The Sex Experiment – by Mr. X
After reading an entry in his wife’s online diary with her fantasies concerning their neighbor, this husband begins corresponding with her as a mysterious secret admirer named Mr. X. He sends her sexual dares, and she responds with the details. Although the husband begins the experiment with a twinge of jealousy over his wife’s fantasy, there is no petty emotion driving the exchange. The dares push the wife’s limits, but the limits are those of sexual confidence, body image, and embracing sensuality beyond narrowly imposed confines. Her responses frequently cause Mr. X to explore the nature of his sexuality too. As the book proceeds, the tone grows tender and full of imagery, blurring the line between erotic and art. I’m fairly certain that the wife knows her admirer is her husband, and Mr. X is pretty sure of this too, but they both continue with the fun.
These dares are far more sensual than sexual, although they often result in steamy sex between the husband and wife. One dare involves going through the workday without any underclothing, and taking great care to note the feel of the fabric against bare skin, the way passerby look, the reaction of those encountered. Do they know? Can they tell? The wife takes the dare a step further, uncrossing and crossing her legs while at lunch, feeling terribly naughty and wondering if anyone caught a quick glimpse of her panty-less state. Another dare involved trying on expensive lingerie and modeling it for the sales clerk, noting her reactions. I found myself feeling sexy, thinking about how I looked in a much less judgmental way. It was like going to the art museum, and admiring the nudes. They are sexy, but their beauty goes beyond the physical and into the realm of emotion and art. We should all be art too. Every one of us.
The novel is a collection of blog posts, kind of a ‘best of 2011’. On the website, The Sex Experiment Blog posts the dares and Mrs. X’s responses, as well as commentary. The blog also has a section for readers to write in and receive their own ‘dares’, then write back with details. It’s a fun website. The book is more than just a series of glued together blog posts though. It has a progressing theme, character growth for both Mr. and Mrs. X. It’s beautifully written, and flows well from dare to dare. Five stars.