The Catholic Girl's Guide to Sex [Paperback]

Melinda Anderson (Author), Kathleen Murray (Author), Alli Arnold (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 9, 2003

The essential handbook for managing your morals the modern way

You don’t have to be Catholic to feel a twinge of concern when your love life gets too lively—but it helps. Melinda Anderson and Kathleen Murray to the rescue! They provide guidance from your first impure thoughts to the day you cash in your V-card; from the moment you realize with alarm that your numbers sure are adding up, until the blessed morning you wake in the (almost) safe haven of marital sex. This saucy little catechism covers such burning concerns as:

•Choosing between your hormones and Him
•The intimidating world of self-love
•Etiquette tips for the confessional
•The new Catholic Math: Sex with an ex, an atheist, or a Protestant doesn't count. Were you really, really drunk or was it really, really bad? Doesn’t count either.

The Catholic Girl’s Guide to Sex is here to help you enjoy your inevitable fall from grace.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

If you can dig through the heavy sarcasm, there's some good information buried in The Catholic Girl's Guide to Sex, a very funny, brazen and irreverent guide by Melinda Anderson and Kathleen Murray. They lay out the Roman Catholic Church's position-uh, no pun intended-on birth control, chastity, reproduction, sex education and The Deed, which includes an "everything but" section detailing all manner of foreplay. Oh, and don't forget guilt, which features prominently throughout. The book is hilarious, aided by terrific cartoon illustrations by Alli Arnold and side items such as pop quizzes, "roving reporter" interviews with all kinds of Catholics and lists, lists, lists. One section explores the "pros and cons of a Catholic partner," helping readers choose between the "I Might Have a Calling" Catholic, the "Super Guido" Catholic, and the "A-Little-Too-Irish" Catholic. This book is sure to offend just about everybody and does so with style.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Speaking as someone who was named after a saint who chose to die rather than give up her virginity, I can relate to The Catholic Girl's Guide to Sex. I wish this guide had been around when I was in high school! I went to Catholic school for eleven years and I'm telling you, The Catholic Girl's Guide to Sex is one funny, sexy book."
--Barbara Keesling, author of The Good Girl's Guide to Bad Girl Sex.

"When I was growing up Catholic I recall that two of the great mysteries of Catholic life were: "What is the third secret of Fatima?" and "Do Catholic girls do it?" Of course I wasn't sure what "it" was. Thank heaven for Melinda Anderson and Kathleen Murray; a couple of very now Catholic girls not afraid to be funny, honest, and sexy. And you thought Bridget Jones had problems?”
--Richard Glen Michael Davis, co-author of Growing Up Catholic

"A very funny and dirty book, and shockingly comprehensive. (You might have to issue it with a plain brown wrapper!) I had no idea that Catholic girls had THAT much guilt to deal with; until I read The Catholic Girl's Guide to Sex, I thought Jewish girls were the guiltiest."
--Lisa Birnbach, author of The Official Preppy Handbook

“Wish I’d read this sooner.”
--Cynthia Rowley, fashion designer and author of SWELL: A Girl's Guide to the Good Life

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1 edition (September 9, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767913035
• ISBN-13: 978-0767913034
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,168,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars How did they get this book published? You can have mine for free., November 4, 2005

By 

Sam (new york) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Catholic Girl's Guide to Sex (Paperback)

I read the mixed reviews of this book but decided to try it anyway because of the catchy title. Wrong. I give it a 0 stars. The book was almost embarassing to read - the authors try so hard to be funny and witty but they come across as vapid, silly women trying to make a buck by maligning their own religion. It was awkard, like sitting in front of someone telling bad jokes.

I am Episcopal so I do not share the indignation that the Catholic reviewers felt. However, this book was boring, the authors tried to hard and did I say boring?

Ms. Anderson needs a new occupation. Wonder what her parents think of this book? And,how did it ever get published?

22 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misses the Boat, January 12, 2007

By 

Peace_Momma (midwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Catholic Girl's Guide to Sex (Paperback)

The book appears to poke fun at real cultural issues that abound poorly educated Catholics but that's sad because it misses the boat on the fact that there is nothing meant to ever be guilt ridden about Catholic sex. Catholic sex should be an expression of the overall relationship two people have & marriage for more reasons that I can count for a Catholic is the best way to express that sexual intimacy. The reason why I found this book to be disappointing is because it's sad that so many Catholics (lapsed or practicing) feel this badly about sex because of some warped Puritanical vibe that has taken over the body, sex, & the beauty of the two becoming one in a marriage making it into something it never was or ever should be in the Western World. Catholicism does not view sex as dirty, bad, sinful, or something to be ashamed of, this is a mistaken belief that many have mislabeled as Doctrine. Instead sex is more than just a physical moment that leaves someone the next day to do the "walk of shame". Nope, it is a powerful and sacred experience that should be pleasurable & meaningful within marriage (note all religious groups hold the marriage standard so Catholicism has no difference there). If one feels guilt for certain sex choices then maybe taking the time to look at his/her own responsiblity for those choices would fix that instead of trying to pass the buck onto the Church. As a Catholic gal myself it makes me feel real sympathy for these ladies & those who find the book to be "truth" instead of satire because it means they have never experienced the really beautiful & intense nature of the total completeness that exists in Catholic sexual, emotional, & spiritual intimacy with one's spouse that is beyond this world.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars errrrh, not really for its intendeed audience, November 26, 2007

By 

Bachelier ""1004"" (Ile de France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Catholic Girl's Guide to Sex (Paperback)

I give it two stars because I like the illustrations, but this is not for young women.

Bad mind-body problem Catholic-bashing from within the fold (I think they call those wolves?). Not good for your daughter.

Good books are:
"Dear Newlyweds" by Pope Pius XII, for older girls;
"The Catholic Girl's Guide" by Rev. F.X. Lasance remains excellent.
His "Young Man's Guide" is the counterpart for boys.
But in our own time:
"Theology of the Body"
and "Love and Responsibility." By Pope John Paul The Great.