The Rambling Mann

Book reviews and occasional other thoughts from writer Richard Mann.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Blue Balls: Parenting Is Dirty Business by Sunshine Sweet

Blue Balls
Parenting Is Dirty Business
Reviewed by Richard Mann of BookPleasures.com

AUTHOR: Sunshine Sweet
PUBLISHER: Potty Talks, LLC
ISBN: 978-0-9907852-0-0 Trade Paperback



This little book looks like a children's book.  It has cute pictures, big words with only a few per page, and only 32 un-numbered pages.  I don't think, however, you'll be reading it to your toddler.

Let me quote the introduction:
We're taught we have to watch what we say when little ears are present, but good news:  there is a loophole.  Even though society and dirty minds have taken away so many expressions, the innocence of children allows us to bring them back and get some cheap chuckles along the way.
Then we find 30 individual pages sorted into three unnecessary sections, leaving 27 pages each with a mildly dirty phrase illustrated by a cute, inoffensive children's book drawing.  For instance, the words at the top of one page say, "Only Mommy and Daddy can screw."  The picture is of an adult bird holding a screwdriver away from a toddler bird who has been working on screwing two boards together.  You get the idea.

I don't want to give away everything, so I'll give you only two more of the phrases.  You can imagine your own pictures, which will give you a reason to buy the book-so you can see if your innocent mental illustration of each phrase is as good as the one in the book.  The book uses large birds as characters in the illustrations. Hmm … let's go with:

"    Don't stop!  Don't stop!
"    Lick from the bottom up.

I'll probably reveal some essential fact about me by telling you that the second one is not a phrase I've heard used in a carnal sense.  But it's probably good advice, I guess.

What I've told you so far is enough for you to decide to either eagerly go looking for this cute little book of mildly titillating cleverness or turn up your nose at the distasteful idea of such admittedly mild adolescent prurience.  Both reactions are valid, as are shades in between.

My reaction?   I'm in between, but shading toward the latter view.  Not surprising, since I'm an old codger with conservative leanings.  Still, I wouldn't want it around the house when children are present.  Each page is innocent enough on its own, but in truth there's no reason for the book-for a child.  It has no story.  Sooner or later, a child is going to wonder what this dumb-to them-book is about. Explanations could prove awkward.

I'm also left wondering about the author's name.  Sunshine Sweet?  I probably wouldn't put my real name on it, either.


This review was originally written for BookPleasures.com.

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