"The Wild Oats Project" by Robin Rinaldi | Book Review

The Wild Oats Project by Robin Rinaldi

Robin Rinaldi's husband decided he wanted a vasectomy; she decided that if she couldn't have the children she wanted, then she would have lovers. That's how Robin and her husband, Scott, came to have an open marriage.

As part of what the couple called the Wild Oats Project, Robin moved into an apartment a few blocks away from their marital home in San Francisco; on weekdays, she lived in that apartment, attended sexuality-based workshops, and slept with other people. On weekends, she returned home and lived monogamously with her husband.

When I first heard about this memoir, I knew I had to read it. Wanting kids is a major thing, as a couple or as an individual; I admire Robin's decision to, rather than sit back and lament the fact that they'd never have kids, take matters into her own hands and use this as an opportunity to gain more experiences. Open marriages are certainly not for everyone, and I think it took a lot of courage to suggest it, let alone embark on the journey that she did. This wasn't just some excuse to sleep with other people and have a wild time; she wanted to explore her sexuality and her Self and learn more about who she is, which she undoubtedly did.

Robin is very honest in The Wild Oats Project. She discusses the good and the bad experiences she had - with her husband, her lovers, her friends - and she never glazes over the difficult or emotional parts of the Project. There are a lot of life lessons contained in this book - it really made me think about the possibilities in life, in time, in people.

This book is a real eye-opener in a lot of ways. Not only did it make me think, but it also opened my eyes to an entire subculture I never knew existed. Did you know you could take a course on Orgasmic Meditation? Yeah, me neither! But Robin attended many fascinating workshops and she details her experiences at many of them.

I also really liked the inclusion of music in the book. Throughout, there are mentions of songs, bands, and albums, so it's like you have a playlist to go along with the story.

Married or not, I think a lot of people probably fantasize about having the kind of life adventure Robin did with the Wild Oats Project. This memoir takes you through the possible ups and downs and shows you one brave woman's experiences. And depending on what you take from the book, it could either be taken as a cautionary tale or an encouragement to follow your desires, no matter the cost.

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.
1. Photo by nikkitheknack. 2. Photo courtesy Penguin Random House Canada.