Paying for It - Rambling Readers

No cover — Chester Brown: Paying for It (2013, Drawn and Quarterly)

paperback, 292 pages

Published May 28, 2013 by Drawn and Quarterly.

ISBN:: 978-1-77046-119-2

(1 review)

Paying for It was easily the most talked-about and controversial graphic novel of 2011, a critical success so innovative and complex that it received two rave reviews in The New York Times and sold out of its first print run in just six months. Chester Brown's eloquent, spare artwork stands out in this paperback edition.

Paying for It combines the personal and sexual aspects of Brown's autobiographical work (I Never Liked You, The Playboy) with the polemical drive of Louis Riel. He calmly lays out the facts of how he became not only a willing participant in but also a vocal proponent of one of the world's most hot-button topics—prostitution. While this may appear overly sensational and just plain implausible to some, Brown's story stands for itself. Paying for It offers an entirely contemporary exploration of sex work—from the timid john who rides his bike to his escorts, wonders how …

Paying for It was easily the most talked-about and controversial graphic novel of 2011, a critical success so innovative and complex that it received two rave reviews in The New York Times and sold out of its first print run in just six months. Chester Brown's eloquent, spare artwork stands out in this paperback edition.

Paying for It combines the personal and sexual aspects of Brown's autobiographical work (I Never Liked You, The Playboy) with the polemical drive of Louis Riel. He calmly lays out the facts of how he became not only a willing participant in but also a vocal proponent of one of the world's most hot-button topics—prostitution. While this may appear overly sensational and just plain implausible to some, Brown's story stands for itself. Paying for It offers an entirely contemporary exploration of sex work—from the timid john who rides his bike to his escorts, wonders how to tip so as not to offend, and reads Dan Savage for advice, to the modern-day transactions complete with online reviews, seemingly willing participants, and clean apartments devoid of clichéd street corners, drugs, or pimps.

Complete with a surprise ending, Paying for It continues to provide endless debate and conversation about sex work.

2 editions

crabbygirl reviewed Paying for it by Chester Brown

Review of 'Paying for it' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

what an odd defence of prostitution and a person's choice of life habits. Chester takes takes us through his experiences with prostitutes with an honesty that is both admirable and uncomfortable. After I noticed a discrepancy in the timeline, I kept track of his encounters - chronologically - on a tally sheet, not unlike his own diaries of the events. Chester prefers young, pretty, thin, big breasted women who provide good sex while appearing to enjoy themselves. oh, and at a cheapest rate too. Is this any different for the majority of johns? it's no mistake that after visiting numerous prostitutes he had quick, 2 or 3 page chapters with women he didn't enjoy where he makes a mental note to give them a bad review; he's fully invested them as a commodity that can be summarily dismissed.

the appendix of the book is a standard push for the legalisation …

what an odd defence of prostitution and a person's choice of life habits. Chester takes takes us through his experiences with prostitutes with an honesty that is both admirable and uncomfortable. After I noticed a discrepancy in the timeline, I kept track of his encounters - chronologically - on a tally sheet, not unlike his own diaries of the events. Chester prefers young, pretty, thin, big breasted women who provide good sex while appearing to enjoy themselves. oh, and at a cheapest rate too. Is this any different for the majority of johns? it's no mistake that after visiting numerous prostitutes he had quick, 2 or 3 page chapters with women he didn't enjoy where he makes a mental note to give them a bad review; he's fully invested them as a commodity that can be summarily dismissed.

the appendix of the book is a standard push for the legalisation and normalisation of being paid to have sex throughout people's lifetimes, whether male or female, old or young, fat or thin, pretty or ugly. (please note that when this ideal world arrives, Chester will only chose one of those dualities every time.) the author posits that the current acceptance of being gay can be a blueprint for future acceptance of sex work (which explains to me why folks are lobbying for the red umbrella to be added to the pride flag). And there's the usual malarkey that consent can be purchased, and yet also renegotiated in the moment; a difficult juggle if the consent was already purchased. lastly, it is abundantly clear that sex trafficking was nowhere on Chester's radar when he started this project as he spends a lot of time in the Notes section reflecting on his conversations with various women who could, potentially, have been sex slaves. will it surprise you to know Chester was able to reassure himself every time that No, he did not engage in such a morally repugnant activity? of course not.