April 16, 2009: Vol. 32, No. 15

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April 16, 2009 / Brooklyn news / Park Slope / Books / Checkin’ in with...

Checkin’ in with … a woman who has never had an orgasm

By Mike McLaughlin

The Brooklyn Paper

If Mick Jagger thought his frustrations were bad, he should talk Mara Altman, the 27-year-old author who really can’t get no satisfaction. The Greenpoint resident’s randy and comical (and anti-climactic) first book, “Thanks For Coming: One Young Woman’s Quest for an Orgasm,” was just released on Tuesday, a not-really-coming-of-age story that traces her relationships with underperforming men, dildo-crazy therapists and a network of sexually satisfied friends. On the eve of her April 21 reading in Park Slope, she talked dirty with The Brooklyn Paper’s frisky (and single) senior reporter Mike McLaughlin.

Mike McLaughlin: I like to start all my interviews by saying the word “orgasm.” There. I did it. Whew. At least this time, it’s appropriate. In fact, I’m saying the word “orgasm” more than ever. I haven’t felt like this since seventh-grade health class. So, for my sake, let’s start with an easy one: How’s your love life since finishing the book?

B&R Electronics

Mara Altman: It’s good. It’s kind of nice not to have a camera on yourself. It’s more relaxed and there’s less pressure.

MM: Why did you choose to document your spectacularly failed quest to get to that special place?

MA: It was part of my career focus. I could advance my career and get the orgasm out of the way.

MM: Yes, spoiler alert, the book has a manually induced happy ending. Who doesn’t love a vibrator? But did that solo climax live up to its hype?

BoroDeal

MA: It’s a great thing, the orgasm. It’s amazing, but it’s not the end all be all.

MM: Did the men in your life feel pressure to get you over the hump?

MA: There’s a lot of pressure for men, in general, to show that they have prowess. There were definitely guys who took it as a challenge, who wanted to be the first. But for me, the stance I took was that it was my responsibility to figure it out.

MM: I think we’re about done, so I need to know: was it good for you?

MA: You did great. You didn’t seem embarrassed.

MM: Thanks, normally I can do these interviews for a lot longer, all night if I have to. But, I don’t know, maybe I’ve been a bit stressed out at the office this week. But if you give me 10 minutes to rest, I can interview you all over again. It will be better this time, I promise.

Mara Altman will read on April 21 at Barnes and Noble [267 Seventh Ave. at Sixth Street, (718) 832-9066], 7 pm.

←Williamsburg: Mein Liebherr!

→Bay Ridge: No mugging — just burglaries

Reader Feedback

Lawrence Gordon says:

I find it hard to believe that Gersh did not do this interview

April 16, 2009, 2:27 pm

Mike McLaughlin says:

Lawrence, you just don't know me that well.

April 16, 2009, 4:34 pm

Melanie Davis from San Francisco says:

I never had an orgasm until 4 weeks ago. I'm a 39 year old woman, happily married, but sexually unsatisfied, that is, until now. My cousin sent me a link to www.orgasminsurance.com and suggested a few "toys" (e.g., vibrators, etc.) to help with my problem. I really did not want to do it but she insisted. Now I am having the best time and having the most incredible orgasms!! I highly recommend this.

April 18, 2009, 11:57 am

C. Alexander Brown from Ottawa, Canada says:

I urge this unfortunate deprived young lady to read the book "In Praise of Older Women." by Stephen Vizinczey. It is available from Amazon.
For a scientific take on the subject, she should also read "The Female Orgasm" by the distinguished psychologist Professor Seymour Fisher

April 23, 2009, 1:14 am

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