Virgin Territory: Stories from the Road to Womanhood (Paperback)

~ (Author) "My entire family was obsessed with my period..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Miss Piggy, Country Gentlemen (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A longtime interest in the mysteries of womanhood led journalist Alter to collect "first time you" anecdotes from women of all ages. Here, in 11 chapters (e.g., "First Frog: Kissing, Warts and All"; "First Flash: Candy from a Stranger-Porn, Dirty Books, and Obscene Phone Calls"), she presents bite-size chronicles of the transition out of girlhood innocence. As Alter writes, "The more intimate the admission, the more resonant my reaction." True, and potency is doubled when the story from the past is tied into the subject's current life: a subscription to the New Yorker delighted its recipient at age 16and still does at age 78; a woman enthralled by pornography as a preteen is now a publicist in the adult entertainment industry; five years on, another woman still fondly values her brief, no-strings affair with her college ethics professor. Alter also chronicles-intentionally or not-an informal history of women's social evolution: she reveals the mindsets of mothers in "the generation that never talks about anything," fervent aspirations toward feminine vanity, rejections of being a "cute little girl" seeking matrimony. There's something here for every woman reader to identify with and be moved by, although after the relative pleasantries of the first 10 chapters, the final one, "First Farewell," may perturb readers with its theme of death. But this is the chapter that brings the collection full circle. As the final story explains, part of losing innocence is the discovery that "everyone has holes in their heart, and you still live."
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From Booklist

Journalist Alter doesn't limit her collection of women's true stories to the "baby steps to womanhood." Instead, this compendium of women's voices includes experiences from all stages of life; in addition to stories of first bras, first periods, and first kisses are tales of first divorce, first witnessed death, and a first sense of shattering the professional glass ceiling. Loosely organized into categories, the entries, representing girls and women in a wide range of professions and ages, are refreshingly honest, revealing the speakers' dysfunctional families, private disappointments, secret shames, and even terrifying abuse. And there are the hilarious, lighter reminiscences as well: the mechanics of making out with braces, for example. With so many topics covered by such brief entries, Alter's collection lacks some cohesion. But the stories are plainly told, raw, and affecting, and readers will be deeply moved by these authentic female voices that speak about experiences that touch us all. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1st edition (February 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400047811
• ISBN-13: 978-1400047819
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,558,946 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Every Woman!, March 10, 2004

By A Customer

Great stories - many pee in your pants funny. Even if you're not into the whole WOmyn thing, you'll enjoy the tales. Sex, drugs, rock-n-roll, Virgin Territory has it all (plus mystery, intrigue, death and cowboy boots.)

5.0 out of 5 stars So much fun, July 11, 2004

By A Customer

A lot of touching, hilarious stories here -- I really related to them. I'm going to get a few of these books to give as gifts to friends and family!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Charming and Engaging Book that is a Delight to Read, May 26, 2004

By	Mitchell Tropin (Takoma Park, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

Virgin Territory was a real delight for me. Alter has put together a very interesting collection of short recollections of some of a young woman's best and worst milestones. The best part are Alter's own comments and memories that run through the book. You do not have to be a woman to enjoy this book.