Sexography: One Woman's Journey from Ignorance to Bliss

by Carly Milne

By turns serious and playful, Sexography maps the coming of age, tragedy and rebirth of one woman's sexual self. From making out with imaginary Hollywood stars in her closet (and getting busted) to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1597775436
• ISBN13: 9781597775434
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Phoenix Books
• Length: 449 Pages
• Weight: 2.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An absolutely riveting story

I found Carly Milne's powerful memoir almost impossible to put down. It is profoundly moving, at times humorous and often heartbreaking, but just as the author comes to feel gratitude for the strength she's gained from her life's challenges, the reader too will feel thankful for the courage and honesty of this book. Even if you haven't personally experienced sexual abuse, every woman (and man) will recognize the issues raised here--the struggle to move from sexual object to sexual agent, to find nourishing intimacy with others, and to love and respect ourselves and in a society that is often hostile to these goals. Milne reminds us that when we write thoughtfully about sex, we're also writing about all of the deep, dark, scary and beautiful reasons we do it. Popular magazines these days are full of broken promises to reveal the secrets of sex to readers hungry for the truth--Sexography actually delivers some genuine answers. Highly recommended.

How Can You Survive and Find a Way to Thrive?

Carly's book left a strong and lasting impression on me. I found it to be a journey that every woman should travel, as I felt myself grow in strength and resolve as she does, overcoming the odds to find her voice--and one with an amazingly discerning eye and superior sense of humor. It's an inch, by inch description of how one young girl, then woman searched and earned her own sense of self, and self esteem. There are no short cuts or platitudes that can erase an abusive past--the secret to healing really lies in hard work and perseverance. Struggling to create your own anchor, (one's sense of self, and a grid of values of your own making) is a universal, coming-of-age-and-beyond struggle. What makes this book so intriguing is that the subject matter, a "Sexography" throws in sharp relief many of the issues women face, from wanting and needing a man who is not good for them, to how to fathom and take advantage of the great experience sex can be. But basically, this book is about LIFE, how to make peace with the one you've got, and embrace all the possibilities it has to offer in the midst of sacrifice, pain and disappointments...this should be required reading for every young woman.

What a journey!

With a title like SEXOGRAPHY and a cover image so enticing, if one is to judge this book by its cover, one might guess that this book is filled with lurid, shocking, and downright naughty stories about sex, sex, sex! And while there are some very naughty stories indeed, notice line underneath the title of the book: One Woman's Journey from Ignorance to Bliss! This is not just a book about sex; it's an honest account of Carly's sexual journey through her first three decades of life... the good, the bad, and the ugly... set in the context of how her sexuality affected her life in the larger picture. Instead of a one-sided analysis of her sex life, Carly delves deep into the various aspects of all the emotions, behaviors, life-changing decisions, and other ways that sex gets wrapped in our lives. I hope that in another 30 years, Carly will consider a follow-up sex memoir book to tell all about her next 3 decades!

SO real, very moving, very inspiring

I was so impressed, reading this book, at the degree of detail, candor, and depth used to describe each passage of Carly's life. It truly is a tale of growth & redemption, & what is more inspiring than a real life telling of how an abused girl grew up, explored & took control of her own destiny? And all the while, very real. She ruthlessly puts herself out there for the reader to see, internal & external wounds & all. I recommend it to anyone, especially someone who has known someone who has experienced some type of sexual abuse or assault, as well as those who have gone thru it themselves.

Emotional, intense - and witty and fun too!

Sexography isn't a self-help book - and it doesn't need to be. Instead, it's one woman's tale, a tale that sets a great example for how sexual abuse can be dealt with and how the survivor can come out of harrowing experiences not only whole, but stronger. Whether or not you are a woman with a history of sexual abuse in your own personal history, you'll probably recognize many of Milne's emotions and the lessons she learns, from saying no, to realizing that abuse isn't her fault, to learning to love herself.