The BDSM Book Club Discussion Thread

[graceanne]

Kewl. Glad we agree on those points.

Maybe we should do a catch up on the series. I think the last book we did in the group was, Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton, our December 2011 BOTM. Which means that we have skipped,

Flirt (novella)
Bullet
Hit List
Beauty (Outtake)
Kiss the Dead

I know I haven't read two of those, the last two. Maybe more.

We do seem to be up to date on the Merry Gentry series.

Wow, I didn't realize we'd missed any of Anita's series. I've read them all, and stand willing to reread and review any of them. I have to warn you, several of them seem to have next to no plot, other than Anita having sex and getting more powerful. Honestly, I'm pretty sure Hamilton has gotten involved in the bdsm scene, and those were a reflection of that. This one was a lot meatier (in that it has more of a plot line and less sex), and I really liked that.

She hasn't done any Merry Gentry recently, and I wonder if that's because Merry's pregnant, and I'm pretty sure Hamilton hasn't ever had a child and she might be finding it difficult to get in Merry's head to write about her. However, that's just supposition - I really hope to see more about Merry.

Remind me, what's next months botm?

 

[FurryFury]

Our September 2013 BDSM BOTM is Surrender to Fire by Lora Leigh.

Wow, I didn't realize we'd missed any of Anita's series. I've read them all, and stand willing to reread and review any of them. I have to warn you, several of them seem to have next to no plot, other than Anita having sex and getting more powerful. Honestly, I'm pretty sure Hamilton has gotten involved in the bdsm scene, and those were a reflection of that. This one was a lot meatier (in that it has more of a plot line and less sex), and I really liked that.

She hasn't done any Merry Gentry recently, and I wonder if that's because Merry's pregnant, and I'm pretty sure Hamilton hasn't ever had a child and she might be finding it difficult to get in Merry's head to write about her. However, that's just supposition - I really hope to see more about Merry.

Remind me, what's next months botm?

 

[graceanne]

Our September 2013 BDSM BOTM is Surrender to Fire by Lora Leigh.

Oh yeah. Cause I've read it. lol

 

[FurryFury]

Last night I tried to find some books that I've read for my fet BDSM BOTM that we haven't done over here.

Please let me know if you are willing to or have already read these?

Perhaps we can alternate these with the Hamilton books to catch those up?

Hotel Iris by Yoko Ogowa

A tale of twisted love from Yoko Ogawa—author of The Diving Pool and The Housekeeper and the Professor.

In a crumbling seaside hotel on the coast of Japan, quiet seventeen-year-old Mari works the front desk as her mother tends to the off-season customers. When one night they are forced to expel a middle-aged man and a prostitute from their room, Mari finds herself drawn to the man's voice, in what will become the first gesture of a single long seduction. In spite of her provincial surroundings, and her cool but controlling mother, Mari is a sophisticated observer of human desire, and she sees in this man something she has long been looking for.

The man is a proud if threadbare translator living on an island off the coast. A widower, there are whispers around town that he may have murdered his wife. Mari begins to visit him on his island, and he soon initiates her into a dark realm of both pain and pleasure, a place in which she finds herself more at ease even than the translator. As Mari's mother begins to close in on the affair, Mari's sense of what is suitable and what is desirable are recklessly engaged.

Hotel Iris is a stirring novel about the sometimes violent ways in which we express intimacy and about the untranslatable essence of love.

Firebird by Annabel Joseph

Is Jackson the Dom of Prosper's dreams?

Prosper is thrilled to be plucked from the corps de ballet to dance the lead role in The Firebird. Jackson, the guest choreographer, is as sexy as he is demanding. Prosper soon finds herself flustered by his closeness and his unforgiving gaze. She gets caught up in kinky fantasies that make it difficult for her to concentrate on his steps. She imagines him as her Dominant, turning her over his knee for flubs in rehearsal. Just as sensual tension at work builds to an impossible level, a surprise encounter outside the studio results in Prosper's fantasies being realized. Jackson takes his protégée home and ties her to his bed. Soon Prosper is receiving the discipline and domination she craves -- and much, much more.

The pair maintain a secret off-stage relationship -- scorchingly intimate encounters several evenings a week. But Prosper feels the burden of carrying the Firebird ballet on her back, and Jackson knows that his time in New York will draw to an end all too soon. Will Prosper crack under the pressure of pleasing her lover and bringing his vision to life, or will Jackson find a way to help his Firebird take flight?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, BDSM theme and elements.

Blue: The Color of Desire by Patrick Linney

Literature, not pornography
By J. R. Uder on October 22, 2005
Linney's "Blue: the Color of Desire" is absolutely one of the best pieces of erotic literature I've ever read.

Using poetic language, taut symbolism, and exquisite imagination, Linney tells the story of a young woman who falls in love with her English professor -- a man called only "Sir" throughout the book. Their desires turn out to be dark, painful, and tinged with blue. Blue? Yes, blue:

Blue as in erotic.

Blue as in the sadness and pain of unfulfilled sensual longing.

Blue as in bruised. Black and blue.

Blue is also the name the young woman takes for herself at the start of her journey.

There really is no good way to descibe the plot; we see a series of episodes or vignettes which highlight the shifting dynamic between Blue and Sir as their relationship progresses. There are notes and emails, short-story-style fantasies, and brief torture scenes. Nothing is extraneous, nor is anything too brief to convey a specific feeling. As in a BSDM relationship, we are allowed into the mind of the submissive, Blue, but Sir remains somewhat distant, an enticing mystery.

This book is not adventure-smut or porn to read while you're home by yourself on a lonely Saturday. If you're just looking for a hot story with a great plot, try Laura Antoniou's "The Marketplace" series, or Chelsea Shepard's "Two Moons" series -- both of which are quality writing, something of which the world of BDSM fiction needs MUCH more.

"Blue," however, is literature, and it should be read slowly, carefully. It should be savored, so that the nuances of the writing can seep into you. The relationship between Blue and Sir is truly unconventional, even in the world of power-exchange. Linney pushes the boundries of what can be called an "erotic relationship."

I *highly* recommend this book, and I sincerely hope that Linney (and his blue muse) try writing erotica again in the near future.


Owning Wednesday by Annabel Joseph


Wednesday is released by Vincent, her long-time Master, only to find herself in a new, much more emotionally intense BDSM relationship with Daniel. But is Vincent really out of her life forever? Can Wednesday bear the intimacy of her new lover's demands? The three soon find themselves in an uneasy and sometimes downright contentious love triangle.

Wednesday wants to submit to Daniel, but self-protective impulses and bad memories make their budding relationship a constant struggle. In a world of passion, promises, and power exchange, Wednesday and her lovers must come to understand the difference between being “owned” and loved.

Publisher's Note: This book is a substantially re-edited, revised version of a book of the same title previously released elsewhere, and contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, menage (m/f/m), strong BDSM theme and elements.

 

[graceanne]

Perhaps we can alternate these with the Hamilton books to catch those up?

Sure.

Hotel Iris by Yoko Ogowa

Not willing to read this, as books about minors make me cranky.

Firebird by Annabel Joseph
.
.
.
Blue: The Color of Desire by Patrick Linney

I'm willing to read these, providing I can get them on my kindle.

 

[FurryFury]

Just let me know.

And throw in any you can think of too.

Sure.



Not willing to read this, as books about minors make me cranky.



I'm willing to read these, providing I can get them on my kindle.

 

[graceanne]

Just let me know.

And throw in any you can think of too.

Honestly, I can't think of any. I'm so sick of stupid bdsm books, that I've stopped actively seeking them.

I say lets do one on your list next, as I'm 99 percent sure you're either going to hate this months choice or already hate this months choice (depending on whether you've read it yet), so we'll be fair and make sure you get to read stuff you do like. lol

 

[FurryFury]

I like very few of the BDSM books I've read.

I'm not planning on reading this months book because I don't feel like I can spend the money, my library doesn't have it (but has many books by the same author), and I didn't like what I read about it.

FF

Honestly, I can't think of any. I'm so sick of stupid bdsm books, that I've stopped actively seeking them.

I say lets do one on your list next, as I'm 99 percent sure you're either going to hate this months choice or already hate this months choice (depending on whether you've read it yet), so we'll be fair and make sure you get to read stuff you do like. lol

 

[graceanne]

I like very few of the BDSM books I've read.

I'm not planning on reading this months book because I don't feel like I can spend the money, my library doesn't have it (but has many books by the same author), and I didn't like what I read about it.

FF

Honestly, I didn't like it that much. I've read it, so I'll review it, but the entire series is ... well flat, I guess. And unrealistic to the point that it annoys me, and I tend to go for the fantasy books.

 

[FurryFury]

Sorry to hear that you didn't like it. I totally understand that. As I said, I don't like most of the BDSM books I read but there are a few gems in there.

Honestly, I didn't like it that much. I've read it, so I'll review it, but the entire series is ... well flat, I guess. And unrealistic to the point that it annoys me, and I tend to go for the fantasy books.

 

[graceanne]

Sorry to hear that you didn't like it. I totally understand that. As I said, I don't like most of the BDSM books I read but there are a few gems in there.

Yep, there are. When I find one of those gems I think that the wading through crap is worth it, but when I'm wading through crap I really doubt that. lol

 

[FurryFury]

Exactly.

Yep, there are. When I find one of those gems I think that the wading through crap is worth it, but when I'm wading through crap I really doubt that. lol

 

[FurryFury]

So to recap.

Our September 2013 BDSM BOTM is Surrender to Fire by Lora Leigh.

Our October 2013 BDSM BOTM is Blue: The Color of Desire by Patrick Linney and Susannah Indigo

Our November 2013 BDSM BOTM is Flirt (novella) by Laurell K. Hamilton

Our December 2013 BDSM BOTM is Firebird by Annabel Joseph.

Our January 2014 BDSM BOTM is Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton

And at that point we will need to find some more books and continue to catch up on the Anita Blake ones.

 

[graceanne]

So to recap.

Our September 2013 BDSM BOTM is Surrender to Fire by Lora Leigh.

Our October 2013 BDSM BOTM is Blue: The Color of Desire by Patrick Linney and Susannah Indigo

Our November 2013 BDSM BOTM is Flirt (novella) by Laurell K. Hamilton

Our December 2013 BDSM BOTM is Firebird by Annabel Joseph.

Our January 2014 BDSM BOTM is Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton

And at that point we will need to find some more books and continue to catch up on the Anita Blake ones.

Sounds good. Where are we on the Kushiel series? I know you really like them, and I don't mind them.

 

[FurryFury]

Good idea. We left off with Naamah’s Kiss.
Which leaves us just two more but I'm not sure if they are very BDSM-y
Naamah’s Curse and Naamah’s Blessing.

After these two she starts writing in entirely different worlds altogether.

Sounds good. Where are we on the Kushiel series? I know you really like them, and I don't mind them.

 

[graceanne]

Good idea. We left off with Naamah’s Kiss.
Which leaves us just two more but I'm not sure if they are very BDSM-y
Naamah’s Curse and Naamah’s Blessing.

After these two she starts writing in entirely different worlds altogether.

Yeah, well not all of the anita books are bdsm-y either, but we do them because we're trying to do the whole series. Let's add in the rest of the kushiel books.

 

[FurryFury]

Okay. We can do that.

How do you feel about the Chelsea Cain books? We've done two so far.

53.) The August 2010 BOTM was Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain

http://forum.literotica.com/showthre...5#post35153695

and

35.) The January 2009 selection was Heartsick by Chelsea Cain

http://forum.literotica.com/showthre...4#post30007954

She also has these out.

Evil At Heart
The Night Season
Kill You Twice
Let Me Go

Yeah, well not all of the anita books are bdsm-y either, but we do them because we're trying to do the whole series. Let's add in the rest of the kushiel books.

 

[graceanne]

Okay. We can do that.

How do you feel about the Chelsea Cain books? We've done two so far.

53.) The August 2010 BOTM was Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain

http://forum.literotica.com/showthre...5#post35153695

and

35.) The January 2009 selection was Heartsick by Chelsea Cain

http://forum.literotica.com/showthre...4#post30007954

She also has these out.

Evil At Heart
The Night Season
Kill You Twice
Let Me Go

Doesn't look bad. I'll read one of those and see how I feel about doing more.

 

[FurryFury]

Great. I liked the first one. The second one wasn't as good. So I hope the series returns to and surpasses that first hard edged volume.

Doesn't look bad. I'll read one of those and see how I feel about doing more.

 

[graceanne]

Great. I liked the first one. The second one wasn't as good. So I hope the series returns to and surpasses that first hard edged volume.

Yeah, I'm going to read the first one. I read your reviews, so I'm not at all interested in reading the second one. lol

 

[FurryFury]

I can be so mean when I write reviews. LOL

Yeah, I'm going to read the first one. I read your reviews, so I'm not at all interested in reading the second one. lol

 

[FurryFury]

It is time to discuss, our September 2013 BDSM BOTM, Surrender to Fire by Lora Leigh.

 

[FurryFury]

I didn't read this one. It wasn't at my library. I didn't want to spend the money.

 

[graceanne]

Surrender to Fire by Lora Leigh

Did you like the book overall or not?

I did when I first read it, but I've grown picker over the years.

Do you feel it portrays BDSM in a real way, a positive way and/or your way?

Neither, I feel it portrays BDSM in a very fictional way. It's not realistic.

Did you like the sex scenes in the book?

Yes, when I first read it. This is a good book for someone who's just recently into BDSM.

Did you like the rest of the book, the story in it?

What story? This was totally a wanker book.

Would you be interested in reading another book by this author?

Depends. I really enjoy her breed books and usually enjoy them. I've read all of this series, and it doesn't grow any meat for about ten books, most of this series is just wanker books.

What did you like best about this selection?

The sex.

What did you like the least?

The one dimensional characters.

How would you have changed the story?

A deeper plot would have been nice.

 

[FurryFury]

Sorry you didn't like this novel this time around Beautiful Graceanne.

What we are reading now is:

Our October 2013 BDSM BOTM is Blue: The Color of Desire by Patrick Linney and Susannah Indigo.