Does anyone in America find politics sexy? Sure, Obama’s a good looking guy, but any chances of me finding him carnally attractive were dashed the day he danced on Ellen’s talk show. And yes, Bill Clinton’s exploits were documented ad nauseam, but cigar play and stained Gap dresses aren’t sexy, just gross.
American politics haven’t been truly sexy since the days of John and Jackie and Marilyn Monroe cooing “Happy Birthday Mr. President,” all of which happened before Generations X and Y existed. For those of us younger than 45, The White House is just about as erotic as oatmeal.
But Stephen Elliott has edited a collection that may change some minds. Sex for America: Politically Inspired Erotica features talented literary names like Anthony Swofford, Jerry Stahl, Rick Moody, and Jonathan Ames contributing stories that explore the intersection of sex and politics. Even if the book doesn’t get you all hot and bothered, it will provide some awesomely subversive laughs and insight.
Elliott, appearing at Skylight Books tonight to read from the collection, has a well-documented political side. Besides authoring short story collections and the critically acclaimed novel Happy, Baby, Elliott chronicled the lead up to the 2004 presidential elections in his memoir Looking Forward to It: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the American Electoral Process. He’s also edited three volumes of the “Politically Inspired” fiction collections.
This is the first collection to focus on erotica, and readers will be treated to stories such as Charlie Anders tale of a woman who visits a dominatrix to take her mind off election night. Then there will be the stories revolving directly around politicians; the abstinence-only, gay marriage-dissing, seriously repressed Bush administration will be targeted in a few of these pieces. In one, readers will find out the real reason behind Dick Cheney’s infamous duck hunting accident. I’ll give you a hint: jilted Dick.
Skylight Books is located at 1818 N. Vermont Ave - Map, 323.660.1175.
Tonight’s event starts at 7:30 PM
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