Tara Burns

I can't say I was taken with this book. It sounded like an interesting read on prostitution which has seen a few biographies and memoirs published in recent times, sadly though, it's not.

I usually do find such books to be captivating reading finding out about people's inner secrets and desires. Unfortunately however, this book just seemed to go for the cheap titillation thrill as opposed to the serious introspective of a career in the industry and the interpersonal relationships involved in such.

Overall, this is a forgettable book and realistically it would be more at home in adult/erotica than biographies/memoirs.… (meer)

Put the kids to bed. Time to go slumming.

I suppose curiosity drove me to get this book for my Kindle (well, alright, perhaps a bit of prurient interest.) I've always been interested in subcultures, e.g. snake handlers, volcanologists, the mole people in New York etc., each of whom has his own culture and support group. (see references below.) And besides it was cheap and short.

Tara Burns -- unlikely that's her real name -- lives in a remote area of Alaska and makes the trek into the city every few months to work for a few days as a call girl/escort/hooker, often even as a therapist. I'm assuming her stories are true; if not, then I'm just another john who gets fooled by an accomplished actress, for that's what she is, although she insists it's a nifty way to make money.

The clients are such a varied assortment: the lawyer who sues corporations but can only get off by being dominated and spanked; the great lover (she likes him) who has a fine sex life, but his wife, well, she weighs 400 lbs.; and the guy whose tongue just doesn't taste right.

We learn about the pressure points she knows that will cut off the blood supply and knock you out really fast if you give trouble and what she does in the bathroom while you are getting ready (count the money --interestingly, it's not illegal to pay for sex, nor to have sex, but it is to ask for money for sex - go figure,-- and call her friend to see if her dog got fed or update on her safety.)

Clearly, this woman could probably make a fortune as a therapist. She is very good at relating to her clients and seeing to it they leave a little happier than they were when they arrived (oh, my, the opportunity for puns is just driving me crazy.) She gets $250 per hour and usually books 2-hour sessions.

Just what Tara will do when she reaches her fifties? remains to be seen. One thing is for certain: This is what I want to always be doing. I love this strange overlapping and balancing of money, power, ethics, and healing. . . .Now that my land is paid off, I can live here for the rest of my life for free. I want to erect an altar to whoring where I'll make offerings every day in thanks for my security. I want a big sign that says, “this land paid for with blow jobs,” in case I ever forget.

Geesh. Very skimmable and forgettable.

For a look at a more regimented and legal form of prostitution, see [b:Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Women|101027|Brothel Mustang Ranch and Its Women|Alexa Albert|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320396742s/101027.jpg|293915]. Re volcanologists: [b:Volcano Cowboys: The Rocky Evolution of a Dangerous Science|178244|Volcano Cowboys The Rocky Evolution of a Dangerous Science|Dick Thompson|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1311972704s/178244.jpg|172185] Re living in the NY tunnels: [b:The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City|101715|The Mole People Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City|Jennifer Toth|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347725416s/101715.jpg|98058]… (meer)