
Dream, Girl
Holly Mayes
(Author)Description
"...an honest look into a world rarely spoken about in polite company."-Alexandria Sure, author of Mister Manhattan
"...dives into the reality behind the fantasy of exotic dance..." -Anne H. Putnam, author of Navel Gazing: One Woman's Quest for a Size Normal
"...is about hope and the fierce determination that can turn hope into a better life."-Amy Buttery
Raised in a household of poverty and an oppressive, fear-based religion she longs to escape, Holly Mayes finds herself drawn from the dispiriting constraints of her childhood into another confining world-one where men call all the shots. Although temporarily enamored by the money, glamour, and popularity of the world of exotic dancing, the confidence she finds on the stripper pole as she captivates and manipulates men eventually turns to disdain and hopelessness.
In her pursuit of purpose and passion, the same strength that she used to navigate the stage at the Dreamgirls club becomes her lifeline to a better future. Despite fateful choices, misfortune, and missteps, she finds resilience and redemption in the power of her dreams, and in turn, a purpose beyond money and fame.
Product Details
Publisher | Koehler Books |
Publish Date | December 10, 2024 |
Pages | 314 |
Language | English |
Type | |
EAN/UPC | 9798888245422 |
Dimensions | 9.0 X 6.0 X 0.7 inches | 1.0 pounds |
About the Author
Reviews
"A life fueled by seduction, held together by secrets, and lived among a found family, Holly Mayes's Dream, Girl tells the story of a woman seeking the acceptance of others but finding the acceptance of herself."-Melissa Ford Lucken, editor, Washington Square Review, and podcaster, Washington Square on Air
"Dream, Girl is a courageous retelling of Holly's journey into erotic dancing, drugs, and toxic relationships, with a strength that lifts her up and out of an almost certain tragic ending. Dream, Girl is an honest look into a world rarely spoken about in polite company."-Alexandria Sure, author of Mister Manhattan
"Dream, Girl dives into the reality behind the fantasy of exotic dance, taking an unflinching look at a complex world of the male gaze, sexual power dynamics, substance use issues, and economic instability. At its core, this is a book about what it is to be a woman operating within structures of oppression and the war between two intense priorities: the desire to be a good mother (and a good person) and the desire to be free."-Anne H. Putnam, author of Navel Gazing: One Woman's Quest for a Size Normal
"Reading Dream, Girl was an eye-opening journey into a world many of us have not bothered to consider, even though we may drive past strip clubs every day. As a woman, I'm grateful for this glimpse into a world that too many women face. I was particularly struck by the economic trap exotic dancers find themselves in when other doors are shut to them due to poverty, abuse, drugs, or other circumstances. The author's story shows clearly that exotic dancers are also mothers, wives, girlfriends, and friends, juggling childcare, relationship, and self-discovery challenges like the rest of us. There's vivid detail, humor, and above all, brutal honesty throughout. In the end, Dream, Girl is about hope and the fierce determination that can turn hope into a better life."-Amy Buttery
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