The Girl Wants to

Ambitious and uneven, this sprawling anthology presents ``multiple facets of female sexuality and subjectivity'' in a variety of genres by Canadian and American women. Contributions range from relatively straightforward lesbian and heterosexual encounters to Gigi the Galaxy Girl's ``For the Love of a Good Toaster,'' with forays into vegetables, heroin and dancing with devils. Though well-known authors (including Nicole Brossard, Erica Jong, Xaviera Hollander and Barbara Wilson) grace the collection, their sections are typically drawn from older works. A notable exception is Mary Gaitskill's essay ``The Rose Taboo,'' an engaging reflection on the problematic erotics of singer Axl Rose. Editor Crosbie would have done well to open with this piece, which prepares the reader for the rough, exuberant and often violent offerings of the more contemporary contributors. First printed in fanzines, alternative comics and other non-mainstream venues, these works are characterized for the most part by an aggressive sexuality which revels variously in spanking, necrophilia, nihilism and other questionable delights. Roberta Gregory's cartoon ``Bitchy Bitch Gets Laid'' is notable for its truly disgusting depictions of bodies in conjunction. Pieces by Kathy Acker and Lydia Lunch, whose work first appeared in countercultural publications, provide a useful standard against which to measure the quality of the other contributors in this arena. As a whole, the anthology will certainly add to the furor over what constitutes erotica. It is not for the squeamish. (Apr.)