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Oedipus Wrecked
If David Sedaris were straight (or Margaret Cho were a man), they might be Kevin Keck. Keck mines the same rich vein of candid, confessional humor as these popular comics, but Oedipus Wrecked goes further in single-mindedly, hilariously recounting every grim detail of the author's almost absurdly varied sexual history. Keck pulls no punches in describing his endless, obsessive erotic experiments. In essays like "Ass Backwards," "Wet, Hot Presbyterian Summer," and "I Was a Teenage Homosexual," Keck skewers his eccentric mother (whose dildo he swipes), documents his plunge into the "chorus of coming" on a sex party line, and limns a particularly outré encounter with a girl who demands he participate in water sports but won't "have sex" because "that's a sin."
For a driven horndog like Keck, sexual taboos exist to be broken. Still he always pays a price through numbing guilt or fear of discovery — though neither prevents him from embarking on the next quest for love and orgasms. Keck's tableaux of sexual excess are rendered in vivid, unflinching language that marks the emergence of a new voice in contemporary humor that's both cuttingly comic and startlingly revelatory.
For a driven horndog like Keck, sexual taboos exist to be broken. Still he always pays a price through numbing guilt or fear of discovery — though neither prevents him from embarking on the next quest for love and orgasms. Keck's tableaux of sexual excess are rendered in vivid, unflinching language that marks the emergence of a new voice in contemporary humor that's both cuttingly comic and startlingly revelatory.
- GenresNonfictionHumor
125 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 21, 2008
This book is so dirty! But, I couldn't put it down. I read the whole thing in just 2 nights. I would have read it in one sitting except my hubby insisted it was bed time. If you aren't shy, this is a great book to read. If you are modest/bashful, then you should stay away.
July 12, 2014
I just felt like I could really relate, you know?
February 26, 2014
Kevin Keck's "Oedipus Wrecked" is a collection of short stories relating the sexual experiences of his youth in a very humorous and straightforward manner. The book was very easy to read and its concepts clearly stated. All in all, it took me about an hour to get through entirely.
As a woman, it provided a very interesting look into a man's sexual psyche. A lot of the stories I read were funny to me and a couple of them (such as the ones describing his panty raids) were a little too vulgar for my taste. Then again, this is fair because people have different kinks, so what appeals to Keck won't appeal to everyone else, just as what appeals to me won't appeal to everyone either. Despite this, I think this book would be really good for any guy at any age who wants to laugh along with someone who experienced the awkwardness of the adolescent sexual awakening and it's recurrence into the young adult life.
Despite being a humorous book, it does touch on themes that I think every man and woman goes through during their sexual lives, including the awkward losing of the virginity, the concept of "no" meaning "no" for men as well as women, the struggle to hide self-pleasure from unsuspecting(we hope)family and friends, and of course the guilt that can sometimes swallow a person whole immediately after completion. In this aspect, I do think it is a good read for both men and women alike.
My only complaints with the book are that at times the stories were a little too vulgar for my taste (this one is definitely not for children to be around, people) and that it was so short. Still, such shortness makes it a nice, quick, and funny read for someone who wants to take a break from more serious books or for someone who doesn't have the time to sit down and read a four hundred page novel.
As a woman, it provided a very interesting look into a man's sexual psyche. A lot of the stories I read were funny to me and a couple of them (such as the ones describing his panty raids) were a little too vulgar for my taste. Then again, this is fair because people have different kinks, so what appeals to Keck won't appeal to everyone else, just as what appeals to me won't appeal to everyone either. Despite this, I think this book would be really good for any guy at any age who wants to laugh along with someone who experienced the awkwardness of the adolescent sexual awakening and it's recurrence into the young adult life.
Despite being a humorous book, it does touch on themes that I think every man and woman goes through during their sexual lives, including the awkward losing of the virginity, the concept of "no" meaning "no" for men as well as women, the struggle to hide self-pleasure from unsuspecting(we hope)family and friends, and of course the guilt that can sometimes swallow a person whole immediately after completion. In this aspect, I do think it is a good read for both men and women alike.
My only complaints with the book are that at times the stories were a little too vulgar for my taste (this one is definitely not for children to be around, people) and that it was so short. Still, such shortness makes it a nice, quick, and funny read for someone who wants to take a break from more serious books or for someone who doesn't have the time to sit down and read a four hundred page novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2008
after "With the Old Breed", I needed a break. my mind needed a breather. I felt overwhelmed with war and death. so what better way to ease the burden in my brain than with a little neurotic jewish sex humor.
Calgon take me away!
Kevin Keck is kinda like the love child between David Sedaris and Sunrise Adams (check the Vivid DVD section at your local sex shop if the name is unfamiliar) only not as great a writer and I sure as hell don't want to own any of his movies (there out there folks, just ask his mom).
In this short but sweet collection of essays, we find young Kevin sharing with us a few of his more memorable experiences, like the first time he had phone sex (which led to a vicious addiction and some creditors calling) to his failed attempt to have anal sex with his girlfriend. There is the video tape fiasco (previously mentioned), A dip into the waters of homosexuality and, in one somewhat disturbing essay, a trip to the doctor in which young kevin shares with us his list of the various lubricants he has used to pleasure himself over the years. The doctor was shocked and I was laughing for about five minutes.
unfortunately the stories/essays (whatever you want to call them) got a bit darker as the book whet on and the last one left a bitter taste in my mouth (metaphorically speaking). I could recommend it, but not for the faint of heart.
luckily you could probably read it in an hour or so. so you got that going for you, which is nice.
Calgon take me away!
Kevin Keck is kinda like the love child between David Sedaris and Sunrise Adams (check the Vivid DVD section at your local sex shop if the name is unfamiliar) only not as great a writer and I sure as hell don't want to own any of his movies (there out there folks, just ask his mom).
In this short but sweet collection of essays, we find young Kevin sharing with us a few of his more memorable experiences, like the first time he had phone sex (which led to a vicious addiction and some creditors calling) to his failed attempt to have anal sex with his girlfriend. There is the video tape fiasco (previously mentioned), A dip into the waters of homosexuality and, in one somewhat disturbing essay, a trip to the doctor in which young kevin shares with us his list of the various lubricants he has used to pleasure himself over the years. The doctor was shocked and I was laughing for about five minutes.
unfortunately the stories/essays (whatever you want to call them) got a bit darker as the book whet on and the last one left a bitter taste in my mouth (metaphorically speaking). I could recommend it, but not for the faint of heart.
luckily you could probably read it in an hour or so. so you got that going for you, which is nice.
January 6, 2008
True I only read 1/2 of it and I wont purchase it (that's right all you haters of book store readers - i'm saying it up front) but I will finish it next time I'm at Powell's and I will recommend it to lots of people, some of whom WILL purchase it.
BUT, not in my house with my 7 year old son - no, sirey, bob! I've heard way too many people talk about books they found on their parents shelfs (at what I would consider to be waaaaay to early an age) and the last thing I want is to explain to my little darling that while some people enjoy putting ice cream scoops and bananas up their asses, that in our house kitchen utensils are just for the kitchen or that masturbation means this, and phone sex means that etc. etc.
That being said Keck is shockingly candid about his sexual experience and many of them are hilarious. I was constantly moving from cringe to laugh and back in a matter of a few words.
I especially enjoyed the story wherein he tried to emulate porn he had seen by responding to a girl that said she was hungry during sex by saying, "do you want a hot dog" then offered her his limp penis which ended his far less than ideal experience with losing his virginity.
BUT, not in my house with my 7 year old son - no, sirey, bob! I've heard way too many people talk about books they found on their parents shelfs (at what I would consider to be waaaaay to early an age) and the last thing I want is to explain to my little darling that while some people enjoy putting ice cream scoops and bananas up their asses, that in our house kitchen utensils are just for the kitchen or that masturbation means this, and phone sex means that etc. etc.
That being said Keck is shockingly candid about his sexual experience and many of them are hilarious. I was constantly moving from cringe to laugh and back in a matter of a few words.
I especially enjoyed the story wherein he tried to emulate porn he had seen by responding to a girl that said she was hungry during sex by saying, "do you want a hot dog" then offered her his limp penis which ended his far less than ideal experience with losing his virginity.
May 17, 2014
Kevin Keck's collection of essays, Oedipus Wrecked, is insanely funny. This book, while much too brief, left me wanting to read more about Keck's sexual (mis)adventures.
Whether it involves stealing his own mother's vibrator, recording himself masturbating (only to have his family accidentally view the evidence), or nearly going broke as he wastes gobs of time on phone sex lines, Keck's many sexual adventures are a riot. These are not for the faint of heart.
One big thing I enjoyed about this collection is the author's honest, straight male perspective. He writes about things many other guys are probably thinking (or doing behind closed doors), yet few are talking about. I find that refreshing.
Whether it involves stealing his own mother's vibrator, recording himself masturbating (only to have his family accidentally view the evidence), or nearly going broke as he wastes gobs of time on phone sex lines, Keck's many sexual adventures are a riot. These are not for the faint of heart.
One big thing I enjoyed about this collection is the author's honest, straight male perspective. He writes about things many other guys are probably thinking (or doing behind closed doors), yet few are talking about. I find that refreshing.
June 28, 2011
Way back when, I used to enjoy reading the stories on nerve.com (back when the site was good), and Kevin Keck was always my favorite essayist. My boyfriend and I would be sure to mention to each other when a new Keck essay was posted. This slim book contains all of his essays, most of which I've read before, and is a fun, David-Sedaris-style collection of stories dealing with the sex life of the author. There really isn't a ton here (and even with the small number of essays repetition seeps in) but this is still an enjoyable, quick read for when you want a short shot of humor and honesty about sex and all the weird stuff that goes with it.
Three stars.
Three stars.
August 27, 2014
I read this book in one sitting after spending a straight 14 hours in planes, trains, and automobiles...which speaks to my mental state while reading because by the end of the book I was a little less amused and a little more concerned that this Keck guy might have a problem. Nevertheless I loved the combination of well written prose (sprinkled with ten-dollar words) and the semi-depraved super-debauched straight talk about sex.
Note: this was a Goodreads Giveaway so anything I say can and will be used against me. Although if I included the nice note from the author I would bump it up to 4.5 stars.
Note: this was a Goodreads Giveaway so anything I say can and will be used against me. Although if I included the nice note from the author I would bump it up to 4.5 stars.
Read
May 15, 2012Back when reading and dating on Nerve.com was my life (2001-2003, with a brief return in 2005), Kevin Keck was one of my favorite writers (the other being Lisa Carver.) I had read many of these essays about sex back then, but re-reading them was almost comforting. And although I never wrote about my sex life for a national audience, I do think reading these writers influenced how open and not-shy I became as an adult. Also this book is only 125 pages and I read it in about an hour. You can't go wrong with that.
March 8, 2011
Enjoyed his memoir more. I think Tucker Max has jaded me in this genre, which isn't really fair. And while this is different at least, I found the younger sex stories a bit creepy. That being said, there were some hilarious parts (making of the sex tape), some quite beautiful passages (Sound is the most pleasurable of the senses...), and who doesn't love a voyeuristic peek into others people's kinks? By the way, Marceil was lying.
November 4, 2008
"Not for the young! This book is a little dirty but a great read for a book club because you just HAVE to talk about it. The main character is hilarious. I don't know how much is real but it's worth it."
March 10, 2009
Super entertaining sexy exploits and mishaps. One of the funnier reads in a while. A good beach book, if the beach is for adults-only. :-)
(Note: We have no idea how this got on our bookshelf at home. Thanks to whomever left it.)
(Note: We have no idea how this got on our bookshelf at home. Thanks to whomever left it.)
November 15, 2007
Laugh out loud goodness. So shocking and funny. A leader in the genre I call "cringe-lit." Maybe I should start a shelf called that.
April 29, 2008
Requires a brain scrub afterward.
January 6, 2009
This a sexual "coming of age" book of short stories and I assure you it's a dirty one but totally honest, which I appreciate. I wouldn't recommend to my mom.
October 27, 2010
Hilarious and self-depreciating while at the same time ringing true. I read it in a day.
Read
January 18, 2013This is an uncomfortable series of vignettes describing a man's sexual dysfunction and addiction, told in a self-abusive, humorous manner.
March 29, 2015
Hilarious and Dirty. I LOVED this book
February 24, 2008
"keck is the bravest writer i know." --J.D. Dolan
April 17, 2015
Original and witty. Written with a strong voice and a wicked sense of humor. Not safe for work. ;)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews