Sordid Truths: Selling My Innocence for a Taste of Stardom

As if his autobiographical My Undoing wasn’t enough, author Aiden Shaw decided to create a prequel. In it he presents himself as sensitive, caring, innocent, insecure and the most attractive man who roamed the streets (and alleys) of the UK. But a lot of this is, to paraphrase the Congressman Nancy Pelosi, a manifesto of mistruths. For example, he talks about how insecure he was with his looks. But the narrative reveals an extremely confident individual whose self esteem was fueled by his inflated view of his physical appearance. The way he tells it, everyone was drooling over him and someone compared his looks to Richard Gere’s. In all fairness, he was attractive, but he did not rise to the level of a Fabio or a Casey Donovan. He is correct when he notes that everyone has a gimmick. His revolved around an intimate part of his anatomy which was larger than normal. I don’t know if it’s the product of plastic surgery or just Mother Nature giving rise to one of her vulgar exaggerations. He proudly and continuously refers to his “gimmick”. I suppose that’s because it drove most of his life choices—he was just a passenger that happened to be attached to it. The title says the author sold his innocence for a taste of stardom. His career choices and leisure activities suggest otherwise. I think it's safe to say that he was born a piglet and by the time he reached adulthood, was a thoroughbred swine. I am not being judgmental. I’m just saying that he seems to be the kind of guy who, if he landed in a pile of mud, would just roll over and start playing. Now, he is humorous. What kept me reading wasn’t the salacious settings or vile activities—I cannot relate to those as trepidation would keep me from visiting the establishments he flourished in. No, what kept me reading was the funny occurrences that took place every 2 to 3 pages. Some were so absurd they seemed like fiction. But life can be stranger than fiction. My experiences prove that. Of course, mine don’t descend into this realm of back alley drama. Speaking of alleys, some of his settings, goodness, seemed to stop short of the underground sewer. It’s cute how as the author ventures from one tasteless setting to another, he tosses in a reference to some literary masterpiece. At one point he’s talking about Moby Dick. I’m sure wherever he is, Herman Melville appreciated the shout out. He also mentions his interest in being a writer. In particular, he brings up a screenplay he wrote. It aims to be some form of allegorical drama, but most likely would have ended up being an unintentional comedy. As an autobiographical prequel, Sordid Truths, suffers from the incongruence of the story with the author’s interpretation, as well as what appears to be some departures from the truth, as sordid as it may be. However, it is a humorous story with very funny moments that, coupled with the dissonance between fact vs. fiction, make it entertaining and well worth a read.

Adult film superstar Aiden Shaw has been long admired for his physical attributes, but for anyone who hasn't discovered his literary endeavours, he's a splendid writer, as well. His recently published "Sordid Truths, Selling My Innocence for a Taste of Stardom" is a prequel to his 2006 autobiography ("My Undoing, Love in the Thick of Sex, Drugs, Pornography, and Prostitution") which detailed his life in the adult film industry. "Sordid Truths" takes the reader from 1997 San Francisco, where the sex- and drug-addled author is besieged at a local "town meeting", back to his first job as a rentboy in 1980's Brighton, and then moves forward again through time, charting, with startling honesty, his ascendance as a well-paid sex worker in London, and culminating with his life-changing meeting with porn impresario, Chi Chi Larue. In between, Mr. Shaw falls in love, has lots and lots of sex, abuses various drugs, hobnobs with movers and shakers, suffers the betrayals of friends and the deaths of loved ones, and still manages to emerge with a certain sense of honor. In fact, it is through his interactions with many of his clients--the punters--that Mr. Shaw's humanity is best illuminated. His empathy with these men is conveyed in scenes of such wit, pain, and authenticity that his notoriety dissolves, and a certain generosity of spirit, elemental truth and unexpected kindness, emerges. As a sex worker, the young Shaw is engaging and eager to please but he's also empathetic, and I think that's largely a key to his success in the business. The book itself is simply and beautifully written, with attention to detail evoking such pleasures as Sticky Toffee Pudding and the velvety texture of downy flesh. Mr. Shaw has imbued his story with enough juicy details of his life in the sex industry to keep things interesting, and he's included personal anecdotes of his love life as well. I was touched by his insecurities regarding potential boyfriends--his uncertainty is refreshing, and anything but jaded--, and impressed by his refusal to portray himself as being anything more or less than the person he is. By the end of the book, I felt that this is a man who is as lovely on the inside as he is on the outside, and one who lives his life on his own terms. Highly recommended!

Young & hot, he sold his sole. Aiden needed to be validated by men and he did that well for $$. No social redemption here !

Mr. Shaw has written yet another fantastic book with pure honesty, rawness, and REALNESS. I read this book in one sitting. He holds nothing back. Props to him.

If you were to read only one of Aiden Shaw's books, this would be the one. Sordid Truths represents Shaw at his wisest and most witty, his dialogues are works of art, full of humor, humanity and insight. Reading this book, after reading all his others, will give you the fullest sense of the author and his life and the inner workings of his heart, in addition to his famous body, something easily overlooked in the world's most successful adult film star, but if you don't have time, Sordid Truths would be the one to read for sheer reading pleasure. His beautiful prose and easy to read anecdotes will make you regret coming to the end of Sordid Truths. A book which gives you an idea of the power of the world of sex and at the same time makes you aware that you are being guided by the hand of an Irish literary genius! A 'Ten' on your Required Reading list.

This self styled star of gay pornography is well known for being not too bright. How I do wish he would engage someone with a few more neurones than he, who also has some editing, writing knowledge and experience of the English language than he does. (hey he could pay for it in other ways if he's as powerfully attractive as he keeps on telling us he is). The book is appallingly written by an intellectually challenged, narcissistic, drug addled has been second rate porn star who keeps on trying to convince the reader (and therefore himself) that he is/was maddeningly attractive to anyone who was lucky enough to lay eyes on him and that he made a great deal of money. I s'pose the book must be self published because no publisher would have accepted this nonsensical tripe. But that is the point of reading it for me, i.e. is is so appallingly bad it's good because it so unintentionally amusing. It's a car crash book (it's so horrifyingly bad you can't look away)

This book is an eye opener in describing the daily lives of sex workers. I am amazed that these beautiful people abuse their bodies to the extent they do and remain physically attractive for even the short run. The quantity of drug use, long nights, fast living, and so on is mind boggling. The book is a good read but certainly not great literature. More like a diary, it gives us a close look at a fascinating way of life.

I have no prejudice against sex workers as this should be legal and regulated like in The Netherlands. This story, however of Mr. Aden Shaw was depressing and difficult to complete, as the protagonist was so dismissive of all other gay men who were not as attractive or well-endowed as he was. Even though he has written several other items, I feel a firm pass on reading any of these as I came away with a very negative opinion of this guy. I would strongly avoid this book and all others by this guy.

Well written and intersting.

I've always admired Aiden Shaw and not just for his oft-displayed physical attributes. Here he explains how he became the man he is in an honest and candid manner. Maybe not the book to leave lying around during a visit from your maiden aunt but anyone with an open mind can't help but be drawn into his story. It is well written and very descriptive (some may say graphic) but always in a way that you know it's the truth and not just being done for effect. In fact, far from glamorising the life he has led, he simply tells it as it is. It's certainly presented in a 'warts and all' way. Highly recommended read.

I really enjoy Aiden Shaw's books - don't think I've ever seen one of his films, but have read all his written work and he writes well about his sometimes very troubled and difficult life. He's open an honest about his problems with addiction and this really comes across in his work. Yes he was a porn star, a hooker, you name it he tried it, but he writes about it in a really fascinating and interesting way.

Really enjoyed Aiden's frankness in this book. Although his past is not what most people would say is conventional, I really like his honesty about being a rentboy and learning how he found his break in the adult film world. He is a very interesting guy who definitely has a brain.

Interesting!