Paying for it - The Library of the Uncommons

Hardcover, 280 pages

Published Jan. 1, 2011 by Drawn & Quarterly.

ISBN:: 978-1-77046-048-5
OCLC Number:: 682894289

(2 reviews)

Chester Brown has never shied away from tackling controversial subjects in his work. In his 1992 book, The Playboy, he explored his personal history with pornography. His bestselling 2003 graphic novel, Louis Riel, was a biographical examination of an extreme political figure. The book won wide acclaim and cemented Brown's reputation as a true innovator.

Paying for It is a natural progression for Brown as it combines the personal and sexual aspects of his autobiographical work with the polemical drive of Louis Riel. Brown calmly lays out the facts of how he became not only a willing participant in but 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 …

Chester Brown has never shied away from tackling controversial subjects in his work. In his 1992 book, The Playboy, he explored his personal history with pornography. His bestselling 2003 graphic novel, Louis Riel, was a biographical examination of an extreme political figure. The book won wide acclaim and cemented Brown's reputation as a true innovator.

Paying for It is a natural progression for Brown as it combines the personal and sexual aspects of his autobiographical work with the polemical drive of Louis Riel. Brown calmly lays out the facts of how he became not only a willing participant in but 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 provides endless debate and conversation about sex work and will be the most talkedabout graphic novel of 2011.

2 editions

Literally Graphic reviewed Paying for it by Chester Brown

Review of 'Paying for it' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I think I will start out by saying that Chester Brown and I could not be more different. Literally the only thing we might have in common is that we have both spent some time living in Toronto. That said, I think that has actually made me more forgiving of him then I would have otherwise.

Chester Brown's Paying For It falls into a category of nonfiction that I like to call "They Know Best". Brown has a particular opinion about sex and he is 100% confident. He makes lots of statements and is out to provoke as many people as possible. If you don't like those sorts of people, I would highly recommend you not read this book.

That said, Brown does still have a lot to offer. For one, he is willing to get brutally honest about a fairly unpopular subject. He knows that a lot of people …

I think I will start out by saying that Chester Brown and I could not be more different. Literally the only thing we might have in common is that we have both spent some time living in Toronto. That said, I think that has actually made me more forgiving of him then I would have otherwise.

Chester Brown's Paying For It falls into a category of nonfiction that I like to call "They Know Best". Brown has a particular opinion about sex and he is 100% confident. He makes lots of statements and is out to provoke as many people as possible. If you don't like those sorts of people, I would highly recommend you not read this book.

That said, Brown does still have a lot to offer. For one, he is willing to get brutally honest about a fairly unpopular subject. He knows that a lot of people are going to judge him for how he goes about his life, and he doesn't do much to defend himself - well beyond being completely convinced he is right anyway. He doesn't try and pretty things up or tone down his rather abrasive personality.

For another, while I don't agree with him 100% I do think his perspective and ideas are important to consider. While I do think sex work often ends up hurting a lot of people, I do not think it is always wrong. I do think it should probably be legal to some extent, regulated better and taxed. Much like Brown, I also often find myself frustrated by the overwhelmingly negative way people of all stripes seem to see prostitution. They are being just as ludicrous as Brown is when he closes the book by saying he hopes that some day we will all be paying for sex.

Finally, what I did find myself agreeing with most were Brown's critiques of our cultural idea of marriage. I mean, I'm still glad I got married, but we (as a culture) have a lot of toxic ideas when it comes to marriage. We are too jealous, too possessive and far to demanding overall and as adults we should really be able to handle ourselves more maturely. Unlike Brown though, I find it much more difficult to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

As far as art went, I felt like it really captured the kind of person that Brown is. Plain, straightforward, logical, black and white. Not a lot of extra lines or quirky exaggerations. The sex is not the least bit titillating or pornographic.

Comrade Kay

rated it

Oct. 22, 2015