Customer Reviews

Been There, Haven't Done That: A Virgin's Memoir

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Tara McCarthy's memoir was refreshing to find on the shelves and even entertaining to read...in the beginning. The first couple of chapters are interesting and somewhat funny. However, as the book continued, I quickly grew tired of hearing about exploit after exploit. If you are looking to use McCarthy as a role model for your children, I would should suggest otherwise. McCarthy has documented a fairly promiscious life, despite not actually having intercourse along the way. I think it is fantastic that she has decided to wait until she is love, but it is exhausting reading about the thirteen or so times she thought she might have been.

Although I felt I had much in common with the author, I could not identify with her. This book is like a long rambling letter from someone you went to school with but didn't really care about. I think she displays great courage in bringing up the issue of virginity in our sex-saturated society. She also brings up the virgin/whore sexual dichotomy felt by many women. She just doesn't address these issues with any kind of depth. It seems that she doesn't address the relationships in her life with any kind of depth either. She's indignant at men who want to have sex with her without examining her own actions and motivations which led her to be physical with them in the first place. Overall this brings up some excellent issues and ideas that should be expored, unfortunately she addresses them in a shallow and at times immature way. Perhaps if she rewrites this book when she is older and has more perspective it will be worth reading... this book however just isn't.

Who knew that a book on something so potentially thought-provoking, even inspiring, could be shallow? It reminds me somewhat of the question put to Oscar Wilde in his indecency trials: "Sir, in your opinion, is this book immoral?" "Oh, it's much worse than that, sir. It's badly written." Truly awful.

I read this book a year or two ago.I never get tired of reading this book.Why!!!Tara makes me proud to be a virgin at 34 in the year 2004.This book tells nonvirgin don't treat every virgin the same.I'm a nonreligous strict virgin & i never tried the things Tara did in the book but this books say not all virgins are naive,innocent or inhibited about sex. Some are practicing outercourse & not afraid to educate themself about sex before they give their virginity to that speical person.Let us define are virginity.Just my opinion.I hope other virgins over 30 read this book.We need to be heard.

While I enjoyed reading about Tara McCarthy's relationship exploits, I found her claim to virginity rather lacking. Of course, she wrote the book before the Monica Lewinsky scandal made us all question exactly what we mean by having sex, but still, someone with her apparent intelligence should realize that any intimate activity leading to orgasm is probably sex, and that these activities, too, should not be taken lightly. Having made such mistakes in the past, I know how it can hurt to be dumped by someone with whom you have been intimate, even if that intimacy didn't lead to actual intercourse. She seems to come to this realization at the end of the book, but not before she has "given herself" to far too many guys who didn't really care. This book should be read -- and carefully -- by those who want to know just where to draw the line.

Badly written, with five errors on the first two pages, this book's success is owed to the sensationalism surrounding it, rather than to any true skill on the writer's part.

Another case where good publicity has been confused with good writing and content.

More little league than Ivy League ...

This book is of the true life adventures about the sex life of a virgin. How can a virgin have a sex life? Well, you'd be surprised at what this girl does.

Basically, this book talks about dating between men and women. One aspect of dating is sex. Tara talks about how she views sex, how men hav viewed her for sex, and how she remained a virgin. This books puts the idea that virgins aren't as fun to date to rest.

One moment in the book that I thought was interesting is when she gets rejected for sex when she was ready to do it. After years of holding out for the "perfect one" she is the one being shoved to the side so the other can go to sleep. Her thoughts on that situation are very interesting, but I won't give it all away here.

I thought about getting this book for a friend of mine. He is 24 and still a virgin, but not by choice, as was Tara. This book is a quick read and fun. I recommend this book to anyone that actually thinks about the dynamics of sex.

Too bad I didn't read the reviews before I bought the book. It was bad! The author kept on digressing and the book was such a cliche. Do not buy this book.

Remember when you were young and the topic of sex illicited giggles from even your most "experienced" friends? Years later, those of us who grew with the worry (or hope) that black pattened leather really did reflect up still blush at the mention of the v word. While virgins were often the butt of jokes and, as McCarthy point out, lied about their status to avoid embarrassment, many of us were simply amazed that a seemingly extinct species of humans could exist, let alone thrive.McCarthy's exploration of what makes her virgin self tick is intelligent and funny. Istead of preaching the value of retaining your own virginity, McCarthy openly admits that this road is not for everyone. Readers are treated to an experience similar to rereading your own, or your sister's, diary years later. "I can't believe I felt that way about him! What was I thinking?" is just one of the statements that ringing all too true for many. If you are not a virgin, McCarthy's book can still call up man

I totally loved this book and was sad that it came to an end. I never wanted to put it down. I totally related to her story. Although, the non-virgins out there might not agree to Tara's testiment, I feel that she did great at telling her story and revealing her feelings on sex to the world ( something I know a lot of us could not do) I reccomend this book highly to anyone.