A Hand in the Bush: The Fine Art of Vaginal Fisting (Taschenbuch)

To start with, we found the author's writing style very gushy and irritating. Deborah Addington looks on fisting as a religion, and can't seem to get over saying again and again how wonderful it is. All well and good, but for us she is preaching to the already-converted, and the preaching together with the long- winded, gushy style became very tiring.

Even more annoying was the fact that the author tries to make you think that she really knows what she's talking about, but for us she came across as an enthusiastic devotee, and nothing more. There are a few quotes from doctors that she has known, but no indication as to whether these doctors have any relevant knowledge, and a few of her opinions and recommendations are, in our opinion, simply wrong.

For example, on page 3 it says "Who the hell is this Addington woman, and why should I listen to her? Because she has a college degree, and because she absolutely loves to fu**; ...". My goodness, the credentials of a real expert! No mention of which college she went to or what subject the degree is in.

Then there's the question of how much real content the book has. As we read it, we kept wondering when the "good stuff", the real information about fisting, would start. It finally comes in chapter five, "Fisting, the adventure", which is 20 pages long. Great, now we're getting somewhere, we thought, only to discover that chapter five is the last chapter in the book! Following this chapter is a conclusion, some poems and essays by other fisting devotees, some appendices and a list of references.

OK, maybe it's hard to fill a major book with information about vaginal fisting, but this book comes across as 20 pages of "core material" and 80 pages of padding, some of which is relevant but most of which seems to be there primarily to flesh out the book.

Another thing that we didn't like was that the "how to do it" section assumed that the people involved were sleeping around, so 100% safe sex was the order of the day. The list of all of the paraphernalia and procedures recommended for really safe sex was enough to make you wonder if it isn't simpler to just refrain from sex.

There are, of course, some very positive things to say about this book. It does paint a very positive picture of vaginal fisting as something that can be very exciting and pleasurable. There are a lot of nice hand-drawn illustrations, many of which show relevant information. The message that fisting is something that you can do even after you end up in the old-folks home was encouraging. And the book does emphasize the need to practice safe sex, despite the negative aspects of this mentioned above.

All-in-all, we're recommending the book, despite the negative aspects, seeing as how "it's the only game in town".

Review written by Cindy and Joe, CindyAndJoe.com, Oct. 1997.

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Addington paints a very clear picture of this very intimate art in direct and often gritty terms; it is a graphic work about a graphic (and possibly intimidating) practice. Some of her favorite nouns and verbs are a little edgy; if four letter words describing sexual acts offend you, you might want to bypass this one.

On the other hand, (pardon the pun) "A Hand in the Bush" is an excellent guide to the ins and outs of vaginal fisting. Topics covered include safety, communications, troubleshooting, and lots of good common sense. The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) covers the topic well, with sections on safety, what's involved, injuries and how to avoid them, who are likely candidates, and what to avoid (for instance: force, lack of consent, and hangnails, to mention only a few.)

This is presented with a great deal of care, and with a level of intimacy I rarely see in non fiction. I laughed, and I cried. There is a great amount of joy in the reading, and yes, some sorrow.

"What's Involved" may help to clarify the tone of the book: "Two(or more) willing participants, lots and lots of artificial lubricants, a good manicure and/or latex gloves, and communication, communication, communication. Did I mention communication? Communication is most definitely required."

Fisting is an art that requires lots of care, good observation skills, and yes, lots of communication. "If pain becomes the overriding sensation and does not immediately subside, -immediately- stop what you're doing and communicate about the sensations you're both experiencing... When the body starts talking pain, -listen-."

If you're looking for a friendly guide to this gentle and extremely intimate Art, I can suggest this book without reservation. "A Hand in the Bush" is clear, concise, and very informative without attempting to be intimidating or overly scholarly. It is, in my opinion, presented more like a love letter than a how to. That adds a great deal to the view that fisting, contrary to what one might think at first thought, is not about pain, coercion, force, or extreme sexual practice; it is a loving art that is easy to learn, and mastery of this art is attainable, where two people have a commitment to care and communication.

Binder says: "Two thumbs up."

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