Bibliofemme.com had a pretty interesting article on Saturday about the growing popularity of pornography and erotica books in mainstream bookstores. The author seems surprised by the leniency of the public condoning the sale of these books. "The baring of Jackson's breast during the Super Bowl in February fed a week of outrage and prompted a crackdown on broadcast indecency, but bookstores are now selling material reminiscent of a sex shop." Not a problem with me!

Infamous porn star Jenna Jameson recently released her book, “How to Make Love Like A Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale”, a 580-page volume that is now in seventh place on the New York Times’ best-seller list (I did a double-take too). The book describes her life, her climb to stardom, as well as personal strifes such as her drug addiction and being raped by her ex-boyfriend’s friend. Rape and drug addiction? Sounds pretty pornographic to me!

Regan Books, which is Jameson’s publisher, also released a book by the Vivid Girls (a group of 15 porn stars) called “How To Have A XXX Sex Life”, basically giving advice on how to excite your sex life, including tips about how to use vibrators, lubricants and sex toys in “creative ways”.

Even mainstream American authors are beginning to fall for the trend. Tom Wolfe wrote “I am Charlotte Simmons”, which was about “a university where students spend their time drinking, having sex or both simultaneously.” Ah, the goods old days!

The fact of the matter is that porn and erotica books have been published, sold, read and enjoyed for quite a long time in this country. I would say the difference now is that people aren’t ashamed to buy them (or put them on their store bookshelves). Good for them.