Before diving too far into the book Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore, it is essential to know that this is an “adult” book. It is not for teenagers, kids, or anyone not mature enough to handle explicit language, details, and ideas. Mosley doesn’t sugar coat anything and is as raw as ever in this exploration.
Debbie Dare is our main character and finds herself at a crossroads. She doesn’t want to be an adult film actress anymore; she wants to change. The change is brought forth because her husband is electrocuted while having a tryst with a teenage runaway. This shocking turn is enough to cause Dare to evaluate her life and what she wants to do next. Throughout the novel, we are treated to a story of what it is like to be true to oneself, what family thinks of decisions that aren’t always positive, and death in light of sex.
Whether you’re an adult who watches adult media or is not one to look at it, you’ll find that Mosley doesn’t glorify it. There is a critical eye to adult film, including aspects of commodification of the body, emotional detachment, and the transactional nature of sex work. He proposes a dehumanizing portrait of fame and sex in a context that is a bit shocking to those who aren’t ready to read about it. That is not to say that it is not warranted, or out of left field, as Mosley treats his subject with humanity, and Debbie’s movements forward are done with emotion and humanity.
Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore is a redemption song. The novel is about redemption in contrast to the adult film world, fame, fortune, and realities that come with being human in the underbelly of society. Debbie wants to leave behind her past, but is met with resistance from all corners, including transactions her husband made behind her back. Money is owed, favors are collected, and friendships are too complex to form without wanting something in return. Debbie struggles throughout, and Mosley does a good job in juxtaposing several emotional moments with the nature of sex and the toll of working in general. Remove the adult film moniker. There is a human story here, one that Mosley urgently tells.
Overall, Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore is not a long book. I found it to be enjoyable, albeit raw around every corner. Care is placed into the character, and while she can be callous at times, there’s rhyme and reason to what she is doing, which pays dividends throughout.
I do not recommend Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore by Walter Mosley to everyone. However, it is a strong novel of redemption, sex, and human nature that few people can relate to, unless you can read beyond the topic of sex.
You can buy, borrow, download, or locate a copy of Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore by clicking here.
Leave a Reply