A night out with strippers and burlesque girls is just what you need if you want someone to help you get a hang of English literature. Being in the company of a bunch of naked girls is proving to be an intellectually stimulating experience as these girls will do nothing more than read you a bedtime story.
Yes, book clubs have just gotten a seriously sizzling makeover as ‘Naked Girls Reading’ — the concept of having burlesque dancers read literature to their audience, wearing nothing but a pair of high heels is a hot trend in Europe and America.
This idea was born when a photographer/writer Franky Vivid walked in on his wife, burlesque superstar Michelle L’Amour, reading a book wearing nothing but a pair of heels at home in Chicago. Franky was so taken in by this sexy yet intellectual image that he decided to treat bookworms around the world to this experience.
To ensure there is nothing shady about Naked Girls Reading, the couple created an intimate, Parisian salon environment in a studio and hosted their first reading session. This show was a huge hit way back in 2008 and NGR is being franchised all over the US, Canada and Europe. It will soon be a presence in Australia too. Now you have an online NGR bookstore and writers are encouraged by these girls to send in their stories and win a prize of $2,000 for the best piece of writing.
One wonders, can anyone seriously concentrate on what is being read when they are surrounded by naked beauties? Justyn Barnes of the Sabotage Times decided to check out a show and went to one in London. In his article he writes, “As advertised, the girls are wearing nothing, except gold high heels, vintage jewels and roses placed among painstakingly coiffured curls. Soon they get down to some serious reading of both classic and contemporary literature on the theme of ‘An Ode to London’. Initially, the reading is rather lackluster, with a few nervy stumbles, but as the girls’ confidence grows, so the recitals improve. And while I wouldn’t say it is quite a transcendental spiritual experience, the blend of shabby chic ambience and curvaceous naked women reading everything from William Blake’s London to excerpts of Russell Brand’s Booky Wook II via the likes of Virginia Woolf, Oscar Wilde and Evelyn Waugh makes for an enjoyable, if unusual, evening out. Think Jackanory, only with magnificent breasts.”
Actress Aditi Chengappa too thinks this is a fun concept that one can try out. She laughs and says, “If that’s the only way we can motivate men to be interested in poetry and literature, why not!!” Silvio Berlusconi now wouldn’t mind becoming a book worm. Aditi also adds, “As far as women are concerned, we wouldn’t mind learning how to wax and polish our cars from shirtless six-packed men.”
Writer Mehreen Malik too thinks it’s a great idea. “I would totally go watch it, it’s like one of those fun Broadway Shows that you would see in New York. Even an intellectual guy would find the idea of having a hot girl wearing nothing but heels reading his favourite sonnet or book very appealing,” she says.
When asked if most people would find NGR sleazy, Mehreen says, “Here maybe, but not abroad. It’s like the Vagina Monologues, which is very out there and every topic is discussed.” Initially, Vagina Monologues were considered controversial but not anymore. “They even came to Delhi for 2-3 days,” says Mehreen who feels that it is very empowering for the audience to watch girls who are so comfortable and confident in their bodies even when they are being exposed.” The nudity doesn’t remain in your face as Barnes too said that the audience gets accustomed to it. It’s like going to watch a cabaret.
While this concept of gorgeous, burlesque dancers reading in the nude may get the initial eyebrows, people will soon start going to up their literature quotient.