I’m naturally, so I rarely feel compelled to write anything, let alone a book review. But Kirsten Innes’ debut novel, Fishnet, had me deleting the cat from my keyboard too quickly. It’s so refreshing to find an author who writes about adult sex work and counsels sex workers, which is even rarer than White Crow. Articles about adult sex work regularly appear that are not only wrong in their premise but flawed. And it’s so annoying. Innes took the time to research her subject thoroughly and spoke to several sex workers, including myself, who lunched in a posh Glasgow restaurant on linen napkins and without needing to hold down the condiments, so I should know. (I hand back the salt and pepper shakers. Sorry.
She is the first to admit that when Innes researched adult sex work in Scotland, she started with the idea that “all sex work is violence against women.” But after reading some adult bloggers’ articles, she concluded that it was more complicated. Like any other industry, there are many classes and socio-economic groups. There are many different reasons why female, male, and transgender sex workers get into the industry, but do you think it’s not necessarily because they were encouraged to do so by a pimp? So, on to the point. Fishnet follows a woman who is searching to be challenging to track down. The protagonist, Fiona, is a very complex creature. Ines takes us on a journey, and it is quite a journey. Along the way, Fiona learns a lot about herself and the adult sex industry, including the activism of adult sex workers fighting for their rights and the downright sneaky tricks we encounter.
It’s very erotic in places, but we were all pretty sure at the book’s launch that the author never masturbated in the office. I don’t mind, but some may. At times, the book is shocking and brutal. We feel Fiona’s deep despair and pray for her success. What fascinated me was how aptly Inez captures the interaction between and client. There was a time when everyone looked sad because they had to leave early to catch a flight. “Oh, my darling, I miss you already.” If any of my sons are reading this, I’m not talking about you. Not at all.Fishnet will be a huge hit, and it deserves this success. Why not go, buy it, read it,t and enjoy it? If you see my cat along the way, please tweet me. Thanks.
