Earlier we reported that Christos Tsiolkas was in the running for the the Literary Review’s Bad Sex Award for the worst piece of raunchy writing in a book in 2010. Sadly Melbourne’s own Tsiolkas was beaten out by second-time novelist Rowan Somerville for his book The Shape of Her according to the BBC.
In a ceremony at the appropriately named In & Out Club in London, Somerville expressed great gratitude for receiving the prize. “There is nothing more English than bad sex, so on behalf of the entire nation, I thank you,” Somerville said.
But was it worthy of the award? A Guardian review called it “a novel halfway through becoming aware of its own deficiencies, frustrated by its early overdecoration”. The review highlights a passage “Max’s lovemaking is ‘like a lepidopterist mounting a tough-skinned insect with a too blunt pin’” noting that “the absurdity does not appear to be intended”.
But perhaps they were being a little harsh at the Guardian? Decide for yourself with this passage that judges singled out: “She released his hair from her fingers and twisted onto her belly like a fish flipping itself.”