So when I got given Exposure by Joel Magarey I was told it included an Ecuadorian sexual paradise, and - apart from the disappointing realisation that this sexual paradise was more of a ‘PG paradise’ as opposed to the debauchery filled ‘XXX paradise’ I so hoped it would be - I enjoyed the book. Based on ex-Adelaidean Magarey’s true story of abandoning his life, girlfriend and job at The Agoniser (The Advertiser) to go globetrotting for two years in search of experience and purpose - and then return and attempt to get everything back. This epic travel story is interspersed with a recount of his life, giving insights to the events that led to his trip. Now this all sounds pretty stock-standard and - let’s face it - pretty self indulgent on Maragery’s behalf, but he manages to pull it off with  a rare honesty about his actions and the reasons behind them - “I wanted to have sex with a lot of women, preferably one of each race.” It’s this kind of honesty that really makes the book, as nothing is sugar-coated or poorly attempted to be justified. So despite him acting like a wanker sometimes, I couldn’t help but empathise with his frustrating fear of  making a decision or commitment in case it was the wrong one.  - Gunter