iTunesconnect ticketed my new novel The Love of My (Other) Life, denying it access to the unlimited pleasures of worldwide distribution through iTunes. The reason: the cover art was deemed "inappropriate."
Truthfully, it is a saucy cover: a woman's slim, sinuous back, dropping into the juicy plumpness of her ass. However, as I pointed out in an email to the iBookstore, there isn't even real nudity, just the fleshy part of a derriere.
This cover is not explicit. It's artful, taken from a black-and-white photo. The faceless woman's back spirals around a bit, as if she's turning with an unseen, but beguiling, smile. You can see more any day on the side of a city bus, or watching Jersey Shore. It's what's suggested that is suggestive, eg, inappropriate. This is a lush, sweet ass, begging to be fondled. By the eyes, and by whatever else.
This is the invitation of eros. I think it's still a forbidden frontier, even in our over-exposed, boringly unsubtle, 50 Shades of Grey culture. It's all too confusing, this softness and sweetness, the playful surrender of a woman to her lover. Not because he's spanking her and tweaking her nipple and she's a hapless virgin at the mercy of some kinky damaged billionaire. But because sex is neither politically correct nor is it hapless.
For many women, falling off the cliff into bliss requires boneless surrender. It's part of the intrinsic yin nature of femininity. It's one of the great joys of heterosexual femaleness, to find a man you feel that way about, that you want to give over totally to him and let yourself dissolve completely, from the inside out.
I'm not talking about climbing on top and riding lustily, which, as we all know, yields its own satisfactions. I'm talking about an internal state. A woman has to choose this kind of surrender, which has nothing to do with submission, and everything to do with an erotic core that no man can control.
So this cover which suggests so much and shows so little, relatively speaking, is far more objectionable than the rage-filled, violence-promoting, obscenity-spewing lyrics that populate certain sectors of music found on iTunes. Do you notice how often those songs focus on hitting and denigrating women and characterizing them as "whores?"
What is it about women's sexuality that produces such anxiety?
What's ironic about iTunes' censorship of my novel is that some of my readers complain that The Love of My (Other) Life isn't raunchy enough. One website posted, "This book was not nearly trashy enough for my taste, but I kept reading, because I am just like that. I did enjoy the nerdy science jokes, and like having to google decoherence theory."
This is a sentiment echoed by many reviewers, in various ways. Some approve and some do not. But I always intended that this story was a quirky, bittersweet romantic comedy. I never conceived of it as soft core porn, except in the reader's imagination -- and heart. That was where I hoped to engage readers. As to the explicit delights of assplay, everyone should discover that for themselves, I think.
Certainly this book earns its cover. There is an underlying leitmotif around asses. It's on the sly side and doesn't slam the reader upside the head; it teases throughout the story. The sex is fade-to-black, but it occurs, and the main character enjoys it fully. She herself bears a heart-shaped birthmark on her sacrum, just above the cleft in her buttocks.
Here I am, defending a story's sensuousness, when its cover was rejected by one of our iconic cultural institutions for being too sensuous. Perhaps it is too sensuous, because it is seductive, not pornographic. Everyone would rally around the right to freedom of expression in pornography. But what can be said when a woman freely, deliciously offers herself? When she goes after what she wants by drawing it in? When she's not an object but her own subject?
"Inappropriate."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.