Sex Counsel - Suzi Godson

Sex Counsel - Suzi Godson

Now this is rather embarrassing, this book looks very well read and quite battered really, and considering the topic I'm a little sheepish about the condition it has ended up in.  In my defense, this is because it has been the perfect bathroom book.  It has sat on the shelves behind the loo and has been read in short bursts so to speak! This has also meant that it has showered accidentally, and chucked on the floor in puddles of soapy water by the kids on ocassions.  My youngest can't read so well, so it wasn't an inappropriate book to leave hanging around by the way, before you raise your eyebrows at me!

I did enjoy reading this book, Suzi Godson is a very insightful, witty, helpful person by the sounds of things.   She is The Times sex and relationships expert and in my simple terms, that means she is a posh agony aunt!  The book is set out in 21 sections, each of which features questions sent in by readers on that particular topic; these range from queries on 'Orgasms, inequities & Oscar Winning Peformances' to 'Age, expectations & dancing naked in the Himalayas with lesbian sheep farmers.'  As you can see, it is written with humour, but that humour is peppered with  sensible, practical advice that is well written and shows a great deal of understanding for the human condition in relation to sexual queries and complications.  

All manner of issues are written about in a question and answer format.  I think my favourite question is: 'I have developed a fetish for black rubber, to the extent that I practically live in black wellies.  How can I persuade my girlfriend to share my kink?'.   Now, me being the insensetive soul I am....I'd probably just giggle uncontrollably and make innappropriate jokes about sheep; but Sophie Godson actually discusses how people hide their fetishes and how that deceit can affect trust in a relationships, why people develop fascinations with kinks, how best to begin a discussion about such thing  with a partner and is generally frank and helpful.  

This is the beauty of the book, it deals with potentially embarrasing questions that people simply don't feel comfortable asking or talking about, not even with their partners or in the case of sexual dysfuctions, with their GP's.  Sophie listens carefully to each query, whether it be about porn, fantasies, kinks, impotency, sexual peformance, sex toys and is unfailingly entertaining and understanding with her observations and advice.

Sex Counsel deals with a huge range of questions, all answered in detail, with sensetivity and humour.  It's easy to read, and a book that's very easy to dip in and out of, which is appropriate at least! (ahem!)  I'd certainly recommend it as an interesting read!

On the back cover page it says 'Within 48 hours your sex life will be transformed forever.....it's a promise' - Daily Mirror.  Well, I'm certainly not telling you if this book does what it says on the cover or not, because I'm a prude probably - but that's a huge recommendation from the Daily Mail at least!

Many thanks to Octopus Books for forwarding Sex Counsel for reviewing purposes.

Santa Montefiore - The House by the Sea

Simon & Schuster sent me this book, and it claims to be 'the star of the summer' - I think they may be right.  If this isn't a 'Beach book' I don't know what one is!  I suspect there'll be a great many of these sold at airports and shoved into hand luggage for reading on a sunbed a couple of hours later.  And rightly so!  

I enjoyed this book and found it an easy read, with a plot that was simple to follow and with characters I quite liked.  The language is straightforward and you can pick this book up, put it down, drink your Sangria, go for a swim in the pool and pick it back up where you left off - effortless reading!  I have to say I loved and was frustrated in equal measure at the flowery descriptions 'The House by the Sea' specialises in.  Sometimes it was lovely to lose myself in the endless countryside descriptions, and at other times I found myself itching to skip the adjectives and find a few more verbs!  It was a bit slow moving sometimes, but then again, I think that's one of the reasons why the book is such a relaxing read.

The simplicity of it all is very attractive.  There are two storylines that work side by side, eventually linking up at the end, when all the loose ends are neatly tied up in a tidy bow.  This is a nice touch, as it does keep you guessing throughout.  I was very curious about how the characters in such different parts of the world were connected and it was very satisfying to see how deftly the author drew all the threads of the stories together.  

To summarize the plot (whilst trying not to spoil it for you...), a small orphan girl becomes friends with an older boy from a rich family, over the years that friendship blossoms into love in the midst of a lush Tuscan landscape.  The girl becomes pregnant and for her own safety is whisked away to begin another life, having to leave her baby and her lover behind.

The other storyline involves a hotel in Devon called the Polzanze, where they are struggling to make ends meet.  They employ an artist to conduct drawing lessons in an attempt to bring in custom, and he inadvertantly falls in love with Clementine, the step-daughter of the owner.  This is a rocky romance that mis-starts a number of times, while Clementine struggles to recognise her feelings and the artist (Rafa) struggles to keep his reasons for being at the hotel a secret.  Marina (the co-owner with her husband Grey) has her own hidden past which gradually reveals itself as the book progresses. 

'The House By The Sea' does all end happily, I don't think I'm ruining anything by telling you that - this is one of the charms of this book.  The whole story is 'nice', in fact I'd go so far as to say it is sugary sweet if I'm giving my personal opinion - perhaps a bit of grittiness would have grounded it in reality a little more.  Still, if you're the kind of person who loves a good romance and a happy ending, you can't go wrong with this novel.

In summary, it's a summer blockbuster!  There's enough interest to keep you reading, the characters are of different ages and at different stages of life so there's something there for everyone. Mind you, I'd be more than surprised to see any men reading this on the airplane home back from Costa del Packet.  The main themes are true love, loss, secrets, passion and if I had do describe this book in terms of a colour, I'd say it was pink - very pink!  It is a very feminine book destined to accompany a golden tan and a swimming pool.