Tag Archives: books

8 Horrendous Pieces Of Sex Advice From The Most WTF Book Ever Written

Dating Don'ts: Negging
Just say no to negging! Read More »
Sex Rules To Break
These sex rules are not worth following. Read More »
Cosmo Sex Advice
Can you tell the real advice from the fake BS we made up? Read More »

Amazon describes the little-known (thank God!) 1999 self-help book, The Rules For Getting Laid: Get The Sex You Want as an “outrageous, hilarious, politically incorrect book shows men the boneheaded mistakes they make in seducing women” and tells “readers the secrets no one else will have the guts to speak!” Well, that was putting it kindly. The Village Voice dug up a copy of the out-of-print book and combed through the pages for useful tips from authors David Graff  and Ray Schwartz (two men who clearly have never gotten laid). Spoiler: there weren’t any. But there are plenty of super offensive, misogynistic, bordering on stalker-ish/rape-y pieces of sex advice to get whipped up about. Let’s do that, shall we? After the jump, the worst, most awful, most WTF sex advice from the book that promises: “Feminist women and men will try to ban or burn this book!” Burn, burn, burn! Keep reading »

Like This, Love That: Your Music & Book Recommendations For The Week!

Welcome to a new semi-regular feature on The Frisky in which we comb through all the new releases in books and music, and present you with our top picks. We’re calling it “Like this, Love That” — think of it as a human “Amazon Recommends,” or that friend of yours who’s always on top of the newest and the latest. Check out our picks for this week — including J. Cole’s new album and Neil Gaiman’s latest — after the jump!
Keep reading »

Frisky Q&A: Jo Piazza, Author Of Love Rehab: A Novel In 12 Steps

Bachelorette, Ep 1
Recapped the first episode of "The Bachelorette"
Desiree is not a "fantasy suite on the first date" type of girl. Read More »
Bachelorette, Ep. 2
Soulja Boy Makes Video With The Bachelorette
These fools made a rap video with Soulja Boy. Read More »
Black "Bachelorette"
Misee Harris
Dr. Misee Harris wants to be the first-ever black "Bachelorette." Read More »
Silly Diversity Ideas
What "The Bachelor" really needs is an A-cup or a freegan. Read More »
interview with Jo Piazza

Have you been watching every episode of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” since way back? Us, too. Have you been just a little disappointed and confused and, oh why don’t I just say it, bitter at how much less shiny and magical actual romances are in real life? Us, too.  Have you ever acted like a coo-coo bananas bird after a breakup? US, TOO! Well, there’s a new book out this summer called Love Rehab: A Novel In 12 Steps, written by Jo Piazza, a former gossip columnist for the New York Daily News, that combines all of these topics!

We get mailed a lot of books that you could classify in the “chick lit” genre here at The Frisky. Amazon.com ain’t got nothing on us! Most of them I send straight to the giveaway pile, but every so often I’ll read one (preferably lying in the sun, with my pedicured toes in the sand) that’s smart and funny and shareable with friends. Love Rehab is that book. After the jump, Jo Piazza answered some questions for me via email about her best breakup tips and her thoughts on current “Bachelorette” Desiree! Keep reading »

Nominated CIA Deputy Avril Haines Is Into Some Sexy Stuff

We Suggest Erotica!
What If It Hadn’t Been "Fifty Shades of Grey" But One Of These Erotic Novels Instead?
We've got lots of erotic novels to recommend. Read More »
50 Shades Of Grey
This erotica book is sweeping the nation. Read More »
From Politics To Porn
Diana Pang Peng Dan
Meet Diana Pang, the Chinese porn star who is now in politics. Read More »

When the only other “Avril” the world has known is a time-warped punk star, what else did you expect, Mr. President? Apparently, the newly nominated deputy director of the CIA, Avril Haines, used to host Erotica Night at her Baltimore bookstore back in the ’90s. Haines co-owned Adrian’s Book Café in Fells Point and helped develop the monthly erotic gatherings, where guests would read aloud their sensuous tales over dinner.

What were these nights like, you’re wondering? Well, according to a 1995 Baltimore Sun article… Keep reading »

Mommie Dearest: On Having An Only Child

It Takes A Village
mom and kids
Stop the mommy message board hate. Read More »
Mommy Wars Ceasefire
I want a ceasefire on the mommy wars, because it helps no one. Read More »
Mom Vs. Dad
Which parent takes the lead when parenting? Read More »
Jessica Valenti Q&A
The author of "Why Have Kids" explores parenting and happiness. Read More »
only child

When I first read a review of Lauren Sandler’s new book, One and Only: The Freedom Of Having An Only Child And The Joy Of Being One , I was hopeful. As the mother of an only child (and with no plans at all to have any more children), I’ve had my fair share of judgement from others. I’ve been told I’m selfish, that I’ll live to regret this decision, that my child will grow up lonely, that he’ll end up resenting me and his father for not giving him any siblings, that he’ll feel burdened when it comes time to care for us in old age. The list goes on and on. I’ve heard variations on these remarks from family, people I know well, and complete strangers.

Trust me, this wasn’t a decision we came to lightly and it’s one that is constantly on my mind. In fact – shameless self promotional plug – my essay in my upcoming anthology about the myth of the “good mother” deals specifically with this topic and is titled “Yes. I Am That Selfish.” So to read about a book that thoughtfully takes on the notion of having one child — and debunks many of the myths commonly associated with it — felt a bit liberating. Keep reading »

7 Fictional Father Figures Who Helped Raise Me

Father's Day 2013
We heart you, dad! Read More »
Deep Convos With Dad
6 tips for having some real talk with your pops. Read More »
Father figures

I’ve written before about why my dad is awesome, but looking back at my childhood, he definitely wasn’t the only father figure in my life. Being the imaginative weirdo that I was, most of my alternate dads were completely and totally fictional, but that didn’t make them any less integral to my emotional development. It was actually pretty hard to pare down this list, but here are 7 fictional characters — from a Jedi Master to a clumsy handyman — who were my imaginary dads, and taught me a lot about life in their own unique ways… Keep reading »

Werewolf Erotica For Everyone!

World's Oldest Erotica
This is the world's oldest erotic sculpture. Read More »
Preach It, Anne Rice!
Anne Rice photo
Erotica queen Anne Rice on feminism and women's sensuality. Read More »
We Suggest Erotica!
What If It Hadn’t Been "Fifty Shades of Grey" But One Of These Erotic Novels Instead?
We've got lots of erotic novels to recommend. Read More »
  • Good news, prisoners: a California court has ruled you have a First Amendment right to all the “erotic” werewolf novels you desire. Hubba, hubba. [Raw Story]
  • An actress named Shannon Richardson of Texas, who had small roles on “The Walking Dead” and “Vampire Diaries,” has been arrested for allegedly sending ricin-laced letters to President Obama.[Yahoo]
  • Check out the trailer for Woody Allen’s newest film, “Blue Jasmine.” [The Atlantic Wire]
  • “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner addresses those rumors that the office asskisser Bob Benson is secretly a government spy. [The Wrap]
  • Katie Holmes had dinner this week with feminist icon Gloria Steinem. Weirdest. Pairing. Ever. [US Weekly] Keep reading »

10 Life Lessons I Learned From Reading Young Adult Novels

As is true for most aspiring writers, I was first a reader. I think I learned to read at like 4 and completely devoured The Babysitter’s Club series, and then the Hardy Boys, there were some kids in a boxcar that were really entertaining. And then Harry Potter happened and I literally wrote myself a Hogwarts acceptance letter and left it in my parents room. Needless to say, I was a weird child. In any event, through my preteen years, young adult novels were my jam. I learned like all of my important life lessons via teen novels. I mean, really, Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret taught me everything I needed to know about dating and love and relationships and the importance of getting boobs.

Here are the top 10 life lessons we’ve gathered from the best young adult novels. If you haven’t read any of these yet, you should. With your big grown up college brain, you’d get through them in like a week. Read more on College Candy…

10 Awesome Summer Beach Reads

I’m all about reading — all of it and everything, and at any time, but my favorite place to read is most definitely the beach. With the return of 90 degree heat and high humidity, my mind starts wandering to getting my body to a seashore, stat. My beach reads usually consist of a clutch of month-old Us Weeklys and something large and ambitious like Middlemarch, but this year I’m looking to change it up. The best beach read has a compelling story, and an elusive combination of substance and fluff. Thankfully, we did the legwork for you — click through to see The Frisky staff’s recommendations for breezy summer beach reads with bite.

Must-Read Books
woman reading in bath
22 books every woman needs to read. Read More »
What Your Bookshelf Says
Ever wondered what your bookshelf says about you? Read More »

George R. R. Martin Is Writing A “Game Of Thrones” Coffee Table Book Now

The book in question, according to George R.R. Martin, is “a compendium of the history and legends of the world of Westeros,” and though it’s officially called The World Of Ice and Fire, UK publisher HarperCollins has given it the nickname “The GRRM-arillion.” I like that name better. The nerd is strong with this one.

For all you Westeros backstory fiends, the book is presented as a book given to King Robert Baratheon just after the Rebellion and will contain, per Martin:

“Never-before revealed details of Aegon’s Conquest, the War With the Faith, The Dance of the Dragons, the Paramours of Aegon the Unworthy, etc.”

The book, co-written by Martin and fansite Westeros’ Elio M García, will be out next spring. Read more on The Mary Sue…