The Good Parts: The Best Erotic Writing in Modern Fiction

by J.H. Blair (Editor), Kathy Acker, Michael Chabon

They imbued their art with the truth about love and sex and seduction. They pushed erotic writing to the center stage of American fiction. They took risks, fed our imaginations, and explored our fantasies. Drawn from the works of dozens of the best contemporary American writers, The Good Parts is American writing at its most unabashedly erotic. Contributors include: * Saul Bellow * Harold Brodkey * Philip Roth * Don DeLillo * Scott Spencer * William Styron * Joan Mellen * Kathy Acker * Rebecca Goldstein * Joyce Carol Oates * Lynne Sharon Schwartz * Elizabeth Tallent * Pat Califia * Toni Morrison * Michael Chabon * Robert Boswell * E.L. Doctorow * Mary Gordon * Oscar Hijuelos * Susanna Moore * Pam Durban * Dani Shapiro * Frederick Busch * Mary Caponegro * A.M. Homes * Charles Johnson * Jane Smiley * Robert Olen Butler * Siri Hustvedt * Susan Sontag * Amy Bloom * Steve Erickson * Amanda Filipacchi * Anna Monardo * Maria Flook * Dale Peck * Joan Wickersham * Lynne McFall * Gwendolyn M. Parker * Charles D'Ambrosio * Jennifer Egan * Anchee Min * Rick Moody * Charlotte Watson Sherman * Paula Huston * James McManus * Mary Gaitskill

Genres: Fiction, Erotica

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[JSou · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book to say the least. It's not one of those books to just sit and read straight through,(I can only read so much porn and erotica before it gets redundant, you know what I mean?) but nice once in a while to pick up and read a little at a time, which was how I approached it. The book's format allowed that fairly easily, since it is just excerpts of different stories.

The different sex scenes in the book ranged from VERY graphic to more subtle and suggesting which worked well.

[Ronald Wise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of excerpts was more tedious than arousing. Being mostly the erotic scenes pulled from larger stories and novels, hardly anything was known of the characters or scenarios. So too many of these pieces were merely mechanical descriptions of genitals in action and the pursuit of orgasm.

This collection did provide a sampling of literary approaches to the erotic scene, and so could be a useful resource for writers regarding the comparative effectiveness of various sexual terms and aroused dialog.  

[Judith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a great appreciation for classic erotica, but I wasn't impressed by this book. It took (what the editors considered to be ) the "good parts" from various novels by famous authors. The cover was so titillating that I was a bit embarrassed to be checking it out of the library. How could this book not be good? I am not sure, but I think it was to tame to be porn; and the segments too isolated from the story to be good literature.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thinking woman's porn. I love it.

[Jason Mashak · Rating 4 out of 5]

An appropriate title, as these are the parts I tend to re-read in any book of prose.

[Anny Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The short stories were very raw and in detail. Certain bits and parts of certain chapters could be a little more loose on the writing. It seems some of them were trying a bit too hard to catch the readers attention. There was only one story I could not get myself to read because it seemed a little too "awkward" in a sense for me but the book is very enjoyable, a great read, and I recommend it to anyone who would be interested in this genre of book.

[Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is subtitled “The Best Erotic Writing in Modern Fiction,” and it includes 47 excerpts taken from much longer works, more than half written by women. The excerpts are short, most of them less than four pages, and taken as they are, out of the context of a much longer, more complex story, they leave something to be desired. I started doing a lot of yawning as I progressed through this book. To the editor’s credit the eroticism is not only about two or more people interacting in intimate sexual activity, but also reminds the reader that erotic and sensual experiences can be found elsewhere, such as in the heat of the sun on human skin or the caress of a breeze. Some of that is included here, as well as eroticism experienced in a dream, or as a witness. One excerpt seemed to be primarily philosophical. But the vast majority are describing sexual activity, and they are told by skillful writers.

These writers are well-known: Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, Michael Chabon, Philip Roth, Saul Bellow, Dani Shapiro, Susan Sontag, Jane Smiley, and others. The descriptions are original and creatively written, but like multiple descriptions of a sunset, many of them repeat what is in the others. Taken out of context they seem to be a bit lonely and lost, what I can imagine recreational or casual sex, or “hooking up” might be like. I‘ve read four of the books whose works are included here and remember none of these scenes, but recall the books as being well-written and worthwhile reading. The best and most helpful characteristic of this collection of erotic writing is that it connects the reader to the novels and short stories from which they came, all of which, I suspect, would be more interesting and satisfying than just reading these excerpts.