Strip City Audiobook By Lily Burana cover art

Strip City

A Stripper’s Farewell Journey Across America

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Strip City

By: Lily Burana
Narrated by: Angela Dawe
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About this listen

Lily Burana had given up on stripping years before she accepted a marriage proposal - but decided to strip her way from Florida to Alaska before settling down. Lily, now a successful journalist, looks back at stripping with a writer's perspective. Her humorous yet hard-edged memoir deftly describes funky clubs and offbeat characters, the exhilaration that overtakes a dancer on stage - and the darker realities that assail her heart when she's out of the spotlight.

Strip City is both a hugely entertaining insider's account of a hidden world and a moving voyage of self-discovery. Lily Burana has written for The New York Times Book Review, GQ, New York Magazine, The Village Voice, Spin, and Salon. She lives in New York State. This is her first book.

©2001 Lily Burana (P)2013 Audible, Inc. New York
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Lily Burana was the first modern-day stripper to write a memoir. It’s still the best and the best-known.

I met Lily when she was stripping in San Francisco and editing a 'zine called “Taste of Latex.” It showed off her writing chops to such acclaim that she was whisked off to New York City and we've been watching her legend grow ever since.

Strip City isn't a sex book, although it certainly exposes the reality behind prurient interest. She writes a brilliant exposé of what stripping across the country looks like from up on stage and in the dressing room. Unsparing.

Stripping Across America--The Ultimate Road Trip

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I didn't expect this book to be so good!

I've read just about every stripping memoir, and this one is just superb. Fantastic writing. The narrater grows on you, and actually suits the author's punk-rock/San Francisco-activist tone pretty well.

I think this book presents a fairly accurate depiction of "the life" as an entertainer in the industry. It was interesting to see a glimpse of a variety of different clubs and environments across the US. The author's depiction of the psychological toll of stripping is also quite accurate as well as poignant.

Exiting the industry is extremely difficult, so this account of a wholesome after-life is encouraging. I also very much appreciate the writer's attempt to recover and illuminate a history of exotic dancers. Women's voices matter, and this narrative is part of a growing her-story.

This is probably not for those expecting a fantasy portrayal of stripping, but rather for those in SW or who ally for women in the industry. Some feminists may take issue, while others may perceive a woman's journey to self-empowerment. Much content worth discussing...

Fantastic, well-written, intimate

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The first few chapters are dull while she tells of meeting her future husband and planning her trip. I don't know if it's the writing or the narrator but there are lots of short quick sentences with no variation in rhythm which gets irritating. I did get used to the narrator, and the story gets interesting when she starts to delve into her time in NYC.

If you're looking for the drugged out, sexually abused as a kid stereotype you'll be disappointed. A lot of strippers have commented about how realistic her portrayal of the business is and I don't doubt that. Still I wonder how common her specific story is--adventurous, middle-class kid from a good home turns stripper while she figures out what she wants to be when she grows up, and everything turns out OK in the end. All the strippers I know more or less fit the stereotype--one got aids, two are dead (one murdered, one OD), one got kidnapped. They end up living in dumps and working low-paying jobs when they're too old to strip, all have been beaten up at one time or another.

I don't think the author does a good job of showing just how tough a job it is. Also, a little disappointed in her attitude toward Tijuana strip clubs--she seems a bit judgmental--working as a stripper in TJ is about 1000 times more dangerous and difficult (and more closely tied to prostitution) in Mexico than in the US. I'd have thought she'd be more sympathetic and better informed.

Even with its faults, I'd still recommend the book. There's some good writing in it and, I think, she's pretty honest about the stripper damage she has suffered even while her experiences were not as bad as it can get.

Slow start, bad narrator but good story

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Lily burana is a great descriptive writer. she does such a good job that you get a clear in mind picture and sensory description throughout the book.
She covers well the mental toll dancing took on her life, and explains alot of how the industry works, which I thought was very interesting.
My only complaint is that it's not a very flattering portrait of the girls or the people who frequent strip clubs.
There is very little sexiness about her story, which is fine because it's her point of view of her expirience.
I'll definitely be looking into her other books!

I also thought the narrator done an outstanding job. I really enjoyed listening to her.

Amazing writer

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The voice was great. The book was wonderful and very easy to read but covered pros cons and everything in between of dancing. If you’re someone who knows and loves to Dancer) or is a dancer I highly recommend you read this book

Recommend for anyone that is or knows a stripper. So great to listen to.

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Meeeeeemmmmoorieees… This was such a trip down memory lane. This is the straight story, as any 90’s MBOT girl can tell you. But not with as much heart. We love you, Lily!

Never met a Jezebel she didn’t like.

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