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The Virgin Project |  | Creators: Stasia Kato, K. D. Boze
Publisher: Fanny Press
Category: Book
Buy New: $16.95
as of 3/22/2010 09:38 MDT details
New (2) Used (3) from $16.95
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 248739
Media: Paperback
Pages: 142
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 10.5 x 8.3 x 0.3
ISBN: 1603814000
EAN: 9781603814003
ASIN: 1603814000
Publication Date: September 9, 2009
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Product Description
Few human experiences are as universally shared, and yet as diverse, as the loss of virginity. The Virgin Project is a collection of first-time sexual encounters that illustrate a small sample of the breadth of human experience. Some people consider virginity as a prize to be given away. Some consider it a burden to be disposed of. For some, it was stolen and can never be restored. A few place little value on it at all. As one remarked, "I didn't lose my virginity any more than I 'lost' my pacifier. I outgrew it." The very moment of losing virginity among same sex couples can be a gray area and a topic of debate. Some focus instead on gaining their sexuality, and the opening of a new world of human experience. In one sense, losing one's virginity is an antiquated concept, because society no longer regards sex outside of marriage as shameful. Yet it still marks a passage from adolescence to adulthood for every generation. Most everyone remembers the "first time," some with regret, but many with fondness. According to Dr. Alex Comfort, writing in "More Joy of Sex," "Sex is the only social skill we do not learn by watching," which may account for the great variety in the stories. This first volume of The Virgin Project is the product of a collaboration between two artist-storytellers. They collected stories at various times and locations, including the Seattle Erotic Art Festival and the Victoria Erotic Art and Film Festival. All of the stories in this book are true. The names have been changed to protect privacy, and fictitious names were supplied by the people telling the stories, resulting in a few duplicate names. The variety of stories includes everything from teenage experimentation to wedding night nerves, including the humorous and tragic, gay and straight - all of them different. The introduction is by Ellen Forney, a professional cartoonist/illustrator/author and college instructor. In retelling these stories, artistic license has been used.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 9
Impressive Rendering of a Range of First Time Stories December 28, 2009
Rachel Kramer Bussel (New York City)
The Virgin Project is a stunning collection of true stories about losing one's virginity, all of which the artists captured via interviewed and "transcribing" the stories of men and women they met at two erotic art festivals. The results feature people of varying ages recounting experiences good, bad and ugly. Many, though not all, were in their teens, and there's lots of sneaking around, and a few parents being surprised. The artists work with what they're given wonderfully, both in disguising their subjects (the book opens with a woman with a paper bag over her head), as well as offering "The World's Fastest Virgin Story" in which a woman approaches and says, "He was a jock. He was a jerk. And...um...I still hate him," then takes off, not giving her (fake) name or age. There's Linda, the 46-year-old missionary who was, along with her soon-to-be-husband, a 33-year-old virgin, whose story ends with "And I'll bet you a million bucks you won't print this story."
It's the unexpected--and often very dark and violent stories--here that stays with you, though there is plenty of humor, as well as coming out (and come-ons from cousins). The whole question of what their "first time" was is revealed and sometimes retracted; several interviewees told of a rape, followed by their real first time. This is powerful testimony and it's clear that these people wanted to be heard and share these stories that so often get buried by all of us. This is a wonderful collection that I could see giving to someone on the verge of "losing it," or someone who's well past that stage.
A mix of all kinds of good things September 30, 2009
K. Thompson (Eugene, OR)
This clever book treats its subject matter with a rare combination of humor and sensitivity. And of course, the book itself is aesthetically pleasing. I finished it in just one sitting, but also think its format lends itself perfectly to sporadic down-time reading. I found it thoroughly fascinating, fun, and enjoyable.
The Virgin Project September 19, 2009
Skald_217 (Worcester, MA USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the sort of book you hope to find on the coffee tables of your cooler friends when you drop by for a visit. The cartoon format definitely underlines the point that this whole virginity thing is not really all that serious of an affair in the end. At one time or another all of us have viewed losing it as a rite of passage of some great importance, but The Virgin Project serves to put the whole idea into perspective. The artists seem to have a fine touch at expressing the mood of the individual stories they're telling from the humorous to the horrific. Everyone has someone whom they know would appreciate this book and the discussions it would provoke just as everyone is just a bit curious about what everyone else is doing.
Great gift book September 17, 2009
Paul B. (Seattle, WA United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Virgin Project is a frank and direct, yet sensitive treatment of real peoples' first sexual experiences. The different stories, told by a team of processional cartoonists, are all moving and powerful. Some stories are beautiful and touching. Others are funny. Some are tragic. There is nothing pornographic or explicit about this book, and yet, each story portrays graphically the loss of virginity: the artists successfully convey not just the physical but the also emotional aspects of the stories by using the characters' own words. It's a prety amazing book.
I agree with the authors on their blog (virginproject.fannypress.com): if I had a teenager at home, I'd accidentally leave this book on the coffeetable for them to find. For young people, this is a matter not just of entertainment but of life and death. It would also make a great gift, as it will make you laugh, cry, and remember your own story.
Universal stories for everyone March 20, 2009
Roberta (Seattle, USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is a very reader-friendly book telling people's true tales of how they 'lost it' drawn in a very friendly, engaging comics style--nothing in the least sleazy about it. From cheerful to truly chilling, consensual to anything but, featuring everyone: men, women, hetero, gay, undecided, I think learning about how many ways people have experienced this has the potential to break down barriers and I am sure many readers will find it therapeutic. The art is never boring, much of it is very humorous and it is a really unique creation. Highly recommended.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 9
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