Review: Variations on a Theme
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 12, 2014
Judith Powers' biographical data may be sparse but what she states in her resume is pertinent to this particular debut publication: ` I studied writing in college but ended up making better money waitressing - not what I envisioned when I started out;) Then about 6 years ago I had enough. I decided to do a 180 and get back to what I love doing! I wanted to feel good about my days work, love harder and enjoy my life more fully. So I gave up the day job and work mainly on the keyboard now. I am a super sexual creature and most of my writing tends to follow. My bank account isn't as fat as it could be but I am making it work and feeling great!'In this time of ever more visible and audible explorations of human sexuality we are noticing in books, on the social media of the Internet, on television and in cinema, sooner or later someone was going to write about alternative ways to enhance sexual curriculum. And that is the direction Judith Powers takes in presenting this book of instruction and support for couples who want to expand their spectrum by embracing anal sex.Powers goes about her course in the right way, discussing anatomy of both female and male, the importance of communication between partners before trying something new to routine, the fallacies and myths of anal sex, how to prepare for it, and techniques in performing it. Her guidelines: `Use lots of lubrication, Relax your anal muscles (use slow deep breaths and massage to help), Go slowly (the woman/receiver should control the speed), You can "push" (as if trying to poop) which sometimes helps relax anal muscles during insertion, Don't accept pain--train you anus using a gradual series of toys if needed, Patience--if intercourse is the goal, don't rush it. Baby step your way and you both will be happier in the long run, and Communicate!'After taking the reader through her very serious and well-studied instruction she leaves the read with the following conclusions: `There have been many myths and misconceptions about any form of anal play. It has been my aim to give you a comprehensive guide and enough information to enable you to make an informed decision about something which could add a whole new dimension to your sexual world. If there is one thing that I would like to point out (yet again, I know!), it is that the art of communication is something which will see you through most things as a couple. And this is true for every area of your relationship. At no time do any of us enter a relationship thinking that if it ends, we can just move on to the next one, and yet a lot of people do just that and learn nothing from the whole process. Ideally we learn and grow as we get older. In order to sustain a relationship long-term, we constantly need to re-evaluate what we want and expect from it and be prepared for the fact that our partner may also change. Change is to be embraced and learned from, not hidden away. Good communication is the key for this to happen.' For competent information about something that may or may not be new to you and your partner, try this book. Grady Harp, February 14