Shameless - Book Review
Like most women, author Pamela Madsen suffered from negative body image issues and from unexplored sexual longing. 43 years old, married with two children and professionally successful, Madsen had it all, or so it seemed; however, she couldn’t escape a growing restlessness – the sense she was missing out on a true pleasure and immeasurable passion.
Tired of what she calls “Swanson TV Dinner sex,” Madsen turned her discontent into exploration. After her masseuse regaled her with tales of an erotic massage, Madsen scoured the Internet for her own (safe) erotic experience. Unfortunately, her Google search for “Women, Massage, Sensual” yielded only pages of possibilities for men. “For women, it was as dry as the desert,” she writes in her memoir, Shameless: How I ditched the diet, got naked, found true pleasure…and somehow got home in time to cook dinner. After a few more attempts, she ran across a New York City facility advertising “Sensual massage for men and women.” That was only the beginning…
Shameless details Madsen’s journey of self discovery, which includes her unexpected sexual awakening and personal healing, and her evolution into a supremely confident, courageous pioneer for female sexual exploration.
Madsen speaks candidly about her reservations and fears, particularly as they related at the time to her body image and her relationship with her husband. She’s quick to point out (and describe in vivid detail) the fact that her sexual “healing” did not involve actual sex. The process centered on learning. Learning what she needs to feel sexually fulfilled. Learning how to ask for what she needs and wants. Learning how to discuss and implement change with her husband in the bedroom.
Shameless is a recommended read for any woman (and man) who feels her sex life lacks pleasure and passion, and especially for those women too shy or embarrassed to broach the subject in their own bedrooms. Madsen experience may help you navigate your own journey toward self-discovery and satisfaction.
