The Virgin Chronicles: A Memoir

(Paperback)

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Kathy is a virgin in her twenties trying to navigate the blurred lines between sex and love even as outside forces attempt to detach her from her sexual autonomy. At home, her adoptive mothers eyes investigate her body for evidence of sexual promiscuity and, despite her protests, she is called a putanaa whorefor her perceived sexual debauchery. At work, meanwhile, she is sexually harassed by male managers who slap her butt, tell her they want Greek for lunch (wink, wink), and fill out recommendation forms about her sexy qualities. A young girl on the cusp of womanhood, she encounters a version of herself as men experience her: hypersexualized and objectified.

As if this is not enough, Kathy enters the dating scene in search of love only to find herself fending off young men who want her just for sex. In each relationship, Kathy uncovers her own strength and conviction as she fights for the kind of sex she wants instead of the kind of empty sex boys seem to require of girls. The more demands they make, the more determined she is to hold out for loveeven if it means losing a guy or going home single and alone. Raw and empowering, The Virgin Chronicles sends the message that love is worth waiting for and sex is better when its paired with self-actualization.

Reviews

This memoir is about loveits elusiveness, its tempers, its promiseand the journey to finding it in oneself and in another. Marina DelVecchios voice is honest, pragmatic, and powerful even when she feels weak. Her story reminds us that vulnerabilities can bring strength, mistakes can build confidence, and an absence can give us the incentive to find fulfillment. We know were in capable hands as DelVecchio tells a story that cries, that stings, that trudges, but never flinches, always endures, and eventually overcomes quite beautifully.
Shuly Xchitl Cawood, author of The Going and Goodbye

The Virgin Chronicles by Marina DelVecchio is a beautifully wrought, heartbreaking, and redemptive story of a young womans struggle for control of her life, mind, and body. She claims her agency to define her choices about her sexuality while dealing with seemingly insurmountable challenges from an adoptive mother who neither trusts nor nurtures her. A riveting page-turner, rich with sensual detail, youll be rooting for the protagonists happiness and self-discovery.
Carla Sameth, author of One Day on the Gold Line: A Memoir in Essays

In The Virgin Chronicles, Marina DelVecchio delivers a searing study on self-possession. Routinely shamed by her distrustful adoptive mother, DelVecchio embarks on a rocky yet indefatigable journey to physical, sexual, and emotional liberation. With bracing wit and candor, through poignant prose, she reveals the beauty and pleasure found in independence, establishing boundaries, and connecting with ones origins.
Anjali Enjeti, author of Southbound and The Parted Earth

Marina DelVecchios strong writing paints a portrait of a woman who overcomes the obstacles life has thrown in her path with grit and determination. Definitely an inspiring and thought-provoking read.
Pamela Stockwell, author of A Boundless Place

Author Bio

Author of the award-winning debut novel Dear Jane, Marina DelVecchio is a college professor and writer who focuses her work on the internal and dark struggles of women. Her writing can be found online and in print. Born in Greece and raised in New York, she currently lives with her family in Cary, North Carolina.