The BDSM Book Club Discussion Thread

Furry....Pat Califia is female to male transgendered. He wrote that book before he transitioned. (so it was technically written from a "dyke" perspective.
 
Did you like the book overall or not?

Yes, i did. i first read this book when i was just entering the world i saw as "rough sex in the lesbian community." i liked her characters, and while i didn't necessarily find their lives to be all that believable i found them engaging.


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


Like Fury i don't necessarily think it portrays BDSM in my way or even a real way. Many of the scenes in the book are violent, so i guess that eliminates positive as well.

Did you like the sex scenes in the book?

Quite frankly, i did. Some were too violent for my tastes, but overall i enjoyed them.


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


Yes, i did. i consider it an "erotic" fantasy and was able to enjoy it as such.

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


Yes, and i have. Most of Patrick Califia's novels were written before he transitioned and was one of the few loud voices for the LeatherDyke Community.

What did you like best about this selection?

The idea Califia puts forth that even in groups of "like-minded" individuals there is always division.

That women are equated to men in their behaviors and not treated with "kid-gloves."

What did you like the least?

Lack of depth in many of the relationships.

The drug use...as a recovering addict it squicks me now. (when i first read this book i was still using.)


How would you have changed the story?


Less drug use. i would have liked to see some of the sexual behavior occur when the characters weren't stoned.

More relationship development....
 
HottieMama said:
Furry....Pat Califia is female to male transgendered. He wrote that book before he transitioned. (so it was technically written from a "dyke" perspective.

That makes it cooler.

Thanks for sharing that with me.

I confess I've not got a great deal of lesbian / dyke knowledge. Little by little I'm learning though.
 
Did you find it a little disturbing that in this book being dyke meant acting like a man in some really negative ways especially interpersonally? I mean I'd like to think that power and being/acting male are not equated.
 
FurryFury said:
Did you find it a little disturbing that in this book being dyke meant acting like a man in some really negative ways especially interpersonally? I mean I'd like to think that power and being/acting male are not equated.


A little disturbing...yes. However given the other scenarios in the book, it seemed to "fit." i don't think femininity would have worked as well.
 
HottieMama said:
A little disturbing...yes. However given the other scenarios in the book, it seemed to "fit." i don't think femininity would have worked as well.

It did fit the book for sure.

Personally, despite the author's opinion otherwise, I tend to believe a world run by women would be a better world over all. They wouldn't simply act like men, in all the asshat-ish ways of men in power, IMO either.

I think femininity could have world better but then I would have written a very different book. I have a sort of vision about it. Perhaps I'll write it someday.
 
Its about time to put up nominees for next month.
 
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Sorry it took me awhile to finish - it was a re read for me and I really enjoyed it as much the second time as the first.

Did you like the book overall or not?

I loved the book although I think Pat kind of wrapped up the end a bit quickly and conveniently.

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

This is kinda dicey in that in many ways, yes this did portray bdsm in a realistic way - at least the scene I witnessed in the early 80's. The scene was harsh and violent and drug fueled and yet had its elements of affection and tenderness. Is it my way - back then yes, now - no.

Did you like the sex scenes in the book?

Very hot - disturbing at times, yes but then I never claimed to be any different...lol.

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

Yes, i did. I really enjoy futuristic type story lines.

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

Yes, and i have (Macho Sluts, No Mercy, Politics of Transgenderism, and the latest, Mortal Companion which hopefully will have a sequel).

What did you like best about this selection?

I liked that Califia showed that nothing was black and white regarding stereotypical roles, that what people put out for the rest of the world to see doesn't always equate to reality.

What did you like the least?

Think it should have been fleshed out a bit more story wise and it would have felt more completed for me.

How would you have changed the story?

Nothing other than the prior suggestion.
 
Thanks for joining the discussion!

So do you agree with the author that a world run by women would be no better than one run by men?
 
You know I don't know if there would honestly be any difference. I do believe that there is inherent differences between men and women and with those differences comes advantages and disadvantages - which ultimately would affect how they "ran" the world and perceived how things should play out. I do believe we sure in the hell wouldn't be in the middle of wars - women tend to be more defensive versus offensive actions taken by men.
 
I tend to agree with you there.

Did you find it odd that it seemed like power in the book pretty much equaled acting like a man?
 
I didn't find it that odd considering it is basically the theme of our society - men have overt power whereas women's power is much more covert. And considering her a couple of her characters were true stone cold butches, they would emulate men. I think some of the women acted like men because it was the matter of survival, at least until they realized that it didn't have to be that way.
 
As a woman and a parent of a child who is going to be in the lesbian world it bothers me that acting like a man, particularly the most negative connotations is equated with power.

One of the first thoughts was that at least she won't be fucked over by a guy. Of course I know gals can fuck you over too.

Anyway, I'd hope that we ladies would do better, have better behaviors and recognize acting like a man doesn't make you powerful that there are better ways to be powerful.

*shrugs*
 
Having spent a fair amount of time immersed in the glbt community, you will find that those stereotypical roles in women/men are throughout both genders as is the power exchange. You are correct in that you can get hurt or screwed over by either sex - honestly I have been just as hurt by a woman as I have by a man (maybe more so since I didn't expect to be hurt by a someone who I assumed was "of like mind").

The lesbian world is made up of all kinds of categories: butch, stone butch, lesbians, femmes, lipstick les, bois, etc and with all of those, comes a set of behaviors and expectations. Some has changed over the years - definitely more acceptance and blurring of the gender roles. And I agree - would hope that we have learned that we can embrace our power through other means. :)

An excellent read of one facet (historically based) is Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg. I read it when it came out and then re read it about a year ago.
 
Kierae said:
Having spent a fair amount of time immersed in the glbt community, you will find that those stereotypical roles in women/men are throughout both genders as is the power exchange. You are correct in that you can get hurt or screwed over by either sex - honestly I have been just as hurt by a woman as I have by a man (maybe more so since I didn't expect to be hurt by a someone who I assumed was "of like mind").

The lesbian world is made up of all kinds of categories: butch, stone butch, lesbians, femmes, lipstick les, bois, etc and with all of those, comes a set of behaviors and expectations. Some has changed over the years - definitely more acceptance and blurring of the gender roles. And I agree - would hope that we have learned that we can embrace our power through other means. :)

An excellent read of one facet (historically based) is Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg. I read it when it came out and then re read it about a year ago.

Cool. I'm going to put that one on my list.

I do think we all have male and female qualities inside us. I'm pretty comfortable with that. I just want us females to do better.

Of course I also see how we should be mentoring each other, networking the good ole girls and all that. Instead we seem to have more in fighting than anything. That really frustrates me.

One reason why I never joined a sorority was because IMO it should have been about leadership and power not getting your MRS or being a "little sister."

Same thing for the Girl Scouts. I insisted the girls work for their badges. As soon as they were able make decisions, they were given small bits of leadership and then had to do the work to back them up. It was their troop to run. I was just there to facilitate and at times mediate.

I love working with people, helping them get more comfortable with themselves, making decisions and leading.
 
FurryFury said:
What are we going to read in September??? Here are the nominations so far:
.

11) The Dark Garden by Eden Bradley
A deliciously potent tale of one woman’s quest for self-discovery

Rowan Cassidy likes to be in charge—especially in her personal life. As a mistress at Club Privé, the most exclusive bondage/S & M club on the West Coast, Rowan can live out her dominant fantasies safely, and with complete control—until the night Christian Thorne walks in. Self-confident and sophisticated, he’s a natural dominant if Rowan’s ever seen one. Yet she can’t stop thinking about him and imagining his touch.

Christian has returned home, hoping to break free from his dissatisfaction and malaise—and discovers the cure in Rowan. He’s dying to get his skilled hands on her and watch her surrender, to unlock the mystery of her that captivates him. Determined to be her master, he makes Rowan a daring proposition: give herself over to him for thirty days.

Rowan finds Christian’s offer terrifying—and impossible to resist. But abandoning herself to Christian’s power might be more than she can handle…. Or it might be the realization of her true nature and the dark garden within her. There will be only one way to find out. And once the game has begun, there’s no turning back.


Fury :rose:

I'm reading this now and I like it a lot so far.
 
Soooo inquiring minds wanna know - the new Merry Gentry book is out! Fess up - how has read it? I have surgery in 2 weeks and I have saved (and it hasn't been easy) the last Anita Blake book for this fucking hospitalization but I figure I should absolutely have hot reading - incentive to get the fuck out of there. I am pondering picking up Merry because lord knows (/fan) I have adored that series. Thank god I have read this months already so I don't have to play catch up!
 
Kierae said:
Soooo inquiring minds wanna know - the new Merry Gentry book is out! Fess up - how has read it? I have surgery in 2 weeks and I have saved (and it hasn't been easy) the last Anita Blake book for this fucking hospitalization but I figure I should absolutely have hot reading - incentive to get the fuck out of there. I am pondering picking up Merry because lord knows (/fan) I have adored that series. Thank god I have read this months already so I don't have to play catch up!
funny you should ask.. I just received my copy of "A lick of frost" today.. man I'd love to lick Frost for a while....
 
Argh yeah...I don't want hints and I soooo need to go buy it or I have to avoid this thread until I do - hehe.
 
*smiles* I havent started reading it yet.. and I wont give hints.. or comments.. unless asked :)
 
Nope, haven't read it yet.

Maybe this book should be nominated for next month?

I personally find her books very fluffy now but that doesn't mean I won't get around to reading it when the hold queue gets shorter at my library.
 
EmpressFi said:
funny you should ask.. I just received my copy of "A lick of frost" today.. man I'd love to lick Frost for a while....

You have it? :eek: I'm jealous. *pouts*
 
Help?

It's that time again, maybe even past, but oh well.

What are we going to read in November???

Substituting this one:

1.) Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey

Bestseller Carey's fifth book in her Kushiel's Legacy series, volume two of her Imriel fantasy trilogy (after 2006's Kushiel's Scion), is a moody tale of violence and divided loyalties. Phèdre nó Delaunay, the sexually adventurous heroine of the first trilogy, has become a placid foster mother to Prince Imriel, son of the unseen traitor Melisande Shahrizai.

Carey's infamous explicit sex scenes now portray Imriel's illicit and often violent affair with Sidonie, daughter of Queen Ysandre. Their romance is frustrated by Imriel's obligation to marry Dorelei, an Alban princess, and beget future rulers of Alba. When Dorelei and her unborn son are betrayed and Imriel is badly wounded, he finds himself torn between his vow to avenge his wife and child and his desire to seek solace in Sidonie's arms.

His inner conflicts are ameliorated by religious faith, a change from previous books that may please some readers and dismay others. Imriel serves well as protagonist, however, and events are clearly building to what promises to be a spectacular climax in the sixth volume.


Adding these:

22.) A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton

Princess Meredith NicEssus of the Unseelie Court finally reaches an elusive goal in Hamilton's seductive sixth Meredith Gentry paranormal romance (after 2006's Mistral's Kiss). Half-human, half-faerie, Meredith is a former L.A. PI whose current full-time job is trying to get pregnant—trying at least three times a day, in fact, mainly with her devoted retinue of sex-starved guards—to insure her ascendancy to the Unseelie throne of night.

Unfortunately, her bedding schedule has been interrupted by Lady Caitrin of the Seelie Court, who claims she was raped by three of Meredith's guards. Meredith must protect her faithful retinue from the terrible wrath of her uncle, King Taranis of the Seelie Court, and defend herself from the dangerous desire Taranis harbors for her.

Hamilton depicts Meredith's erotic adventures in her usual breathless, overheated style, but also reveals a deeper glimpse into Meredith's introspective side as she reflects on her favorite lover, Killing Frost, whose strange fate finds her re-evaluating the costs of being a future queen

23.) Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg

This compelling but uneven first novel follows the sexual travails of lesbian Jess Goldberg. At its start she is a girl who feels confused by strict ideas about gender and who wonders if she might be a "he-she" since people often ask whether she is a boy or a girl. Constantly searching, she quickly moves from trying on her father's suits to visiting bars and transforming herself into a full-blown "butch," complete with her own dildo. As police crackdowns on gay bars result in more than one night in jail, Goldberg decides to begin taking male hormones and have a breast reduction in order to pass as a man.

Although she delights in visiting the barber and being able to use the men's room--and even manages to make love to a woman without being discovered--the emotional complications of changing her sex (and hence her identity) build up until she ceases to take her hormone shots. Certain transmutations, like her lowered voice, cannot be reversed, however, so she is now even less defined as a member of a specific gender.

Goldberg and her like-minded friends who have embraced the butch/femme dichotomy find they have no place in either the nascent women's or gay pride movements. Feinberg attempts to present Goldberg's life as the personal side of political history, but the narrative seems unattached to time despite the insertion of landmark events like the Stonewall riot and the mention of Reagan and the Moral Majority.
 
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I can't seem to post the rest of the nominees and I don't know why.

*scratches head*
 
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