Sexual Doesn't Necessarily Mean Sexy (The Sexual Life of Catherine M.)

I have never read a more sexual book than Catherine Millet's The Sexual Life of Catherine M. These best-selling memoirs of the well-known Parisian art critic's countless sexual exploits do not disappoint in nature; almost every page is filled with unashamed reminiscences of orgies, fetishes and journeys of lust.

However, I did not feel turned on at any point whilst reading. And nor do I think I was supposed to. I think the Times Literary Supplement review on the back of the book sums it up when it says, "Millet writes extremely well... it is neither pornography nor her coy younger sister, erotica, but a work of libertine philosophy."

I feel The Sexual Life of Catherine M. to be a work of feminist philosophy--a two finger salute at the people who disbelieve a woman can take advantage of a sexual situation in the same way a man can. Although the impact of the book is somewhat lost on me, as I had no knowledge of Millet before reading the book, I can still imagine the shockwaves the book sent through the Paris art world upon its publication in 2001.

Millet testifies that she has had sexual relations with 49 men whose names or identities she knows. The rest (hundreds, possibly thousands) are lost in a blur of orgies and one-night stands. Nonetheless, Millet does not classify herself as a nymphomaniac; a fact that I disagree with considering her need to plan most aspects of her life (from work, to holidays, to mealtimes) around sex.

I did not really enjoy reading this book. Possibly because reading it on public transport was a nightmare as I was always conscious of who was reading over my shoulder. But more likely because I felt a sense of faux arrogance in Millet's writing. I can appreciate the 'manifesto of our times' aspect of the writing, where sex has become wholly separate from love for both sexes, but I still feel as if Millet has deeper issues that have not been resolved (she speaks briefly about her childhood and her obsession with numbers) and that bring about a sense of artificial feminist confidence.

There is no doubt the book was a huge eye-opener for me. I am not a prude, but some scenarios were extremely foreign to me. And although I usually appreciate erotica, I just could not connect with Millet's values on a personal level. The ideal sexual life of one is not necessarily the ideal sexual life of another.