Title: Iridescence: Sensuous Shades of Lesbian Erotica Author: Jolie Du Pré (Editor) Publisher: Alyson Books Publish Date: 2007 Pages: 239 Genres:: Fiction, Lesbian Reviewer: B.I. Laureano

Rating:

Jolie Du Pré is a woman after my own heart! She’s recognized the dearth of erotica that tells the stories of women of Color in the United States and from the African Diaspora, as well as the limited lesbian erotica for women of Color. As a result Du Pré has compiled some of the greatest women writers to share stories. Centered in each story is the erotic desire and partnering of female protagonists with their female partners.

I can’t remember the last time I read a book that was created just for me. I really do feel loved. The cover photo alone is hot, and the title is genius! I’m sure all the different cultural aspects and representations will resonate with some readers, and that each of us will read a story with a particular lens. The title alone allows for the validation of multiple identities and multiple perspectives. That kind of affirmation is rarely found in erotic writing.

There are Latinas, Asian women, Indigenous women, Black women, West Indian women and Southeast Asian women, all in one book! Stories range in length from quick 3 pages to 10 page stories. I was engaged, entranced, excited and relieved. I know some of us have felt like we were “the only ones” who thought or did or enjoyed something specific or kinky. What “Iridescence” does is affirm our desires and identities. Some folks believe that “art imitates life” and this book gives that phrase power and truth.

There really is no way for me to pick a few specific stories that standout as my favorites, as each is amazing. This is largely due to the fact that there are some fierce female writers who have contributed to this anthology. Established authors such as Sofía Quintero, CB Potts, Lisa Figueroa, Isabelle Gray, Amanda Earl and Andrea Dale, to name a few, have worked to create a text on the vanguard of erotic writing. If you’re a voyeur, you’ll enjoy the stories from a third person perspective, and if you want to identify with the character there are enough stories written in the first person to satisfy you.

And satisfied you will be! I’d suggest reading a few aloud to your lover to add a new spin on things or act some of the stories out. This is one of those books I will not keep in my living room bookshelf because it deserves to be displayed in my bedroom.