Anyone read this? It's really one of the strangest (and most memorable) books I've read! Nicholson Baker has written for the New Yorker and the Atlantic Monthly, among others, and for some reason was compelled to write what I would arguably call the most pornographic 'main-stream' novel I've ever had the pleasure of reading! I found it in the 'fiction' section of my local library. I don't think the librarians have any idea of how completely raunchy the thing is!

Don't worry - I won't give away anything. The inner flap simply reads:
"Arno Strine likes to stop time and take women's clothes off."

For those of you who haven't read any of Baker's work before, he's a complete genius at describing normal occurrences in a completely fascinating and thought-provoking fashion. When he does that to sex in The Fermata, it's amazing.

The best thing about the book, aside from the fact that it's got some staggeringly hot sex scenes in it (between consenting adults and not when time is frozen...just you know that I'm not a creep!) is the moral dilemma it raises; namely, if you had the power to stop time, at what point does your behaviour become unethical, if not downright illegal? Some people I know who read this didn't find anything wrong with what the main character is doing. Others couldn't even finish the book!

If any of you want a good read, I highly recommend it. And just so you know, it's not dark or intense, for lack of a better word. It's light-hearted, funny, and just....bizarre.

I read it a long time ago. I believe I read The Fermata after reading Vox, another Baker novel with a sex theme (a converstion between two people on a phone sex line). What I remember liking about both of them is Baker's unique and stylized writing. I don't recall being offended or shocked in any way. But I did enjoy reading sex-themed books from a mainstream author, and I think that's what piqued my curiosity in the first place.

As for the librarians, I'm sure they know exactly how raunchy The Fermata and other books in their library are. As a card-carrying librarian myself, most librarians I know are the most un-shockable people I know!

Hmmm....not the librarian we had at my elementary school! I remember her scolding me for trying to check out the book 'Dear God It's Me Margaret'. She was upset about the idea of a boy reading a book that was 'meant for girls', and told me I had to get a note from my parents before she'd let me take it.
Sheesh.

Operative phrase being "elementary school." Way different world than adult libraries. I seriously doubt you would find The Fermata on the shelves of an elementary school library!

Anyway, sorry to hijack the post with librarian comments. Anyone else have any "mainstream" sexy books to recommend? Or comments on N. Baker?