherwise presented well-researched historical information. These skits were supposed to be a funny addition between the historical information but they just didn't work for me. Additionally, there were instances where the author's tone seemed to convey a disdain for men, which I don't believe was her intention.
In conclusion, while the book was an easy and engaging read, it had its flaws. Despite its shortcomings, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to explore this topic through the book.