by
Radhika Sanghani (Goodreads Author)
Radhika Sanghani is a delighful writer--spritely, spirited and a spanking to conventional views.
As the title suggests, Sanghani's main character Ellie Kolstakis is 21 years old, a college senior, an aspiring writer, and--GASP!--a virgin. In Sanghani's novel (which is 85% Brit Chick Lit and 15% Fem Crit), Kolstakis traverses the bumpy road towards First Intimacy with honesty and humor. Along the way, she grapples with the burdens and challenges and double-standards women bear, from sexual judgmentalism to contraception to STDs to the Hollywood Brazilian (which Ellie re-names the "Hitler").
As can be guessed from the previous paragraph, Radhika Sanghani pulls no punches, bars no holds, and spares no detail. Sanghani's novel is like a hybrid between Judy Blume and Candace Bushnell. While, as a guy, I repeatedly blushed and "OhNoSheDi'int!"ed reading it, Sanghani's sensitive and forthright voice made it well-worth the read. Frankly, I wish I'd read this book when I was 21; I might have been a more understanding person.
I can't help but think that this book would be great to read side-by-side with feminist Jessica Valenti's book, "The Purity Myth," since Sanghani brings fictional life to a number of Valenti's philosophical points.
As the title suggests, Sanghani's main character Ellie Kolstakis is 21 years old, a college senior, an aspiring writer, and--GASP!--a virgin. In Sanghani's novel (which is 85% Brit Chick Lit and 15% Fem Crit), Kolstakis traverses the bumpy road towards First Intimacy with honesty and humor. Along the way, she grapples with the burdens and challenges and double-standards women bear, from sexual judgmentalism to contraception to STDs to the Hollywood Brazilian (which Ellie re-names the "Hitler").
As can be guessed from the previous paragraph, Radhika Sanghani pulls no punches, bars no holds, and spares no detail. Sanghani's novel is like a hybrid between Judy Blume and Candace Bushnell. While, as a guy, I repeatedly blushed and "OhNoSheDi'int!"ed reading it, Sanghani's sensitive and forthright voice made it well-worth the read. Frankly, I wish I'd read this book when I was 21; I might have been a more understanding person.
I can't help but think that this book would be great to read side-by-side with feminist Jessica Valenti's book, "The Purity Myth," since Sanghani brings fictional life to a number of Valenti's philosophical points.
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