Wanting: Women Writing About Desire

Desire is messy, raw, and irrational as illustrated in this collection of 33 essays, most original for this book, that examine wants and needs from a woman’s perspective. Numerous pieces spotlight sexual desires, many brought on by the loneliness of the pandemic, but this collection also contains a few surprises. In “Being a Dad Means Respecting the Yard,” Florida author Kristen Arnett writes about the joy of a well-manicured lawn. “Appetite” by Michelle Wildgen explores eating for the sake of knowledge. Larissa Pham in “When I Imagine the Life I Want” discovers her need for a house near the ocean with a garden, a study, and studio desk. Kleptomania is the topic in Jane Wong’s “The Thief.” Jennifer De Leon outlines her need, as a new college graduate, for an SUV. Some essays include sexual predation and brutality.