Madam: Chronicles of a Nevada Cathouse

Rating:
Summary: A Page-Turner!
Review: "MADAM" is by far the best book written about legal prostitution by someone who walked the walk and talked the talk. Actually, it's the best book I've ever read on the entire subject of prostitution because it's not a dreary social commentary written by a sociologist. It's a snappy sizzler of a read. Shaner doesn't mince words. She tells a hell of a story about the girls and their guys-of-the-moment. Everyone should read this book. It's funny, it's sad, it's informative, it's easy to read and still manages to be very, very intelligent.

Rating:
Summary: A Page-Turner! Beautifully done.
Review: "MADAM: Chronicles of a Nevada Cathouse" is a book that covers all the bases in the game of legal sex-for-sale. It's an emotional trip through a generally taboo world. As I read, I laughed out loud and cried silently while hardly able to wait to see what happens next. The story of the girls and their clients needed to be told. Shaner tells it well. She's a talented writer with a keen eye for detail and a wonderful sense of humor. She enlightens without pontificating. MADAM is the best book I've ever read on the subject of prostitution.

Rating:
Summary: I am not Lora Shaner's daughter
Review: but she is someone I would like to meet. If you want to know what it is like to work in a brothel, this is the book for you. You get an honest and even handed look at the girls (to include their persnalities and motivations), the Johns, the job, and the business of legal prostitution. It was a good and entertaining read to boot. The only thing wrong with it, was it was too short!

Rating:
Summary: I am not Lora Shaner's daughter
Review: but she is someone I would like to meet. If you want to know what it is like to work in a brothel, this is the book for you. You get an honest and even handed look at the girls (to include their persnalities and motivations), the Johns, the job, and the business of legal prostitution. It was a good and entertaining read to boot. The only thing wrong with it, was it was too short!

Rating:
Summary: It Knocked Me Out!
Review: I read this book in one day, I was so intrigued by the stories. The book opened my eyes to something very different. It wiped away preconceived notions. I am an independent filmmaker and, after reading MADAM, plan to make a documentary about legal brothels in Nevada. My intent and focus of the film would be to illustrate th human side of these girls' lives, something that was very moving in the book.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST Read!
Review: If you have ever been curious about legal prostitution read this book. I felt as I was on the inside looking in as I read the stories of the girls, the good times , the bad times, but always the "family" times. A definate read.

Rating:
Summary: A great read for customers and even just the curious!
Review: Once I started it, I literally could not put this book down. I found it to be a thoughtful and reverent piece on the life of brothel prostitutes and the customers who purchase their services. I wonder sometimes how much of their stories were embellished by the author, but then, I'm sure that the sordid pasts of many of the working girls themselves have been embellished by them as well -- a defense mechanism if nothing else. As a male, it was a little difficult not to feel guilty about the way many of these women seem to have been abused or taken advantage of in their lives. But reading this book gave me a deeper understanding as to why they do what they do, and it gave me a deeper respect for them as women for whom the profession provides not just income but a sense of empowerment. A job well done by the author.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific! A gem! "I Gotta Read this again" kind of book!
Review: See summary above. Those are comments I heard from the whole crew of my ship when I lent them my mother's book. I'm Lora Shaner's daughter, Kathy, a merchant marine on board a ready reserve ship on constant alert in the Indian Ocean. Sure, these guys are my shipmates and wouldn't want to hurt my feelings if they didn't like MADAM: Chronicles of a Nevada Cathouse. But they loved it! I sent copies of the book to all my friends for Christmas and have had nothing but rave reviews. It's a great book. I've visited Sheri's brothel many times during vacations home; even had Christmas dinner with the girls one year. My mom's description of the brothel and the girls is perfect. Biased or not, I think everyone interested in the details of legal prostitution should read this book. It's a terrific read.