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Growing up, I would sometimes sneak peeks at my older brother's Penthouse magazines. Every time I lost the struggle, with my eyes returning to those lips at the column's heading. One thing that struck me, even at such a young, tender and (becoming less) innocent (by the day) age was the Call Me Madam column. And yet I just couldn't help but read Xaviera Hollander's columns.
So many books by those in the sex biz revolve around their pathologies, emotional traumas and daddy issues. Man, those pages were great.No surprise I picked up Hollander's THE HAPPY HOOKER and devoured it. After discovering sex, she just had to share the pleasure with everyone she met. That Xaviera did it, had a blast, and tells everyone around what a good time all that bonking really was really makes this book the classic. The escapades in South Africa, teaching half the boys on a vacation island the ropes, experimenting with girls, the woman's whole life was a preparation for entering, and conquering, the world's oldest profession.One thing that makes THE HAPPY HOOKER so fun is that Xaviera (may I call you by your first name, please) herself is having such a blast. Yeah, like any other boy, I know.
Extremely entertaining, Hollander takes us through her whole sexual history, and what a history it is. Give it to the sex grouches in your life and tell them to lighten up. I mean, I had pictures - good, professional pictures - right in front of me. Every time I struggled with myself - who wants to read words when I can just check out the fleshfest.
Numerous studies show prostitution should be fully legal, controlled and regarded as any other "service" industry. With all that in mind, how how many of us can truely say we enjoy what we do. Anyone who can sell well over 15 million copies of their book, must have something going for them. SEX. As she saids and then there are the clothes`for the "sissy boys", the whips and chains, condoms, bed laundering and all that lubricant. And because of that she was bound to attract the attention of the not so understanding competition and the police.In 1960's New York, police corruption was rampant to say the least, Xaviera's co-author Robin Moore certainly knows that subject from having written THE FRENCH CONNECTION. Her customer's tales and fetishes, their needs and demands, may not be everyone's cup of tea, but theres plenty on offer here for any reader whether at bedtime or on that break from work.
Xaviera's financial climax came in writing this book,not from running her brothel which at best had a hard job breaking even, what with all the police raids, lawyer exspenses, payoffs and bad debts she had to contend with in her business. Don't forget illegal gambling, off-track betting and the numbers racket and interest only loans becoming legit as well.Where would the everso righteous politicians be without the sex for sale industry.
As so thoroughly and often clinically described, she really knows how to turn on both men and women and even both at the same time. But pornography took a while to be fully accepted and look how well thats done, specially on wall street.
In Xaviera Hollander's case it's SEX. Of course we're a long way from that happening.
THE HAPPY HOOKER is both horny and honest about what she once did. SEX.That subject always seems to sell, but what makes THE HAPPY HOOKER such a sinful delight, is just how much she enjoyed her work as the world's most famous madam and ever active prostitute.
I imagine he helped with that side of the book whilst MISTRESS Hollander concentrated on what she knows best.
I feel very few tell such story and is quite natural to be like her acording Freud'view.More over it is written in splendid literary flow and i really appreciate her for the top level work she produced for the reader. Perhaps this is my second time to read it after more than 15 years.It has always impressed me.and i wonder how how a human being could express this level of honesty to tell the most private life which most of us are ashamed even to think about telling.
Then, ofcourse, comes more descriptions of her escapades with men, women, couples, etc., in those days before most people worried about safety. I read this book at a friend's house in the 1970's - so many of us high school buddies grabbed it off his bookshelf that he barely noticed. Still, it's readable style helped sell 15 million copies, leading one to surmise that trashy books have an erotic effect on more men and women than will admit it. This book may be less stunning in today's era of DVD and cyber-porn, but that doesn't exactly elevate it to literature. There's even an autobiography interspersed between the pages of gratuitous sex, as Ms. Hollander describes her upbringing in Holland, and her life as a prostitute and madam in New York City.
She is street smart, funny, and feminine with no apologies. You will find yourself liking her because she never feels sorry for herself and truly loves the business. It's too bad they made such a bad movie adaption - I would love to see another one made. This book is a sexy classic. As a sex worker in New York, I found this book to be truthful and entertaining at the same time (although dated in many respects).
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