Book Review: The Boudoir Bible by Betony Vernon

Courtesy of Bing.com

Betony Vernon is the creator of an exquisite line of luxury toys, and her art-work sex toy pieces have been the envy of connoisseurs of pleasure for years. We've even featured her here for the 'Splurges' section of our holiday gift guide last year. She has created everything from standard (nevertheless beautiful) objects like Ben Wa balls to the kinkier tassled butt plug and silver adorned spanking paddle. This book encapsulates her vast knowledge of sexual discovery and pleasure; it is a fantastic read.

First of all, let me just start by saying I am a very skeptical person when it comes to these books. Sex guides, especially those that are published by first-time authors like Betony herself, usually seem suspect. I was happily mistaken when I decided to purchase this book -- and I did so particularly because I felt that someone who had created such great sculptures of pleasure would waste her time with something less than great (check out her limited collection here).

The Boudoir Bible explores everything from Betony's own sexual discovery in her early years to her history dealing with creating decades ago what remains largely taboo in many ways today. Her chronicles are honest with a hint of flair and naughtiness; it's a refreshing read in a genre that is too often filled with either displeasing smut or dry data. She somehow finds the fine line between the two to create something that we often see in her luxury toys -- beauty that pushes the edge.

Betony covers everything from discovering your body as well as topics such as light bondage play. She walks you through all your goodie good pleasure centers and how to reach them without difficulty; she walks you through toy use of all sorts (including girl-to-guy!). Her discussion of the anatomy is neither dry nor too informative as to cloud the fact that pleasure is derived by sensation, not simple knowledge. She seeks to enhance your pleasure as much as possible so that you may experience sexual fulfillment with yourself and your partner. She paints a picture of a ecstatic pas de deux that comes in sex with a mutually loving, caring, and pleasing relationship; she makes sure you understand all the components that really provide the glue to you and your partner's sexual enlightening. There are beautifully done prints inside that have been illustrated by Prada fashion illustrator Francois Berthoud, and these are not unlike Dega's graceful ballet dancers:

Courtesy of Bing.com

My husband and I have tried many of the things in here, and some of the things in here we don't think we'll try at all (we shall see!); but we enjoyed the book in any case. Even if you know some of the things from experience or perhaps even all of them, it's nice to know that someone took the time to codify that knowledge for others to share. It's a bold move and a bold book. If such a read sounds like your cup of tea, then I say it would make for a good bed reading when it's rainy out and you're looking to make some plans for the night ;)

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