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Sex with Shakespeare
Sex with Shakespeare: Here's Much to Do with Pain, but More with Love | Jillian Keenan
A provocative, moving, kinky, and often absurdly funny memoir about Shakespeare, love, obsession, and spanking When it came to understanding love, a teenage Jillian Keenan had nothing to guide heruntil a production of The Tempest sent Shakespeares language flowing through her blood for the first time. In Sex with Shakespeare, she tells the story of how the Bards plays helped her embrace her unusual sexual identity and find a love story of her own. Four hundred years after Shakespeares death, Keenans smart and passionate memoir brings new life to his work. With fourteen of his plays as a springboard, she explores the many facets of love and sexualityfrom desire and communication to fetish and fantasy. In A Midsummer Nights Dream, Keenan unmasks Helena as a sexual masochistlike Jillian herself. In Macbeth, she examines criminalized sexual identities and the dark side of privacy. The Taming of the Shrew goes inside the secret world of bondage, domination, and sadomasochism, while King Lear exposes the ill-fated king as a possible sexual predator. Moving through the canon, Keenan makes it abundantly clear that literature is a conversation. In Sex with Shakespeare, words are love. As Keenan wanders the world in search of connection, from desert dictatorships to urban islands to disputed territories, Shakespeare goes with her and provokes complex, surprising, and wildly important conversations about sexuality, consent, and the secrets that simmer beneath our surfaces.
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Andrea313
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The surreal epilogue to last night's read: an imagined conversation between author and Bard, capturing so beautifully what I love about Shakespeare. ❤️

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Andrea313
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Pickpick

This was a re-read for me, but I liked it even more on the second go-round. Equal parts personal memoir, Shakespeare tutorial, and a meditation on kink, fetish, sex, and love, the author takes us through her journey of understanding and exploring her sexual identity and the ways in which Shakespeare's plays and characters illuminate her own life- and the ways in which her experiences color her interpretations of his work.

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artkavanagh
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Pickpick

This book is part personal memoir, part literary criticism and part argument about sexuality. Not a combination I remember having encountered before, it works just as well as I‘d have expected—which is to say it works brilliantly. The first chapter opened my eyes to A Midsummer Night‘s Dream which had previously been one of my least favourite Shakespeare plays.

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daniwithtea
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Mehso-so

Huh. Not sure what I expected, but a memoir about coming to terms with one‘s spanking link via Shakespearean analysis was not it. Definitely going to reach out to some friends from my old Shakespeare group about this one.

31/100 for the year.

Jabberwocky ... weird 7y
18 likes1 comment
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daniwithtea
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Taped inside my library book. “Be a little mysterious.” ❤️

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readordierachel
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This memoir about doing the #nasty has been burning a hole in my kindle for a while now. How nice would it be of we could all own our sexuality and desires without fear or shame? Here's a nice review and interview from Bitch media if anyone is interested: https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/jillian-keenans-new-memoir-sex-shakespeare.

#fiercefeb
@batsy @Cinfhen

batsy Love this interpretation and you're absolutely right. Thanks for the link, it sounds good! 7y
TheAnitaAlvarez It was such a cool book! I‘ll check the review 😊 7y
readordierachel @TheAnitaAlvarez Glad to hear you liked it! I'm looking forward to reading it 7y
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daniwithtea
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Library day! I‘m on a “romance novels I read in the 90‘s” kick.

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Devyn
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I just bought myself a Kindle Fire after having the original Kindle for EVER. I mean, basically since the day the first Kindle came out type of forever. So it‘s been a while since I‘ve delved into ebooks. Any you love that I‘ve got to add to my library?

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BethwithBooks
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What's that you say? I am the worst and shouldn't be allowed to participate in picture a day challenges because I can't keep up? You're right, but I'm sure the good people of Litsy can forgive me? So as to not flood your feeds I will consolidate my catch-up for #awesomeautumnbooks @Jess7

#ToughTuesday
#WildWednesday
#ThrillerThursday

Stiff=tough b/c of the squeamish ick factor
Sex w/ Shakespeare=self explanatory
And well Paula Hawkins=thrill

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candyflossramparts
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Pickpick

I finally got a chance to read this and I really enjoyed it! The author works to understand her sexuality, and couches her journey in a study of Shakespeare. She actually "talks" with Shakespeare's characters to work through her feelings. Recommend!

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Devyn
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Pickpick

I loved this one so much I think I'm going to need a paper copy as well. A MUST-READ for the Shakespeare fans out there. Loved the mix of memoir and criticism and Keenan just seems like someone I wanna hang out with.

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Devyn
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Slowly but surely falling in love with Jillian Keenan.

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Devyn
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Post 6 mile run bath must be accompanied by a wonderful memoir.

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Branwen
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" The characters we love become more than friends. Through them, we can pass our anxieties, questions, fears, and insecurities to an external source of strength; confront what is internal in an external forum. Literature is a conversation. Books are walkie talkies, not radios." ♡♡♡

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Branwen
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I just started it this morning and I already love it to pieces! ☆

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MaleficentBookDragon
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There is so much blame! Here is just a tiny snippet of my #TBR list that I #blameitonLitsy
There would be too many posts to list them all.
I do want to thank all you awesome #littens for expanding my reading world! ❤️💜💙 you all.
#marchintoreading

kspenmoll Feel the same; huge TBR but expanding & stretching my reading world! 8y
Reviewsbylola Middlesex is awesome! 8y
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BookishMarginalia
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Literature is reading ourselves. 🙌🏼 (I would add: and reading each other)

merelybookish 👍👍 8y
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BookishMarginalia
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Pickpick

This book is not for everyone, but I loved this odd melange of memoir, literary criticism, psychology of kink, and sociology of female Omani Shakespeare students. Organized chronologically, the book recounts Keenan's life since her first relationship in her teens to present day. She is honest about her spanking fetish and its importance to her sexual identity. Each chapter also interprets a different S. play through the lens of sexuality.👇🏼

BookishMarginalia Keenan does a good job with the audiobook narration, and she is a likable memoirist who challenges our ideas of nonnormative sexuality. Here's a taste of her style: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/fashion/modern-love-a-spanking-fetish-is-n... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 8y
Kristy_K Your review just convinced me to read it. 😀 8y
candyflossramparts This is in my TBR pile! Looking forward to reading it. 8y
readordierachel Nice review! I Just picked this up the other day. Glad to hear it's good! 8y
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BookishMarginalia
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Keenan imagines a conversation with Shakespeare, where he tells her how to deal with loneliness. ❤️🙌🏼

Hollie "and when you can't find your own words, borrow mine." Swoon. 8y
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BookishMarginalia
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"It's hard to build things. It's much easier to tear them down." #truth

Jennick2004 ❤️💔 8y
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BookishMarginalia
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Memoirist #JillianKeenan on how shame forces many to hide who they really are, even from themselves. #diversereads

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frankincense_and_sensibility
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Pickpick

I marathon read this one in less than 24 hours and it was worth every minute. Part memoir, part literary criticism, Keenan introduces some (very well supported) alternate readings of Shakespeare, while interweaving her personal journey with her sexuality and how Shakespeare and his characters have helped her. I'm SO GLAD I'm not the only person who imagines fictional characters giving me advice.

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BookishMarginalia
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Just started listening to this audiobook. #Septimus is interested too in this mix of memoir and literary criticism.

AnnieReads Such a good cat mom to bring her babies up in s literary household. 😺 8y
Megabooks Too cute! 8y
MrBook 😻😻😻😻 8y
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BookishMarginalia
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Deal alert! This memoir is $1.99 on Kindle right now with $3.99 Audible narration. I grabbed it! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013CBG8AO/ref=as_li_tl

Devyn Thank you so much for posting about this! Just ordered it :) 8y
Mc_cart_ny Thank you!! Glad to pick it up, it sounds so interesting!! 8y
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Andrea313
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The most important part of packing for vacation is getting my reading in order. I can't wait to chill out with each of these- Sex With Shakespeare will be up first! #vacationreads #jilliankeenan #emilygiffin #malloryortberg

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Humanatea
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Pickpick

I have so much #nonfictionlove for this #recommendsday pick. I don't usually read nonfiction, but this title sat up and grabbed me. Part memoir, part literary criticism, and hugely informative of how kink shaped Keenan's entire life, this book felt tailor made to my diasporic interests. I would recommend for any fans of the Bard and unflinchingly honest storytelling. #somethingforsept

BookishMarginalia I'm glad I got this one on my shelves! 8y
Humanatea @BookishMarginalia get it in your eyeballs! It's so fun and touching 8y
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LauraBrook
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Pickpick

This sits on the line between pop criticism of sexuality in Shakespeare's work and a sexual memoir. I enjoyed it, though I do admit to skimming Shakespeare stuff from plays I haven't read. Kudos to the author for being honest about her sexuality and kink. 3.5/5 stars Her memory and retention for S's plays, characters, and plots is amazing to me - I get everything confused.
Book 1 finished for #boutofbooks 17

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LauraBrook
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Starting off #boutofbooks with something perhaps a little unconventional for a Monday morning.

My goal this time is to read/finish 5 books and read 5 GNs/comics. I overbooked myself with work this week, which could mean trouble with my health, but I'm hopeful that either a couple of people will cancel or that I can still manage to rest and recover enough to get all this reading done.

[DELETED] 3216391035 I hope your week goes well! 📚 8y
Laura317 @LauraBeth Take care of yourself! 8y
BookReviewFAIL Sounds hot. 8y
LauraBrook @Basia Thank you! @Laura317 I'll do my best, for sure. @BookReviewFAIL It sort of is, but mostly not. 8y
[DELETED] 2232195534 Good luck. One day at a time, right? 😀 8y
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BookishMarginalia
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"What you blush to tell...is the most important part of the whole matter." #Ovid

thec0zy loooove Ovid! 😍 8y
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BookishMarginalia
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On trigger warnings: "Other sources of concern... Each stands accused of traumatic potential of its own." ??

MyBookLife 😂😂 8y
becausetrains So true about ND 😋 8y
LauraBeth My opinions 😂 8y
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KarenaFagan
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Pickpick

Wow, for the Shakespeare fans and fetishists alike this is crazy good Venn diagram.

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KarenaFagan
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This made me giggle.

KateTheBookworm There's definitely some truth in that statement. Haha 9y
Poindextrix All signs point to me needing this book in my life ASAP. 9y
See All 6 Comments
KarenaFagan It was super good. Definitely not for the faint of heart. @Poindextrix 9y
Poindextrix I don't *think* I fall into that category, but there's only one way to find out. 9y
KarenaFagan I like your attitude! @Poindextrix 9y
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KarenaFagan
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Rumi was ahead of his time.

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TheWellReadOwl
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Pickpick

More sex memoir (kink, fetishism, etc.) than Shakespeare, but it kept me engaged. Not sure I would have liked this one as much in print (weird!) because some of the transitions from memoir to Shakespeare analysis were jarring and would have made me skim those parts, but the audio worked. 🌟🌟🌟

BookishFeminist I just won a copy of this from Goodreads and can't wait to get it. Maybe I'll have to see if my library has the audio like you recommend. 9y
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rwrkb
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Listening to this audiobook while at work feels a tad naughty. I think Keenan and Shakespeare would approve.

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KarenaFagan
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I've heard such good things I can't wait to read it!!

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balletbookworm
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Pickpick

A very interesting memoir wherein a scholar uses Shakespeare's words and characters to understand and explain her specific fetish. (More memoir than I was expecting - was expecting more Shakespeare criticism - but Keenan has a good story and tells it well.)

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balletbookworm
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I am inclined to agree with this: Lady Macbeth, Cordelia, Viola, Juliet, Lady Anne, Kate, Desdemona #amreading #sexwithshakespeare

balletbookworm And Beatrice. I forgot Beatrice. 😱 9y
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balletbookworm
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HOLLA.

jeff Books are walkie-talkies, not radios. Yes❗️📚 9y
15 likes4 stack adds1 comment