Although their prose may be outstanding, their sex scenes aren’t going to ignite any passion, and quite possibly might elicit laughter. The Literary Review of the U.K. has just announced the 2012 nominees of their Bad Sex in Fiction Awards. While Fifty Shades of Grey and a Casual Vacancy might have been considered, they did not make the list. Probably, because the journal insists the prose cannot be erotic or graphic in nature.
There are several authors who are however, appearing for a second time on the list: Tom Wolfe, a second time nominee with his book Back to Blood, and Sam Mills is up for his third nomination this year for his novel, The Quiddity of Will Self, The Adventuress by Nicholas Coleridge and The Divine Comedy by Craig Raine are both two time nominees. Other nominees are Nicola Barker for the Yips, Infrared by Nancy Huston, Rare Earth by Paul Mason, Noughties by Ben Masters.
Here are a couple of the nominated excerpts:
Back to Blood, by Tom Wolfe
Now his big generative jockey was inside her pelvic saddle, riding, riding, riding, and she was eagerly swallowing it swallowing it swallowing it with the saddle’s own lips and maw — all this without a word.
The Yips by Nicola Barker
She smells of almonds, like a plump Bakewell pudding; and he is the spoon, the whipped cream, the helpless dollop of warm custard.
The Literary Review has a quite funny look at how they ‘hunt’ for bad sex in fiction.
You can read the entire list of excerpts by following this link. The winners will be announced on December 4, 2012.
