THE FROG POND

The psychosexual autobiography of a ""bisque woman""- this tells of the years in which Joyce McIver tried to find some help for the nameless terrors- anxiety- frigidity- insomnia- which haunted her. Even when dealing with some fairly shameless and decadent episodes, there's a blithe volubility which suggests a school dormitory confidence as Joyce, and her roommates Tono and Daphne, exchange experiences in their pursuit of a psychiatrist and their retreat from men. First there was Dr. Ramsey, who confused her with another patient and whom she later found tied up and tortured his wife. Then Dr. Simon, a silent man-- she later learned he didn't know what to say before consulting his control analyst- he was still studying. Then Dr. Vespers, friendlier, warmer, who dismissed her as cured. Then the rather sombre Dr. Portzweig- orality-centered; then Dr. Silvers; and finally a Dr. Halsted, not a psychiatrist, who believed in working out problems physiologically (deep-breathing exercises) and this seems to have worked for our girl. In between, there are her experiences with men, her decision to try Action- and contact with a clique of sado-masochists- a rendezvous with ""V"" and his leather strap in an Oriental apartment- etc., etc. .. Rather than the dedicated degeneracy of Alexander King, whom some of this material might suggest, it has a kind of cheerful enfant terrible fascination- and naivete.