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Rock Paper Sex: The Oldest Profession in Canada's Oldest City
St. John s is known as a flourishing port city, a cultural gem, and popular tourist destination: a picturesque city of pubs and restaurants, music and colourful houses. But a thriving sex trade quietly exists beneath that polished conception, a trade few are aware of or even understand. In an engaging journalistic style, Kerri Cull respectfully reveals the people who make up the city s surprisingly diverse sex industry and, in the process, makes a compelling humanistic argument for understanding before judgment."
- GenresNonfictionCanada
216 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2017
16 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 3, 2019
This book is an eye opener to what’s going on with sex workers in St. John’s.
Each chapter describes an oral testimony of a person involved in the trade. Be it a stripper at a strip club, a young lady who works from her home, a swinging couple, a dominatrix, a transgender female, a John who just wants a companion, bartenders in strip clubs, managers of clubs etc
It’s very interesting
One may have met some of those people walking around town, maybe crossed their path downtown or down a hill or up a hill..
I wish there was more stories and less focus of bill C-36 but that’s fine
Each chapter describes an oral testimony of a person involved in the trade. Be it a stripper at a strip club, a young lady who works from her home, a swinging couple, a dominatrix, a transgender female, a John who just wants a companion, bartenders in strip clubs, managers of clubs etc
It’s very interesting
One may have met some of those people walking around town, maybe crossed their path downtown or down a hill or up a hill..
I wish there was more stories and less focus of bill C-36 but that’s fine
February 5, 2018
This is a very eye-opening and informative book that I would recommend to anyone.
Showing the personal accounts of those in the sex trade and bridging an invisible gap that most people feel are between them and "sex workers". Showing them a real, normal people living, different lives and paths.
This book opened my perspectives, taught me empathy and understanding about these women and men in my community that the media and fear have taught me are not a valuable part of it.
A must read!
Showing the personal accounts of those in the sex trade and bridging an invisible gap that most people feel are between them and "sex workers". Showing them a real, normal people living, different lives and paths.
This book opened my perspectives, taught me empathy and understanding about these women and men in my community that the media and fear have taught me are not a valuable part of it.
A must read!
July 15, 2024
Very interesting and eye opening. I loved learning about the different perspectives of sex work in St.John’s because it’s a topic I didn’t know much about. I took one star off because it took me some time to get into but once I did I was very intrigued.
November 26, 2022
I went into this novel pretty blind on what to expect. I appreciate Kerri letting most of the interviewees’ words speak for themselves - literally in their own words. It was a hard, nuanced topic but the way she presented the information was easy to read. Would recommend to anyone interested in learning about sex work within our province. I will definitely be reading the second one.
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May 27, 2024I’d recommend! It’s really eye opening and provides so many different perspectives
August 14, 2023
This book is eye-opening to all of the different sides of sex work, and it surprised me to hear of just how much sex work is happening in our small province.
I think Kerri has done a great job of helping to educate the public on how different sex work can be for many sex workers, and how likely it is we all know someone who is doing sex work to help make their living.
Kerri obviously did a lot of research and spent a lot of time listening to what her contributors had to say, and I will be checking out some of her referenced work for more reading.
Looking forward to her sequel.
I think Kerri has done a great job of helping to educate the public on how different sex work can be for many sex workers, and how likely it is we all know someone who is doing sex work to help make their living.
Kerri obviously did a lot of research and spent a lot of time listening to what her contributors had to say, and I will be checking out some of her referenced work for more reading.
Looking forward to her sequel.
January 7, 2024
This book is a page turner, the ultimate book for real and raw content! Would read it all over again! Looking forward to volume 2.
August 26, 2024
Wow. I think this is a must-read for anyone and everyone!
January 10, 2018
Disclaimer: I work in the homeless-serving system, which intersects with the sex trade, so this is not a completely unbiased review. Having said that, I will try to review from the perspective of a reader. I was interested in this book in order to gain a better understanding of the sex trade in St. John's, and the stories were enlightening and engaging. There was also some contextual information provided in the form of interviews from subject matter experts in the community. What I felt was missing from this book was some sort of thematic treatment - i.e. chapters or sections about certain themes, with stories to complement them, as opposed to a random collection of stories with no real narrative thread to tie them together. As a result, I didn't feel that the book "took" me anywhere - as in, that I started at one place of understanding and finished at another. I don't feel inspired to do or think differently about a subject that is very human, and that deserves to make readers feel sad or mad or reflective or disgusted or SOMETHING, ANYTHING! As a point of comparison, I read The Other Side of Midnight: Taxi Cab Stories (also about St. John's, also published by Breakwater) a couple of years ago, and I felt like this book stayed with me - it educated me, enlightened me, and made me want to give a heavy tip to each cab driver I encounter in St. John's. This book is a great concept, but I feel that the subject matter wasn't given the treatment it deserves.
December 30, 2017
I could not put this book down. Kerri Cull captures the sex trade industry in NL from two perspectives. While 99% of the book is from the side of the workers and purchasers themselves, she ties it all together eloquently at the end by including those who understand the law, and outreach programs. This book is a must read for those working with vulnerable populations. I was so drawn to this book that I finished it in three days.
July 15, 2021
Well written and very educational on the lives of sex workers in Newfoundland, Canada.
May 14, 2020
Cull introduces the voice of sex workers through a collection of interviews, which are largely summarised into stories with some direct quotes from participants. Participants range with regards to the kind of sex work they do as well as their past experiences and backgrounds. Cull also includes an interview with a lawyer and interviews with relevant members of the community, such as people who work for outreach programs.
In terms of a journalistic report, Cull was quite responsible. The writing is both emotionally and intellectually appealing, and it is an easy, short, accessible read.
Creatively, Cull is also successful. She had a clear purpose for her work and created vivid stories out of interview data. Lone quotes that describe sex work from participants separate the interviews. This is a creative way to introduce different perspectives and provide breaks between longer stories.
The book is most useful for people who would identify as feminists or social scientists studying issues in gender and sexuality, although any mature audience could gain something from reading the stories.
However, the book did not reach its full potential. As what could be simply described as qualitative research, the book was lacking thematic analysis and organisation of data. Interviews were transcribed and summarised into concise stories, but there was no obvious way in which the author categorised the entries, nor was there any kind of analysis beyond the summarisation.
I talk about the book in more detail on my blog because I took interest in these stories (ernsterro.com). :-)
In terms of a journalistic report, Cull was quite responsible. The writing is both emotionally and intellectually appealing, and it is an easy, short, accessible read.
Creatively, Cull is also successful. She had a clear purpose for her work and created vivid stories out of interview data. Lone quotes that describe sex work from participants separate the interviews. This is a creative way to introduce different perspectives and provide breaks between longer stories.
The book is most useful for people who would identify as feminists or social scientists studying issues in gender and sexuality, although any mature audience could gain something from reading the stories.
However, the book did not reach its full potential. As what could be simply described as qualitative research, the book was lacking thematic analysis and organisation of data. Interviews were transcribed and summarised into concise stories, but there was no obvious way in which the author categorised the entries, nor was there any kind of analysis beyond the summarisation.
I talk about the book in more detail on my blog because I took interest in these stories (ernsterro.com). :-)
July 27, 2020
So I live in St. John’s. I am also a burlesque dancer. Most people lump that in with sex work, stripping, pornography etc. I don’t go nude on stage, I don’t sleep with people for money. There is nothing wrong with doing either of those things so being included in that community does not offend me. What makes me sad is the looks I sometimes get when I tell people I dance burlesque. It’s not shameful, don’t look at me like I’m pond scum.
Some of these girls in this book clearly have some other things going on. Such as the high end escort. She says this is her choice and has no feelings of shame but the rest of the story says otherwise. She seems lost.
A lot of women state that they feel empowered, in control and a strong woman because of sex work. I’m not saying this is wrong but I am saying that based on the fact that these woman are literally selling themselves to men and they feel like a strong woman for it, we need to re-examine how we as a society treats and empowers women. Not saying these people don’t have the right to feel empowered. I found the stories in this book to be eye opening in that sense. I am not throwing shade at anyone, I’m saying reading the stories had me evaluating my thoughts and beliefs.
Some of these girls in this book clearly have some other things going on. Such as the high end escort. She says this is her choice and has no feelings of shame but the rest of the story says otherwise. She seems lost.
A lot of women state that they feel empowered, in control and a strong woman because of sex work. I’m not saying this is wrong but I am saying that based on the fact that these woman are literally selling themselves to men and they feel like a strong woman for it, we need to re-examine how we as a society treats and empowers women. Not saying these people don’t have the right to feel empowered. I found the stories in this book to be eye opening in that sense. I am not throwing shade at anyone, I’m saying reading the stories had me evaluating my thoughts and beliefs.
March 8, 2020
I picked this up from listening to the Inkpod podcast, created by WANL, which interviews the author in its first episode. I was somewhat fascinated by the process of how she organized the project, met with the interviewees, and put it all together, complete with their individual green light on each piece.
Reading it, I wasn't let down. A lot of them are on the short side - 3-4 pages long - but each and every snippet gives a different angle and perspective on their respective roles in the industry. It's a veritable mosaic of viewpoints, which the author crafts together to form a stained glass window, allowing insight into the sex trade of St. John's. How you, the reader, views that is as much a matter of interpretation as there are myriad views and opinions upon the participants themselves.
It's a very intricate, unbiased compilation that the author has created here . All you have to do is shine your own light through it and see what it looks like for yourself.
Reading it, I wasn't let down. A lot of them are on the short side - 3-4 pages long - but each and every snippet gives a different angle and perspective on their respective roles in the industry. It's a veritable mosaic of viewpoints, which the author crafts together to form a stained glass window, allowing insight into the sex trade of St. John's. How you, the reader, views that is as much a matter of interpretation as there are myriad views and opinions upon the participants themselves.
It's a very intricate, unbiased compilation that the author has created here . All you have to do is shine your own light through it and see what it looks like for yourself.
April 12, 2018
This book was better than I had expected. I was afraid it would read more academic (like an essay) and be dragged out. It wasn't. It was well written and very interesting and eye-opening. There were a lot of WOW moments for me. I didn't realize all that actually goes on here and the extent of it; I guess I'm sheltered. This is a good read to see what is happening in our province (in this area) and what many people are going through in their everyday lives. Each chapter is the story of a different person in the sex working industry. Some are young, some are older. Some have just started and some have been working for years. Some are working from home, or in a club, or massage parlor, or meet at other locations. There are stories from women, men, transgender, sex workers, johns, and those that work with sex workers. I recommend it.
December 1, 2017
One of the best non fictions I’ve read in some time, one that catches your attention easily and doesn’t let you put the book down. I found myself thinking... well I’ll just read one more chapter then I’m done for the night.
Kerri does a fantastic job interviewing and capturing the essence of each sex workers stories. I had known that the industry was alive and well in St. John’s but I never knew to what extent. The stories are raunchy, inspiring, passionate, and overall eye opening in all capacities. It was really interesting viewing who “vulnerable” people were through all of their unique and individualistic perspectives.
Behind it all, I really appreciated the knowledge and insight on Bill C36 and the stances on decriminalization vs legalization.
Definitely a worthwhile read, even more so if you know St. John’s!
Kerri does a fantastic job interviewing and capturing the essence of each sex workers stories. I had known that the industry was alive and well in St. John’s but I never knew to what extent. The stories are raunchy, inspiring, passionate, and overall eye opening in all capacities. It was really interesting viewing who “vulnerable” people were through all of their unique and individualistic perspectives.
Behind it all, I really appreciated the knowledge and insight on Bill C36 and the stances on decriminalization vs legalization.
Definitely a worthwhile read, even more so if you know St. John’s!
November 28, 2017
Having read Paid For, a very dark inside look at the world by a former Irish sex-worker, the tone of Rock Paper Sex is decidedly different. Though not painting a "Pretty Woman"-style look at the world of prostitution, Rock Paper Sex does allow the idea of chosen, empowered work to come out in the various interviews Cull has conducted.
Reading both Rock Paper Sex and Paid For certainly illustrates one point incredibly well - the debate around sexwork, victimization, feminism and stigma is an incredibly complex one that is challenging for anyone to take a real stand on, certainly when considering the various angles and positions different players come from.
Well written and balanced, and allowing the voices of those directly involved to speak their own truths, Rock Paper Sex is a good addition to the debate.
Reading both Rock Paper Sex and Paid For certainly illustrates one point incredibly well - the debate around sexwork, victimization, feminism and stigma is an incredibly complex one that is challenging for anyone to take a real stand on, certainly when considering the various angles and positions different players come from.
Well written and balanced, and allowing the voices of those directly involved to speak their own truths, Rock Paper Sex is a good addition to the debate.
December 17, 2017
I liked the idea of the book and where Cull was going with the book - give sex workers a voice and have their stories heard through their own voices - but it felt incomplete. The subtitle of the book alludes to some history and/or cultural context of the sex trade in "Canada's oldest city" but it's not there in the book. Having sex workers tell their stories was great, but I was missing the analysis or the connection to a bigger picture. How does is the sex industry a reflection of St. John's as a whole? How has the sex industry in St. John's changed as the city has changed through history?
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November 5, 2025I picked this up at a little free library, and was excited to read from a local author, as well as learn more about this important topic - happening where I live.
Having pursued criminal justice through university and working with vulnerable youth, there weren’t stories in here that surprised me necessarily. Instead, I appreciated the opportunity to read stories from those involved on either side of this industry and get a bit of a fuller perspective.
I don’t like rating nonfiction, but this was a good read.
Having pursued criminal justice through university and working with vulnerable youth, there weren’t stories in here that surprised me necessarily. Instead, I appreciated the opportunity to read stories from those involved on either side of this industry and get a bit of a fuller perspective.
I don’t like rating nonfiction, but this was a good read.
February 13, 2018
Good read. Knowing both ends of the pages (workers vs clients, and outreach services), from each different perspective... I would have loved to see the author's view throughout protraying the participants narrative. This being said, the storie are well reported, so that I can recognize some people's dialogues having met them. It would have been great to see a line of direction and a standing point from the writer.
August 4, 2020
A very thorough look at Bill C-36 and the people behind its reason for existence. With interviews from all perspectives of sex workers and their work, Cull touched on some heavy topics that will give any reader insight into the life of prostitution, strippers and the dark side of Newfoundland in general.
Reading this book will give you the stories behind the headlines and leave you thinking about it for months or years to come.
Reading this book will give you the stories behind the headlines and leave you thinking about it for months or years to come.
May 28, 2024
Couldn’t keep my hands off this book! Was such an amazing collection of compelling stories from those with lived experiences, that will make one really question the view/stigmatization of sex work in general.
Every chapter is a different interview, with a different individual who is somehow connected with some form of sex work. No story, viewpoint, or opinion is remotely the same; just shines a little bit of light on the complexity of the profession.
Every chapter is a different interview, with a different individual who is somehow connected with some form of sex work. No story, viewpoint, or opinion is remotely the same; just shines a little bit of light on the complexity of the profession.
April 11, 2019
5.0/5.0
Hidden Gems:
Who goes to someone's house with $25 and expects a blow job? Fuck off and go home out of it.
There are some towns in Newfoundland and Labrador that have a lot of kink happening; pockets of activity all over.
Most people don't think they'd ever do it, but everyone has a price.
Hidden Gems:
Who goes to someone's house with $25 and expects a blow job? Fuck off and go home out of it.
There are some towns in Newfoundland and Labrador that have a lot of kink happening; pockets of activity all over.
Most people don't think they'd ever do it, but everyone has a price.
August 24, 2023
These are friggin deadly! I’ve read both books and are one of the highest recommended books by me. It’s a bunch of short essays about sex work in Newfoundland. The stories range from people who work in the trade, who were forced into the trade, and people who avail of the services. Mind opening books!
December 19, 2017
Distinctive view of the variety of sex work happening in one of Canada’s most beautiful cities. Definitely giving the reader the perspective needed to end the stigma and stereotype surrounding the profession
March 29, 2018
The topic of this book is quite interesting and made me think about lives of those working in the sex trade living in my province. I only gave it a 4 out of 5 due to the writing style - especially with the last few chapters where the question was asked and then answered in interview style.
May 14, 2018
Such an interesting read. It definitely opened my eyes to a part of my city that I knew existed, but did not know was such a prevalent industry. I've honestly been referring this to everyone. So, so good.
November 30, 2023
This book was interesting. All the different perspectives, experiences, and individual stories kept my interest. I was also surprised at how much I did not know having lived down there for 6 years going to university. I enjoyed this read and will be looking at the sequel.
March 27, 2025
This book was full of a variety of perspectives on sex work (or other terms used by participants) in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. I'm glad the author was able to give these individuals a platform to tell their stories. I'm looking forward to reading Volume 2.
January 13, 2019
Insightful, I appreciated the variety of
testemony and the author's ability to let each voice ring through.
testemony and the author's ability to let each voice ring through.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews