Erotic Dysfunction by John Castle, Book Review

Overview: I honestly think that this book is useful for people who want to engage in sex. Take for example this one very enlightening thing I learned:

If you're a man, it's best for you to be circumcised. If you still have your foreskin, oftentimes this foreskin could be pulled up and cause bleeding. It will confuse both you and your lover when this happens. You sure wouldn't want to blame your female partner for having her period when she doesn't have it, would you?

Erotic Dysfunction is a fun and enlightening read. While this book does not encourage to commit the same mistakes that some people did, it will teach you what you should not probably go through. It will also pat you on the back as if saying, "Been there done that"; and will comfort you upon the idea that there are way too many people who have experienced far more embarrassing things than you. Hell yeah, I'm an advocate of the adage, "Misery loves company".

Genre: Erotica
Author: John Castle
Date Published: July 18, 2014
Publisher: Self-published
Size: 165
Edition: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B00LXOYUGC

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Erotic Dysfunction is a collection of absurd and embarrassing sex stories.

Review:
In his foreword, the author said,

You probably love reading because you’re holding this book right now but I strongly suggest to not devour it in one sitting. Take your time. The stories here are supposed to be read when you need a laugh...

So I did.

Not because I'm following his words but rather because I could not devour it in one sitting. It's just me really. In most of the stories, I couldn't find the laughter that I should be getting. It's not that I'm having empathetic shame (feeling embarrassed with other people's embarrassing experiences) but rather because I'm having this inner monologue while reading,

A bunch of stupid people. So many stupid people! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!!!

So for those of you who'd likely be struggling with anthology of stupid stories, find yourself a breather if the foreword is not enough for you.

Yeah, that might sound so immature of me but I'm clearly being honest here. That's what I felt reading a quarter of this book. So I stopped reading for more than a month. And then one time, I was just so bored I decided to continue reading the ebook I acquired from the author's review request. Before I continue with what I thought for this paragraph, this was my initial reaction after reading the first entry of Erotic Dysfunction: Let me start by saying, it felt like reading:

1

Cosmopolitan magazine's Cosmo Confessions, only with longer entries

2

The Best of Chico & Delamar's The Morning Rush Top 10 (simply because it's a compendium of short-entry stories)

3

queer posts from reddit from equally queer subgroup

Moreover, somewhere in the foreword, the author mentioned

The person’s voice is more important than any technicalities.

But then, I honestly think that this book badly needs proofreading. Well, not really that bad but I just notice more errors than I'd notice in ARCs (e.g. lying vs. laying). I understand what the author was trying to say, but seeing that he's only collecting stories, as doing a job equal of that of an editor, he should have done proper editing. He could learn a thing or two from George R.R. Martin's and Gardner Dozoi's anthologies (perhaps I'd include Chico Garcia).

So I think that was my problem. I got easily irritated with poor editing on the collector's part.

Oh btw, this is the cover currently available in goodreads:

If this book were to be printed, I'd rather use the one used at amazon.com (the first image above) than the one posted in goodreads. For one, I'd rather not bring a book with such very bold cover with me on public as this book is the kind that which you would likely bring anywhere to overcome boredom (and by anywhere, I mean anywhere! *cough* school *cough*). Kudos to the author for rethinking the cover in amazon. That cartoon of a cover is one special ninja cover. Get it?

Moving along, after coming back to the book (by then, I'm good), I really enjoyed it! I no longer think how stupid people could be. I just thought it's like watching a really laughable comedy movie (like Movie 43).

Among all of the stories, my favorite part would be "Proving a Point". I don't think I need to go over what happened with that particular story so let me leave you with two quotable quotes:

The Girlfriend:

I don't feel like it. I just want you to hold me. You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man. Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?

The Boyfriend:

Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman. Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?

Conclusion:
I recommend reading this when you're bored to death. This book can be read anywhere (just don't make people get the wrong impression; I'm one of those peeking at people's cellphones in public transport places; I don't think I'm the only one who does that). This can be read with your peers (definitely good for ladies' night out/sleepover). It's worth the pile alongside Bob Ong's embarrassing books (for Filipinos). Furthermore, I give this an R-13 rating.