The Hot Spots [Paperback]

Various (Author), J. H. Blair (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2001

The best is yet to come...Once again, America's bestselling and award-winning contemporary literary heavyweights come together for an all-new erotic anthology, featuring:

¥ Russell Banks
¥ Frederick Barthelme
¥ Don DeLillo
¥ David Foster Wallace
¥ Aimee Bender
¥ Susan Minot
¥ E.L. Doctorow
¥ Nathan Englander
¥ Sue Miller
¥ Rick Moody
¥ Cathleen Schine
¥ Bliss Boyard
¥ Colin Channer
¥ Lydia Lunch
¥ Ellen Miller
¥ Susan Choi
¥ Jane DeLynn
¥ David Freeman
¥ Martha Baer
¥ Zoe Heller
¥ Lauren Belfer
¥ Thomas Beller
¥ Martha Cooley ¥ Rikki DuCornet
¥ David Ebershoff
¥ Tim Farrington
¥ Allegra Goodman
¥ Fran Gordon
¥ Cathy Hanauer
¥ Scott Heim
¥ Laura Kasischke
¥ Kathy Koja
¥ Jonathan Lethem
¥ Dennis Lehane
¥ Valerie Martin ¥ Gish Jen
¥ Tawni O'Dell
¥ George P. Pelecanos
¥ Sarah Schulman
¥ Dinita Smith
¥ June Spence ¥ Darcy Steinke
¥ Rene Steinke
¥ Leslie Schwartz
¥ Robert Stone

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

The pieces in this collection run the gamut from just barely sexual to explicitly so. This diversity might disappoint the fan of hardcore erotica, but it is perfect for the casual reader. The authors included range from relative newcomers to established writers such as Russell Banks and E.L. Doctorow, providing an interesting array of styles and subject matter; everything from the subtle sensuality of the open road to the ever-popular loss of innocence is explored. Blair (editor, The Good Parts) might have better chosen quality over quantity, however, since most of the 45 selections are from novels, and they lose context, sometimes to a confusing degree. Furthermore, the introduction does nothing to clarify the purpose of the collection or the standards employed in the selection process. Still, this is a quick, fun read. Amanda Glasbrenner, "Library Journal"
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The pieces in this collection run the gamut from just barely sexual to explicitly so. This diversity might disappoint the fan of hardcore erotica, but it is perfect for the casual reader. The authors included range from relative newcomers to established writers such as Russell Banks and E.L. Doctorow, providing an interesting array of styles and subject matter; everything from the subtle sensuality of the open road to the ever-popular loss of innocence is explored. Blair (editor, The Good Parts) might have better chosen quality over quantity, however, since most of the 45 selections are from novels, and they lose context, sometimes to a confusing degree. Furthermore, the introduction does nothing to clarify the purpose of the collection or the standards employed in the selection process. Still, this is a quick, fun read. Amanda Glasbrenner, "Library Journal"

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (July 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425178374
• ISBN-13: 978-0425178379
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,747,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read, August 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hot Spots (Paperback)

Not only do you read a selection of great writing, but you see how some of the masters treat erotic scenes in fiction. Instructive for anyone interested in the craft of writing as well as being a wonderfully sexy way to spend an evening with someone reading to eachother!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The violence and crudity of the "sex" turned me off, April 29, 2008

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Hot Spots (Paperback)

This collection of erotica is generally on the mild side regarding the sexual action. While there are some stories with the dirty words, the descriptions of sexual acts are only occasionally on the steamy side. Most of the stories have a distasteful tone to them, violence is used to stimulate and control, although in most cases both are willing participants in the action. As they are short, the stories have very little in the way of buildup and romance is generally not a word that I would use to describe the action.
Some of the stories in this collection describe the following "sexual" acts:

*) A woman being raped by another woman by having a fist forced into her vagina.
*) Two "lovers" fighting over drugs that leads to an inept sexual encounter
*) A woman who is wrapped in plastic and nearly asphyxiated in a sexual encounter
*) A woman forced by her boss to have sex with him
*) A young male prostitute violently penetrated and beaten until bloody
*) A librarian who has indiscriminate sex with several of the library patrons after she learns of the death of her father

This should be enough to give you the general idea.