BOOK REVIEW: That Thing You Do With Your Mouth, by Elisabeth Sherman
That Thing You Do With Your Mouth, by David Shields and Samantha Matthews Reviewed by Elisabeth Sherman As a young child, actress Samantha Matthews was the victim of sexual abuse. Her story is a familiar one. Abuse and assault are common themes in the lives of too many women—according to a National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 1.9 million were raped in 2011. But how many are given the opportunity to publicly reshape that traumatizing narrative on their own terms, in their words? As an adult, Matthews dubbed Italian porn films into English. Her cousin, the author David Shields, thought her work was ripe for a documentary. Though Matthews gathered footage, the film never came together, so Shields suggested they work on building a written narrative. Over many months of emails, Skype sessions, and texting, Shields compiled enough material for That Thing You Do With Your Mouth, the story of Matthews’s sexual history in her own words and voice, edited by her cousin. Taking the form of an extended monologue, That Thing You Do With Your Mouth is a path toward healing: “Having the stories and the self-analysis on the page rather than just having it swirling around... Read More
