Posted on September 10, 2009 by betsylerner

Naomi Wolf to Write History of the Vagina

The New York Observer

Sptember 8, 2009 | 4:21 p.m

Naomi Wolf is going back to her roots. The journalist and author, who has seemingly been on a break for the past couple of years from writing books on the kinds of feminist themes that made her famous in the early 1990s, has signed on with the Ecco Press for a project tentatively titled A Cultural History of the Vagina.

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Remember yesterday we were talking about titles. Nation, I want to be in the jacket meeting for this one. I have a lot to contribute! First, please, dear god, don’t call it A Cultural History of the Vag. This is just a bad idea. Don’t use the word Vagina, Vag, or V. Isn’t that a novel by Pynchon anyway. Here are my “ideas.” Number one choice: Cunt! It’s a classic, classy, and as I’ve always found, fun to say. Next, to take a page from Courtney Love’s playbook, Hole. Or Philip Roth’s Slit. Poontang is too southern, I think. This is when I really miss being an editor, you know, mixing it up in the jacket meetings.

At the last publishing house I worked for, we were in a jacket meeting and the publisher said he wanted something like “fuck me” pumps for the image. Then he pointed to my Doc Marten’s and said, not like those. Right, I said, these are “fuck you” pumps. Friends, my days were numbered.

Filed under: Authors, Books |

11 Responses

The Hose, on September 10, 2009 at 12:09 pm said:

They should call it TEETH.

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Vivian Swift, on September 10, 2009 at 12:39 pm said:

That’s why I love reading this blog: for the classy discourse.

How about C**T ? That way, it could go on display in any bookstore in the country, even in a MALL.

And I learned recently that the word is used as an adjective in the rougher neighborhoods in Glasgow and Edinburgh, along the lines of “you cunting toe-rag”. Should that be spelled with a double “T”?.

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- Tara Hunkoff, on September 13, 2009 at 11:57 am said:
  
  “ttoe” ?
  
  Reply
Tulasi-Priya, on September 10, 2009 at 12:39 pm said:

»these are “fuck you” pumps«

Oh, my G-D! if you only knew how hard I laughed, and that’s saying a lot. I’m sharing this with all my friends.

Other suggestions (I’m not saying they’re good): Snatch(ed), Any Port in a Storm, Down There. Now I’ll be brainstorming this all day.

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CJ, on September 10, 2009 at 12:46 pm said:

You are hilarious. The only agent blog with any wit, zing and wonder. And wit, Nation, is a flag to rally round.

As for titling Ms. Wolf’s magnum vaginus, perhaps a nod to that other Woolf would do the trick? THE room of ones own.

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The Hose, on September 10, 2009 at 1:15 pm said:

“Naomi Wolf Beavering Away On New Book
Wolf’s next project is A Cultural History of the Vagina. About time! For too long, historians have clammed up on this topic, snatching women’s history from us and squirrelling it away in a box. I’ll stop now.” – Kate Harding, Jezebel.com

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- Tara Hunkoff, on September 13, 2009 at 11:59 am said:
  
  This is sure to put Naomi on the G-List
  
  Reply
Kim, on September 10, 2009 at 10:20 pm said:

I sooooo want you to choose the name for my book.

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Les Christianson, on September 11, 2009 at 6:28 am said:

OMG I just laughed my ass off.

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Leslie F. Miller, on September 14, 2009 at 9:28 am said:

Yes, gives new meaning to C-lit. But I do like it.

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Leslie F. Miller, on September 14, 2009 at 9:29 am said:

P.S. V

That’s what I would call it. It’s like victory AND vagina all in one.

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