I agree. Obviously, there are good looking folks and unattractive ones, macho men and less macho men, in every field. I just wish this author didn’t give the impression that male academics are all unattractive, unconcerned about their appearance, and not masculine.

I’ve never seen any pictures of other drivers without their shirts, but as far as faces go… there are some very nice looking guys.

However, I’d say that the majority of the drivers aren’t drop-dead gorgeous. Cute, yes. Attractive, yes. Modeling for the cover of this book, probably not that many.

Oddly enough, right before I read this post, I was reading a blog about sex in which a woman talked about being revolted by men ejaculating in her, something I don’t think I’ve ever heard of before. It’s an instant meme!

Really! I’ve been talking about it all weekend with everyone I see. The majority seem to think it is an unusual request, but maybe people are just not willing to admit it.

I guess my view on it is that (a) I don’t think it’s gross, but (b) if I did, I would have to balance my need not to be grossed out with my partner’s need to have an uninterrupted orgasm. I would say that latter is a more compelling need (a stronger claim), and I would defer.

Yeah, the pull out thing? Maybe it’s just shorthand to establish his gentlemanly ways? I shouldn’t comment without reading the book. However, I’ve heard men (NOT my husband, just FYI) talk about the glory of depositing their seed in a woman, almost like it’s a precious gift and a dog marking territory all bundled into one. According to that, this fella really is missing out. My husband doesn’t concur with this description. If I had male readers I’d do a poll.

Also, on the pulling out thing – that’s something you see in gay fic, talking about blowjobs. Messy it might be, but any woman who tried that on her man for any other reason than dubious contraception, would find the man walking pretty fast. Who the hell wants to stop mid orgasm and change position?

About the pulling out….
If we, my husband and I, weren’t trying to conceive I would TOTALLY prefer the pull out. It IS messy. I hate it.

Thank you for sharing your view on this. I guess Ty is on to something.

But … now … when a person experiences the Big O, it seems to me that it is a moment when one cannot or does not want to have to achieve any other end. It would seem kind of … er .. disruptive to have to remember to do something in the moment prior.

So, I guess what I am saying is that I commend the thoughtfulness, fortitude, and self-sacrfice of men who do this at their partners’ request.

If we, my husband and I, weren’t trying to conceive I would TOTALLY prefer the pull out. It IS messy. I hate it.

Where else? His hand. Let him get ickified. Or a towel on the bed. Or the floor. Anywhere but “the obvious”.

I have this book in ARC format to read. Thanks for the heads-up about the conflict at the end.

What JMC said about Imogen’s response to finding out about Ty’s dyslexia made Imogen sound very arrogant and patronising but looking at Ty’s comment out of context, I think my instinctive and deliberately hurtful response to it would be “don’t you think that’s a bit rich coming from someone who earns his living driving round in circles?” And things could only deteriorate from there.

“claimed that academics observe life rather than live it”

Right. Because we’re all born as adults via parthenogenesis, walk straight into the groves of academe, and remain as virginal as Athena herself.

“Ty apologizes to Imogen for not “pulling out” [...] because women don’t like to get messy. I confess this flabbergasted me.”

Does seem rather odd to me. Maybe he thought that because in the past he’d tried to avoid using condoms and some woman had thought up this as an excuse so that he’d put one on?

Also, if he had pulled out, where was he planning to ejaculate so as not to create any mess?