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An Honest Woman

A Memoir of Love and Sex Work

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An Honest Woman

By: Charlotte Shane
Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly
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About this listen

 Through the lens of her years spent as a sex worker, Charlotte Shane offers a “rigorous and compulsively readable memoir” (New York magazine) exploring what it means to be a heterosexual woman and a feminist in a misogynistic society.

“A memoir of sex work that is also a poignant love story” —The Washington Post

In her early twenties, Charlotte Shane quit her women’s studies graduate program to devote herself to sex work because it was a way to devote herself to men. Her lifelong curiosity about male lust, love, selfishness, and social capital dovetailed with her own insatiable desire for intimacy to sustain a long career in escorting, with unexpectedly poignant results.

Shane uses her “unsparing honestly” (The New York Times Book Review) and her personal and professional history to examine how men and women struggle in their attempts at a romantic and sexual bonding, no matter how true their intentions. As she takes stock of her relationships—with clients, with her father, with friends, with married men, and later, with her own husband—she tells a candid and haunting tale of love, marriage, and (in)fidelity, as seen through the eyes of the perpetual “other woman.”

Braiding the personal and the universal, An Honest Woman is a merciless and moving love letter to men and an indictment of habitual dishonesty, a condemnation of every social constraint acting on heterosexual unions, and a hopeful affirmation of the possibility for true connection between men and women. Gender Studies Human Sexuality Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences Marriage Memoir
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As the title implies an honest account of what was clearly a very special relationship. A really beautiful listen.

Lovingly told

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This memoir offers a unique glimpse into the world of escorting, a subject that naturally piques curiosity. As the reader, I found myself yearning for a more in-depth exploration of the author's experiences. While the narrative does focus on a recurring storyline with a client named Roger, I wished for a broader examination of her encounters with various clients. The depth and complexity of relationships with numerous men could have enriched the narrative, offering insights into the intricacies of such experiences, both simple and complex.

Additionally, the abrupt introduction of Sam, the person she loves and marries, felt like a missed opportunity to weave a more cohesive story. The capacity existed to expand this memoir substantially, diving deeper into all aspects of her life as an escort. This potential was left unfulfilled, which left me puzzled by the decision to publish the book in its current form. A more thorough exploration would have provided a fuller picture of the author's life and experiences.

Depths unexplored

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Also sorry in advance if my spelling or choice of words aren't the best in this review - I'm a dyslexic bish.

Glad to see the other person that reviewed the book had similar thoughts.

I am writing a fictional book so am reading books like this for some research.

There was potential with this book to have a more in depth look at the experience and self-reflection as a whole. It might be that the author hasn't explored her thoughts to the fullest capacity to be able to give more insight. Or maybe she just doesn't want to share more. I found the bulk of the story with her clients seemed limited. Perhaps I like psychology a bit too much but I'd have liked her to dissect the relationships more as well as her own psyche. I was intrigued as to the bit where she mentions there was a part of herself she kept locked away and wondered what that was? I wonder if shutting parts of oneself down when engaging with prostitution leads to not being able to give more insight? Either way, addressing this in the book would help the reader to understand the situation more instead of speculating.

Of course, it has to be said that writing a book about her personal experience is commendable & an honest recount of such private experiences is appreciated by those of us wishing to find out more. Hopefully there's more books I can find that explore similar topics :)

Calls for more self-analysis

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