Rules for Virgins

Wherein Magic Gourd Advises Young Violet on How to Become a Popular Courtesan While Avoiding Cheapskates, False Love, and Suicide

De: Amy Tan

Narrado por: Nancy Wu

In her startlingly sensual story Rules for Virgins, beloved best-selling author Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetter’s Daughter) takes us deep into the illicit world of 1912 Shanghai, where beautiful courtesans mercilessly compete for the patronage of wealthy gentlemen. For the women, the contest is deadly serious, a perilous game of economic survival that, if played well, can set them up for life as mistresses of the rich and prominent. There is no room for error, however: Erotic power is hard to achieve and harder to maintain, especially in the loftiest social circles.

Enter veteran seducer, Magic Gourd, formerly one of Shanghai’s “Top Ten Beauties” and now the advisor and attendant of Violet, an aspiring but inexperienced courtesan. Violet may have the youth and the allure, but Magic Gourd has the cunning and the knowledge without which the younger woman is sure to fail. These ancient tricks of the trade aren’t written down, though; to pass them on to her student, Magic Gourd must reach back into her own professional past, bringing her lessons alive with stories and anecdotes from a career spent charming and manipulating men who should have known better but rarely did.

The world of sexual intrigue that Tan reveals in Rules for Virgins actually existed once, and she spares no detail in recreating it. But this story is more than intriguing (and sometimes shocking) historical literary fiction. Besides inviting us inside a life that few writers but Tan could conjure up, the intimate confessions of Magic Gourd add up to a kind of military manual for the War of the Sexes’ female combatants. The wisdom conveyed is ancient, specific, and timeless, exposing the workings of vanity and folly, calculation and desire that define the mysterious human heart.

©2011 Amy Tan (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Very interesting short read

A near identical treatise can be found in "Valley of Amazement". This read discusses the sexual aspect of man woman intimacy. Amy Tan has the courage to present what others only hint at, and she does so with class, style, and a command of the English language.

A short, interesting listen :)

I thought the narrator was a great fit for the role.
I know some reviewers thought it was too short, but I enjoyed it and didn't mind the length. I can definitely understand there's potential for this story to be more than it was. However, because the story was told from one POV (one-sided instructions and anecdotes, etc). I think this works well as the short story it is.

Loved it - oh so briefly!

I've got to agree with other reviewers that this story was too short. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it was just an appetizer. Now that my appetite has been whetted, I want more! Dear Amy Tan, are you listening? I'm feeling kind of teased, but maybe that was the point, it's part of the courtesan's repertoire?

Short as it is, I do recommend this tasty morsel.

Great addendum to the Valley of Amazement.

As with all Amy Tan’s novels, I didn’t want it to end. I happened upon this book by accident and was elated I already knew the main character. As expected, it’s well written, the narration is pleasant, and the story is enticing. Enjoy!

Excellent story, surprisingly great advice on how to succeed as a woman in a male dominated culture.

Excellent story, when needs must, this is timeless advice from a seasoned older woman to her young (virginal) protégée on how to both enrapture their clients and avoid the pitfalls of their profession. I loved the dichotomy of the seemingly powerless woman actually being the alpha in the relationships from begging to end. I would recommend this to other women and a few male friends. It's certainly a credit to the author that she brought the story of her own Grandmother and her interest in her family history to light. Knowing her research motivations made me even more engaged. Now that I've been introduced to them, in this delightful short story, I'm really looking forward to reading the full novel Amy Tan wrote about these characters.

Much Too Short

Okay, to be honest, I purchased this book with the expectation of receiving a book. It was more like a pamphlet, albeit, a very well-performed pamphlet. It is my fault because I should have looked at the length, but I was so excited to see an Amy Tan book I hadn‘t already read or listened to and hit the purchase button with wild abandon. I’m anxiously awaiting the next book/novel by Amy Tan. She is an extremely talented writer and an anszinc story teller. This one just wasn‘t what I expected and my least favorite of her writings.

Not what I expected

This actually put me to sleep. It's the teacher talking to the newbie and it just goes on and on, never bringing the character to life. This would be more engaging had Tan told the story from the young woman's viewpoint. How did she feel about the prospect of sexual servitude to the highest bidder? It's so appalling, I'd really like to know. Good stories are about human emotions.
I'd have stayed awake for that.

Rules for Virgins

I enjoy the story but was so disappointed when it ended where I was ready for the main ploy to begin.

Where was my Magic Gourd?

If you could sum up Rules for Virgins in three words, what would they be?

Captivating, interesting and informative.

What did you like best about this story?

I felt as if I was Violet listening to a wise mentor, envisioning myself as a courtesan.

Any additional comments?

This book is short about 2 hrs, my biggest problem was it was hard to work and listen to since it was very detailed.

I wish it was longer!

It was so beautifully writen that I was constantly rewinding to hear certain passages over an over. I wish it was so much longer then it is. I love the tools and tricks of a courtesan that Amy Tan wrote about. she never disappoints me.