The Juliette Society

May 12, 2013 Lucy rated it it was ok

Shelves: not-for-kids

Warning: this review is explicit. Obviously.

First of all, this book makes '50 Shades of Grey' read like 'Pride and Prejudice'. If the back cover hadn’t revealed who Sasha Grey was, I certainly would have sussed it out after reading just a few pages: the dialogue may as well have been taken straight out of a porn movie. “Your hard cock feels so good in my tight little mouth. It tastes so good. It feels so fucking good, doesn’t it?” This confused me, as I was under the impression that the protag Warning: this review is explicit. Obviously.

First of all, this book makes '50 Shades of Grey' read like 'Pride and Prejudice'. If the back cover hadn’t revealed who Sasha Grey was, I certainly would have sussed it out after reading just a few pages: the dialogue may as well have been taken straight out of a porn movie. “Your hard cock feels so good in my tight little mouth. It tastes so good. It feels so fucking good, doesn’t it?” This confused me, as I was under the impression that the protagonist was a college student called Catherine, not a porn star called Sasha. I guess I was wrong.

The plot summary seems intriguing enough: a college student finds herself immersed in a secret sex society for the elite which allows them to indulge their darkest fantasies and fetishes. And, sure enough, this element of the story held my interest. It's just a shame that I had to read HALF the book before actually being allowed access to the elusive Juliette Society. First, I had to endure over 200 pages filled with accounts of Catherine's (lack of a) sex life with her workaholic boyfriend Jack: (view spoiler)

Another thing the plot summary fails to mention is that, as well as giving us an insight into the erotic rituals of the rich and famous, Grey also confronts us with the exploitative underworld of sex: porn websites, seedy sex clubs and (view spoiler)

Let's move on to writing style. Grey's no-nonsense descriptions seem almost clinical: “Pulls up and slides the head up the pussy”. The pussy? Is this Gray’s Anatomy? I hope that's just a typo. It all sounds almost like the stage directions on the script for a porn film (do porn films have scripts?) “He pushes into me. I push a finger into me. And moan.” To be fair, such descriptions do capture the dreary sense of routine faced by Catherine and her reluctant boyfriend, if that was Grey’s intention.

Grey often puts the story on hold in order to philosophize about the role of sex in film, literature and society as a whole. At times this almost works, but mostly it just ruins the flow of the story: it all feels a little clunky and fragmented. Even more odd is a comparison made between William Blake and - believe it or not - ejaculation: “You know that line by William Blake about ‘the world in a grain of sand?’ Well, I can see the universe in a grain of Jack’s come.” That awkward analogy may just have ruined one of my favourite poems.

I've given this book two stars rather than one because, on the plus side, the second half is better than the first, and it's also provided me with my new favourite euphemism: (view spoiler) ...more

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Nov 19, 2013 Jacqueline King rated it did not like it

Shelves: hate-hate-hate

Sasha Grey writes, "Plot is always subservient to character." Too bad she didn't listen to her own advice.
The Juliette Society is by no means about a secret sex club called The Juliette Society. It is basically a series of diary-like paragraphs from a woman named Catherine, who constantly daydreams about sex, with anyone, anywhere but isn't getting any from her boring boyfriend who I would have dumped by now. The club in question is only mentioned about six or seven chapters in, and is quite fra ...more

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Jul 04, 2013 Unai rated it did not like it · review of another edition

La curiosidad mató al gato y con tanta publicidad que le están haciendo a Sahsa Grey, tenia curiosidad por ver si se le da bien esto de escribir, o solo domina la oratoria. Como actriz “convencional” solo me ha convenido de momento en la temporada de Entourage que sale y mas que nada porque hace de si misma. Pero como escritora el suspenso es total y es que hablando mal y pronto, menuda puta mierda de libro que ha colado.
No es que esté yo muy al día de literatura erótica, por no decir nada al dí ...more

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Dec 21, 2015 Γκέλλυ rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, erotica

H Sasha Grey είναι η γνωστή σε όλους μας πορνοσταρ με αρκετές και γνωστές ταινίες στο ενεργητικό της, να αναφέρω ενδεικτικά ορισμένες που μου άρεσαν οι τίτλοι, In Thru the Back Door, Gang Bang My Face, House of Ass και πολλές άλλες με ακόμα πιο ευφάνταστους τίτλους. Κάποια στιγμή αποφάσισε να γράψει και ένα βιβλίο. Ο τίτλος του «Μυστική λέσχη Ιουλιέτα».

Και περνάμε στην πολυαναμενομενη κριτική μου. Ξενέρωσα. Για διάφορους λόγους. Το βιβλίο υποσχόταν «μια ιλιγγιώδη διαδρομή στον πυρήνα αυτής της ι H Sasha Grey είναι η γνωστή σε όλους μας πορνοσταρ με αρκετές και γνωστές ταινίες στο ενεργητικό της, να αναφέρω ενδεικτικά ορισμένες που μου άρεσαν οι τίτλοι, In Thru the Back Door, Gang Bang My Face, House of Ass και πολλές άλλες με ακόμα πιο ευφάνταστους τίτλους. Κάποια στιγμή αποφάσισε να γράψει και ένα βιβλίο. Ο τίτλος του «Μυστική λέσχη Ιουλιέτα».

Και περνάμε στην πολυαναμενομενη κριτική μου. Ξενέρωσα. Για διάφορους λόγους. Το βιβλίο υποσχόταν «μια ιλιγγιώδη διαδρομή στον πυρήνα αυτής της ιδιωτικής, απρόσιτης ερωτικής λέσχης όπου τα πάντα μπορούν να συμβούν». Λοιπόν, ούτε ιλλιγος με έπιασε και αυτή η ερωτική λέσχη υπήρχε σε ελάχιστες σελίδες του βιβλίου, ίσως και οι πιο ενδιαφερουσες. Όλο το υπόλοιπο βιβλίο ήταν οι ερωτικές, boring to death, φαντασιώσεις της Κάθριν. Περίμενα κάτι πιο προχωρημένο απο την Sasha, ακόμα και οι δικές μου είναι πιο προχωρημένες. Ορισμένες φαντασιώσεις ήταν αστείες έως γελοίες, να θυμίσω σε όσους το έχουν διαβάσει το μαρινάρισμα με τα μπαχαρικά, μπήκα στον πειρασμό να το ποσταρω παρακάτω αλλά μπορεί να διαβάζουν και ανήλικα.

Το υπόλοιπο βιβλίο ήταν οι σκέψεις της Κάθριν. Γλυκιά μου Sasha δεν με ενδιαφέρει η κοσμοθεωρία σου, δεν διαβάζω για αυτό τον λόγο το βιβλίο. Το να διαβάζω ένα ολόκληρο κεφάλαιο για το σπέρμα δεν θα με κάνει να το δω διαφορετικά, δεν είναι «ένας κόσμος σε έναν κόκκο άμμου» όπως παραθετεις από στίχο του Γουίλιαμ Μπλέικ. Δεν είσαι ηρωίδα κάποιας ταινίας, δεν είσαι η «Ωραία της Ημέρας» όπως συχνά αναφέρεις, η Siverine ήταν μια καταπιεσμένη αστή με σαδομαζοχιστικές φαντασιώσεις, ήταν σεξουαλικά ψυχρή, ήταν καθολική, είχε κακοποιηθεί σεξουαλικά, εσένα δεν σου έδωσε σκαμπίλια ο γκόμενος κατά την διάρκεια του σεξ και πήγες να τα φας αλλού. Για να μην μιλήσω για το σεξ με τον γκόμενο, η παρομοίωση του πρωκτικού σεξ με δοκιμή παπουτσιών ενός νούμερου μικρότερα μου φέρνει ανατριχίλα και από εδώ και πέρα θα βλέπω με διαφορετικό μάτι την αγορά υποδημάτων.

Το τέλος? Εκεί ήταν που αναρωτήθηκα τι διάβαζα τόση ώρα. Μηπως ήταν αστυνομικό και δεν το πήρα πρέφα? Ζαλίστηκα τόσο πολύ από τα μπαχαρικά?

1 αστέρι γιατί πόνεσε ο εγκέφαλος μου. Μόνο σε ένα θα συμφωνήσω μαζί της:

“Η μισή αξία του σεξ βρίσκεται σε αυτά που ονειρεύεσαι”
...more

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Jun 07, 2013 Nicolas rated it did not like it

The Juliette Society, straight from its Sade's reference in its title, is the work of someone who knows literature as much as she knows what she's talking about when she's talking about sex and it's hard not to think about a few authors such as Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis and of course Sade himself, when reading chapters in which, for instance, Grey brings her character into some bizarre places where power, sex and violence merge into one. Unfortunately, Grey never manages to take her dis ...more

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Nov 01, 2013 Robert rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, robert-s-reads, book-smut

Since this is the closest I’ll ever come to making love with a porn star, I wanted to take full advantage of the situation, having been introduced to Sasha Grey through the marketing and promotional campaign of The Girlfriend Experience—although full disclosure I never did see the movie. Thank you Steven Soderbergh. And if I can still remember her name years later…well, that probably gives you some indication of why I read so many novels a year. So continuing on in my current erotica experiment, Since this is the closest I’ll ever come to making love with a porn star, I wanted to take full advantage of the situation, having been introduced to Sasha Grey through the marketing and promotional campaign of The Girlfriend Experience—although full disclosure I never did see the movie. Thank you Steven Soderbergh. And if I can still remember her name years later…well, that probably gives you some indication of why I read so many novels a year. So continuing on in my current erotica experiment, which has grown into something resembling an expedition, and is probably on the brink of turning into a full-blown epidemic, I bring you THE JULIETTE SOCIETY for your whispering pleasure.

This novel blew my mind. Literally. With periods so intense I thought I might blackout, it’s safe to say Ms. Grey writes as well as she fucks. The lucky bastard who marries her might pass out on a nightly basis from sheer ecstasy and pure bliss, find himself in a sex-induced coma, and hooked up to an oxygen tank and sucking pineapple juice through a straw. I’d like to go into explicit detail on the sex scenes, as I convey my state of erotic involvement, but I feel like this might somehow cheapen the whole affair. And this novel wasn’t cheap for me. It was intense and weird and thoroughly entertaining.

The Fuck Factory really doesn’t need much more of an introduction. And the women. Holy. Hell. I need some Crisco. Stat. Anna—round ass, big tits, voluptuous, pale, and curvy in all the right places—was so completely in tune with her sexuality and uninhibited, I could practically feel the pages vibrating whenever she stepped between the white space. And Catherine in many ways the zin to Anna’s zang was considerably more of a minx than she first appeared. And I sucked it all up like a Slurpee.

It was raw and powerful and emotional and disjointed and invigorating and fulfilling and wonderful and sensual. As for me, I was stimulated and lubricated and aroused and satiated and turned on faster than a drilldo. And I devoured all of it greedily and lustfully, finishing it in two days’ time.

I think it’s safe to say Sasha Grey can write (even her less than enthusiastic reviewers have acknowledged as much). She writes with passion and an animalistic intensity, baring her soul with a powerful mindfuck that opened my eyes wider than a chasm. I found myself pondering questions I had never pondered before. Like where did her writing come from? And did she work on her soliloquies and monologues and diction and dialogue as she was getting pounded in the ass?

If Ms. Grey is anything like her debut novel, she’s not the most conventional individual. And that’s why this story spoke to me. With plenty of flashbacks and storytelling within the story, spending a lot of time in Catherine’s head, and more than a few cinematic references, this novel was executed with haphazard precision.

Her name sold me on the first book, but I’ll be coming back for more like some lust-induced bunny, especially if she takes another stab at the erotica genre. A professional fucker who writes about fucking. What more could you possibly ask for?

I received this book for free through NetGalley.

Cross-posted at Robert's Reads ...more

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Dec 27, 2015 Δήμητρα marked it as dnf · review of another edition

I'm a quitter!
Δεν θα δώσω βαθμολογία γιατί ήταν το πρώτο βιβλίο που σχεδόν μετά από κάθε σελίδα σκεφτόμουν: "Αυτό πάει για 5 αστέρια." αλλά λίγο πιο κάτω... "Ένα αστέρι και πολύ του είναι."

Πριν το διαβάσω έριξα μια γρήγορη ματιά στις κριτικές και έφαγα ήττα διότι η συγγραφέας είναι πρώην πορνοστάρ και τους πορνοστάρ τους έχω λιγάκι πιο ψηλά από τους "κανονικούς" ανθρώπους. Δεν ξέρω γιατί αλλά τους θεωρώ πιο... πιο... εύστροφους να το πω; (εξαιρούνται τα εγχώρια φυντάνια) :/

Τέλος πάντων δεν είνα ...more

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Jun 07, 2015 Pilar ☽ rated it did not like it

Shelves: erotica, adult, contemporary, hell-no, kinky-bdsm, irritating-heroine, id-rather-eat-cow-shit, steamy-af, they-must-be-sacrificed, bunny-humping-24-7, ripping-my-eyes-out, make-it-stop, mature, skimmed-pages

What the fuck did I just read?

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May 21, 2013 Cat rated it really liked it

I stumbled upon this book by total chance. I was in Tesco (fellow speed readers from the UK. If you run out of stuff to read go to Tescos.. 3 books for 7 and you can get some pretty good ones on the UK topsellers list!)

Anyway,I had 2 novels picked out,was in a rush and needed another so I thought i'd play a game I never usually play and pick one that had a pretty cover and an intriguing name. So I picked up this. And I got home and it was my day off, and I've read the whole thing in 2 hours.

I d ...more

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Jul 09, 2015 Blair rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, read-on-kindle, 2013-release, sex-and-sexuality, first-novels

The Juliette Society is the debut novel of Sasha Grey, a former porn star. For this reason alone it's attracting plenty of attention, although a lot of the reviews I've read (on Goodreads and Amazon) seem to be negative. The story itself is an intriguing proposition: it's about a film student called Catherine, who pursues a friendship with Anna, a classmate who fascinates her; and in turn, Anna introduces her to a secret underground organisation known as the Juliette Society. Catherine is frustr The Juliette Society is the debut novel of Sasha Grey, a former porn star. For this reason alone it's attracting plenty of attention, although a lot of the reviews I've read (on Goodreads and Amazon) seem to be negative. The story itself is an intriguing proposition: it's about a film student called Catherine, who pursues a friendship with Anna, a classmate who fascinates her; and in turn, Anna introduces her to a secret underground organisation known as the Juliette Society. Catherine is frustrated by the lack of sex she's having with her boyfriend Jack, who seems more interested in work than her, and in Anna she sees a lack of inhibition that thrills her. The enigmatic Juliette Society turns out to be a sex club for the rich and powerful, and as Catherine is drawn further into this world, she faces the prospect of being forced to chose between two very different paths.

There is part of me that really loved this book, and I wish I could give it more than three stars, but on balance I just don't think I can: the plot is kind of daft, in parts actually kind of nonexistent, and despite the title, the story isn't really about the Juliette Society at all. It's more about Catherine and Jack's relationship, and I didn't like Jack much - he was a boring character and I couldn't see why Catherine, who was both very intelligent and very sexual, would be bothered about being with him. However, there is still a hell of a lot to enjoy about this book. It's been marketed as, and is presented as, an erotic novel - no surprise given who it's written by. However, while it's inevitably full of sex, I would argue there is much more to it than that. Grey has given her heroine a smart, inquisitive voice, and the narrative is punctuated by Catherine's musings on film, literature, philosophy and the history of sexuality. It was this that really made the story enjoyable for me, and it was a welcome surprise given that books written by 'celebrities' of some sort are usually pretty terrible. And the sex scenes? They do venture into cringeworthy territory at times - when is someone going to tell the publishing world that no real-life woman has EVER referred to her vagina as 'my sex'? - but they're much better than anything in Monsieur, for example, or any of the hundreds of Fifty Shades extracts I've seen all over the internet in the past year.

In conclusion: imperfect, but definitely recommended. Give it a try and you might, like me, be pleasantly surprised. ...more

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Jul 28, 2015 La-Lionne rated it did not like it

Shelves: just-blah, badly-written, could-not-finish, skipped-a-lot

What can I say, curiousity got the best of me. I'm all about people turning their life around for the better. A porn star giving a go at being a writer. Why not? Go for it!

I couldn't tell you what this book was about. It was all over the place. I gave up at 50%.
So basicly this book is about a heroine who is not satisfied with her sex life. Sure, her boyfriend is great, if only he would spank her once in a while. It doesn't read as an actual book. It's more like a bunch of diary entries, with to ...more

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Jun 05, 2013 Marleen rated it really liked it

Shelves: erotica

I received my copy from Sphere through Nudge and rated it 3.5 stars.

Every now and again I finish a book and find that I don’t know how I feel about it or what rating to give it. This is one of those books.

A few weeks ago I read an article about Sasha Grey and she fascinated me. She started a career in adult films shortly after turning 18 and turned herself into one of the world’s most successful porn actresses only to shoot her last pornographic movie when she was 21. Not surprising, when someb I received my copy from Sphere through Nudge and rated it 3.5 stars.

Every now and again I finish a book and find that I don’t know how I feel about it or what rating to give it. This is one of those books.

A few weeks ago I read an article about Sasha Grey and she fascinated me. She started a career in adult films shortly after turning 18 and turned herself into one of the world’s most successful porn actresses only to shoot her last pornographic movie when she was 21. Not surprising, when somebody with her history decides to write an erotic story it more than arouses my curiosity. And the description of The Juliette Society only made my curiosity stronger:

“A secret club where the world’s most powerful people meet to explore their deepest, often darkest sexual fantasies.”

It sounded absolutely fascinating and potentially quite dark; I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book.

And then I read it. And, if I’m honest I have to admit that this is indeed a fascinating book. However, it is not a book about a society named Juliette; not really. Certainly, that society features and is as sinister as the description on the back of the book suggests but it doesn’t really play a large part in the book. Because this is a story about Catherine, a film student with a long-term boyfriend and a strong infatuation for one of her teachers. She is also a girl who enjoys sex, is adventurous in that department and has very vivid and explicit, even dark, erotic fantasies.

When Catherine hooks up with fellow student Anna she slowly finds herself descending into the world of kink. It is with Anna that she visits The Fuck Factory:

“A pansexual laboratory of carnal pleasure where anything and everything goes. There are things going on in here that, hard as it is to believe, you won’t even find on the internet.”

And it is Anna who will introduce Catherine to the Juliette Society:

“A people united by one idea, a shared philosophy, all dedicated to the pursuit of sublime pleasures. We have common interests, shared goals and unlimited means.”
And although the Juliette society will give Catherine the opportunity to live out one of her more extreme fantasies, it also makes her vividly aware of what she really wants and values in her life and how easily she might lose it.

So I liked the sound of this story before I started the book and when I re-read the description I’ve just given of this book, I still like the sound of it. However, strange as it may sound, that description doesn’t really tell you what this book was about. And, if I’m perfectly honest, I’m a bit at a loss trying to figure out what this book was about exactly. At times it read almost like a sex manual. At other times it felt more like a lecture about movies. Most of the time however this was a story about a girl who seems to have everything her heart could possibly desire yet is determined to throw it all away for no good reason I could determine. In fact, this book felt more like an opportunity for the author to share her thoughts, feelings and experiences with sex, than a balanced story. Another thing that bugged me a bit was that the actual story seemed to play second fiddle to the vivid and very kinky fantasies the main character has to such an extent that at times it was almost impossible to distinguish between fact and fantasy. Finally I have to add that for a book with this much sex in it, the story was surprisingly non-erotic.

On the other hand, this book was well written, the story at times fascinating, and I did find myself caught up in the narrative. Yes, I’m conflicted about this book but maybe the only thing we can accuse this author of is that she took the advice “write what you know” a bit too much to heart. The (porn) actress wrote a book about sex and movies, two subjects she obviously knows a lot about. She wrote about them in an engaging and at times funny way but didn’t manage to include enough story. And that is a shame. The idea behind this book was and is absolutely fascinating and I can’t help feeling that this book could have been a whole lot more.
...more

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May 29, 2015 Abbie Adair rated it did not like it

"I'm marinating in my own juices and my ass is ready to be cooked, but I come multiple times before he's ready to leave his yeast in my oven. And as I come, my asshole puckers and snorts a pinch of chili."

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Dec 02, 2014 Mika Harjula rated it did not like it

If you're ever interested in reading a porn movie, this is the book

I thought I was heading into a world of Juliette by Marquis de Sade. The title sounded interesting, some kind of a secret underworld club where sophisticated and other important members of the society meet to have unrestrained sex. Perhaps some cultivated type of perverted sex. Instead I met this Catherine, struggling to get shagged by her hard-working boyfriend and sets up for a journey of sexual encounters and fantasies, but wa ...more

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Nov 30, 2013 Γιώτα Παπαδημακοπούλου rated it did not like it

Είμαι έξαλλη με αυτό το βιβλίο, και σε αντίθεση με προηγούμενη φορά που έχω χρησιμοποιήσει αυτό τον χαρακτηρισμό, στην προκειμένη περίπτωση το κάνω με την κυριολεκτική του σημασία. Είμαι έξαλλη που αφιέρωσα χρόνο, που σπατάλησα φαιά ουσία, που κούρασα τον εαυτό μου με κάτι που, ειλικρινά, δεν άξιζε τον κόπο και που θα μπορούσα να κάνω κάτι καλύτερο εκείνες τις στιγμές που βαριεστημένα γύριζα τη μία σελίδα μετά την άλλη, όπως... χμ... να λιμάρω τα νύχια μου. Μα πάνω απ' όλα, είμαι έξαλλη γιατί αι Είμαι έξαλλη με αυτό το βιβλίο, και σε αντίθεση με προηγούμενη φορά που έχω χρησιμοποιήσει αυτό τον χαρακτηρισμό, στην προκειμένη περίπτωση το κάνω με την κυριολεκτική του σημασία. Είμαι έξαλλη που αφιέρωσα χρόνο, που σπατάλησα φαιά ουσία, που κούρασα τον εαυτό μου με κάτι που, ειλικρινά, δεν άξιζε τον κόπο και που θα μπορούσα να κάνω κάτι καλύτερο εκείνες τις στιγμές που βαριεστημένα γύριζα τη μία σελίδα μετά την άλλη, όπως... χμ... να λιμάρω τα νύχια μου. Μα πάνω απ' όλα, είμαι έξαλλη γιατί αισθάνομαι πως δεν μπορώ να κράξω αυτό το βιβλίο όσο θα ήθελα, όχι για κανέναν άλλο λόγο αλλά γιατί, παρά την φαιδρότητα και την κενότητά του, είναι ένα καλογραμμένο κείμενο. Και ναι, είμαι βέβαιη πως αρκετοί σοκάρεστε διαβάζοντας κάτι τέτοιο, αλλά δεν μπορώ να μην το ομολογήσω. Είναι ένα καλογραμμένο βιβλίο, με πολύ, πολύ κακή υπόθεση. Αλλά ας πάρουμε τα πράγματα από την αρχή.

Η Κάθριν είμαι μια νεαρή φοιτήτρια σε σχολή κινηματογράφου, η οποία, εκτός όλων των άλλων, βρίσκεται σε μια περίοδο σεξουαλικού οίστρου, την ίδια στιγμή που ο σύντροφός της είναι τόσο απασχολημένος με τη δουλειά του, που μοιάζει να μην προσέχει την ανάγκη της για καυτές στιγμές στο κρεβάτι τους, ερμηνεύοντας την συμπεριφορά της ως ένα αλλόκοτο δείγμα χωρίς καμία απολύτως λογική εξήγηση. Η Κάθριν, προσπαθεί να καλύψει το κενό αυτό με το να φαντασιώνεται διάφορες καταστάσεις οι οποίες, κάθε μέρα, γίνονται όλο και πιο ακραίες. Η φιλία της μάλιστα με μια νεαρή συμφοιτήτριά της, που βρίσκεται πολύ βαθιά στα σκοτεινά μονοπάτια της σεξουαλικής διαστροφής, θα την παρασύρει στο να γνωρίσει έναν κόσμο που απλά είχε ακουστά και ο οποίος, μπορεί να της προσφέρει εμπειρίες που μέχρι πρότινος, ούτε να φανταστεί δεν θα τολμούσε.

Λοιπόν... είμαι σίγουρη πως αναρωτιέστε για ποιον λόγο δεν αναφέρω την Μυστική Λέσχη στην προσωπική μου περίληψη. Η απάντηση είναι πολύ απλή! Γιατί δεν υπάρχει Μυστική Λέσχη. Όχι τουλάχιστον μέχρι να περάσουμε τη μέση και βάλε του βιβλίου, και όσο αργεί να εμφανιστεί, άλλο τόσο γρήγορα εξαφανίζεται από το προσκήνιο. Ω, ναι... η Μυστική Λέσχη του τίτλου δεν υπάρχει, τόσο στο εξώφυλλο όσο και στο εσωτερικό του βιβλίου, για κανέναν άλλο λόγο, πέραν από το να δημιουργήσει ψευδείς και λανθασμένες εντυπώσεις. Για μένα, αυτό λέγεται καλό marketing, αφού καταφέρνει να μας πουλήσει κάτι που δεν υπάρχει και η πραγματικότητα του οποίου, είναι εκ διαμέτρου αντίθετη από αυτή που θα θέλαμε, θα περιμέναμε... ερμηνεύστε το και πείτε το όπως θέλετε. Το σίγουρο είναι πως θα βρεθείτε να απορείτε, γιατί στα κομμάτια η... συγγραφέας, έκανε κάτι τέτοιο, αλλά όπως ανέφερα και παραπάνω -και σε περίπτωση που δεν το καταλάβατε-, για να μας πιάσει κότσους.

Μέσα στο κείμενο αναφέρεται πως αυτό που έχει σημασία σε μια ιστορία, είναι η χαρακτήρες και όχι η πλοκή. Οι χαρακτήρες είναι που καθορίζουν την πλοκή, δεδομένης της εκάστοτε προσωπικότητάς τους. Και ναι, ανήκω στους ανθρώπους που το πιστεύουν αυτό. Τότε, αν η Sasha Grey το πιστεύει επίσης, για ποιον λόγο δεν το αξιοποιεί; Η πρωταγωνίστριά της, γιατί οι υπόλοιποι χαρακτήρες είναι τόσο διακοσμητικοί που δεν αξίζει να χαραμίσω pixels γι' αυτούς, είναι τόσο αδιάφορη και άγευστη, που απλά σε κάνει να πεθαίνεις από ανία. Ή θα φαντασιώνεται, ή θα αυνανίζεται, ή θα μουρμουράει για τα σεξουαλικά προβλήματα που έχει με τον γκόμενο που θέλει απελπισμένα. Και εντάξει, ίσως να μην είχα τόσο μεγάλο πρόβλημα με αυτό, αν δεν διέκοπτε κάθε φαντασίωση για να κάνει μια ηλίθια, άσχετη και δίχως νόημα, ανάλυση ταινίας, την οποία βρίσκει τρόπο να συσχετίσει, πάντα, με τα σεξουαλικά της ζητήματα. Για-όνομα-του-Θεού-σταμάτα-να-το-κάνεις-αυτό! Πώς αλλιώς να το πω;

Και θα επιστρέψω ακριβώς σε αυτό που αναφέρω στον πρόλογό μου. Αυτό που με συγχίζει περισσότερο από την ηλίθια πλοκή, από την αδιάφορη πρωταγωνίστρια, από την κενή και δίχως εκπλήξεις εξέλιξη, από το σύνολο μιας καθ' όλα βαρετής ιστορίας, είναι το γεγονός ότι είναι καλογραμμένη. Μπορεί η Sasha Grey να είναι γνωστή για την πορεία της στην βιομηχανία της πορνογραφίας όμως, αν κι εφόσον το κείμενο είναι δικό της και δεν του έχουν αλλάξει τα φώτα στην επιμέλεια, οφείλω να της αναγνωρίσω πως ξέρει να χειρίζεται τον λόγο με τρόπο που, προσωπικά, με άφησε έκπληκτη. Και όχι, δεν έχει να κάνει με το ότι μιλάει για το σεξ το οποίο και, προφανώς, κατέχει, αλλά γιατί παρατηρώ την ικανότητά της ακόμα και όταν το θέμα του βιβλίου στρέφεται πως μια άλλη κατεύθυνση. Φυσικά, αυτό δεν σημαίνει πως θα πρότεινα σε κάποιον να το αγοράσει, το ακριβώς αντίθετο, όμως θα έχω την συνείδησή μου καθαρή, αναφέροντας τα θετικά και κυρίως, τα αρνητικά και από 'κει κι έπειτα, πράξτε όπως σας φωτίσει ο Ύψιστος. ...more

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May 22, 2013 Tanaya rated it liked it

I was so conflicted in rating this book. On one hand I honestly really enjoyed it. It was unlike any other *erotic* novel I have read. There are some one liners thrown in here that are seriously laugh out loud funny and the insight into Catherines mind is written in a really original and intriguing way with a voice that is shockingly honest and vivid.

But I found myself lost at times having to re-read some paragraphs to try to decipher if it was really going on or if the last three pages were jus ...more

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Feb 09, 2016 Beatriz rated it liked it · review of another edition

Otra vez vuelvo a llevarle la contraria a Goodreads y al mundo porque a mí este libro sí me ha gustado.

A ver, no me ha encantado ya que me esperaba una castaña pornográfica importante y ha resultado ser una novela interesante (e inquietante a veces). Podría decir que me ha sorprendido positivamente.

La verdad es que, por las reseñas que había leído antes, me esperaba un "50 sombras de Grey" (es decir, una mierda superultrahipermegamachista) escrito por una actriz porno, pero no. El libro es... ...more

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Jul 14, 2015 Gabrielle rated it it was ok

mmmmmmmm... that was... something.
This is a clear lack of identity from the writer. The novel was weird and all over the place- it doesn't seem to know what genre it is either. Murder mystery? erotica? pop culture essay? sexuality study? NA novel?
no idea.
It was okay. The voice was very hazy and unbelievable. Wouldn't recommend.

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Feb 25, 2015 Ashley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, books-i-passed-on-to-others, not-as-expected, strong-women, fantasy, dark-humor, adult, real-life, life, sexuality, suicide, getting-to-know-people, art, action, redemption, finding-love, secret-lives, new-places, bdsm, wanting-more-to-life, adventure, friendship, book-challenge-2015, read-in-a-day, sex-sex-sex-and-more-sex

This is a book about a nieve you g collage woman who soon finds out that there is so much more to life then what she has EVER IMAGINED....

After meeting another young lady in her collage class she soon discovers a "strange new world" where everything can be done as Long as you desire it..

I orderd this book for a friend a d thought it was a 50 shades type book.( it has a lot of the wording but other then that.. Way different!!) it surprised me how much I enjoyed this book!
(I'm not a "lets talk ab ...more

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Oct 21, 2015 Jim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015

I enjoyed my time with Ms. Grey's words and I intend to keep my thoughts on the matter private.

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Feb 10, 2014 Maria added it

ΑΑΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧ!!!!! Αυτό είναι το συναίσθημα μετά την ολοκλήρωση της ανάγνωσης του συγκεκριμένου βιβλίου. Δεν ξέρω τι άλλο να πω. Είναι από εκείνες τις φορές όπου δεν εισέπραξα τίποτα απολύτως. Ούτε καν ένα αρνητικό συναίσθημα!!!!
Δεν καταλαβαίνω για ποιο λόγο εκδόθηκε. Στην Αμερική το καταλαβαίνω γιατί η συγγραφέας ως γνωστή πορνοστάρ θα είχε το κοινό της. Όμως για ποιο λόγο να το μεταφράσει ένας ελληνικός εκδοτικός???? Το μόνο που μπορείς να πεις για αυτό το βιβλίο είναι πως είναι καλογραμμέ ΑΑΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧ!!!!! Αυτό είναι το συναίσθημα μετά την ολοκλήρωση της ανάγνωσης του συγκεκριμένου βιβλίου. Δεν ξέρω τι άλλο να πω. Είναι από εκείνες τις φορές όπου δεν εισέπραξα τίποτα απολύτως. Ούτε καν ένα αρνητικό συναίσθημα!!!!
Δεν καταλαβαίνω για ποιο λόγο εκδόθηκε. Στην Αμερική το καταλαβαίνω γιατί η συγγραφέας ως γνωστή πορνοστάρ θα είχε το κοινό της. Όμως για ποιο λόγο να το μεταφράσει ένας ελληνικός εκδοτικός???? Το μόνο που μπορείς να πεις για αυτό το βιβλίο είναι πως είναι καλογραμμένο και προσεγμένο. Αλλά αυτό δεν ήταν αρκετό.
Δεν πρόκειται περί σεμνοτυφίας. Ίσα-ίσα που δεν έχω κανένα πρόβλημα με τα αισθησιακά βιβλία ή την τολμηρή γλώσσα.Άλλωστε διαφωνώ πλήρως με τη λογοκρισία στην τέχνη με τη δικαιολογία της ηθικής, της θρησκείας ή άλλων θεσμών που επιβάλει το κανονιστικό κοινωνικό μοντέλο στο οποίο ζούμε. Όμως εδώ πρόκειται περί κοροϊδίας. Είναι προφανές ότι η συγγραφέας ξύπνησε μια μέρα, κοιτάχτηκε στον καθρέφτη και αναφώνησε "Μωρέ δε γράφω ένα βιβλίο"!!!!! Και δυστυχώς το έγραψε. Κάνει τα πάντα για να χρησιμοποιήσει όσο το δυνατόν πιο χυδαίες λέξεις, αλλά και να βάλει σκηνές σεξ ακόμα και εκεί που λες "έλεος όχι άλλο"!!!! Το μόνο που πέτυχε είναι να με εκνευρίσει με την υπέρμετρη προσπάθειά της να με πείσει ότι πρέπει να σοκαριστώ. Δε σοκάρομαι αγαπημένη πορνοστάρ. Απλώς σιγουρεύομαι ότι το βιβλίο σου είναι μια κακογυρισμένη τσόντα.Γιατί ναι πιστεύω ότι μπορείς να βρεις διαμάντια παντού, ακόμα και στις τσόντες. Εδώ σίγουρα δεν πρόκειται για κάτι τέτοιο.
Δε θα πω ψέματα. Με είχαν προειδοποιήσει. Ήξερα λίγο-πολύ τι με περίμενε. Όμως όπως πάντα έπρεπε να το "ζήσω" για να μπορώ να το κρίνω. Και αποφάσισα ότι ούτε την κρίση μου δεν αξίζει, γι' αυτό και αρνούμαι να το βαθμολογήσω.
Η πρωταγωνίστρια μας λοιπόν η Κάθριν είναι μια φοιτήτρια όπου βιώνει τη σεξουαλική απόρριψη από τον σύντροφό της.Μεταξύ μας τι να κάνει και ο έρημος αφού η συγκεκριμένη πάσχει σίγουρα από νυμφομανία και όποιος διαφωνεί ας μου πει τι άλλο κάνει ή σκέφτεται η Κάθριν εκτός από σεξ!!!!! Κάποια στιγμή την ενημερώνουν και την μυούν στη Μυστική Λέσχη Ιουλιέτα, για την οποία μην ψάξετε πολύ γιατί όπως λέει και η συγγραφέας είναι τόσο μυστική που δεν θα βρεις πληροφορίες πουθενά. Ούτε στο internet. Ούτε καν στο ίδιο το βιβλίο λέω εγώ, αφού εκτός από μία αναφορά στις πρώτες σελίδες, ξανασυναντάμε τη Λέσχη......κάπου τη συναντάμε αλλά είναι τόσο ανεπαίσθητη η παρουσία της που περνά απαρατήρητη!!!!
Θεωρώ απαράδεκτο να πω σε κάποιον αναγνώστη "μη διαβάσεις αυτό το βιβλίο". Δεν είμαι ούτε ο κατάλληλος άνθρωπος, αλλά ούτε το θεωρώ σωστό εκ μέρους μου. Όμως έχω δικαίωμα να πω ότι σπατάλησα την ώρα μου διαβάζοντας αυτό το βιβλίο. Και το λέω με πόνο ψυχής, γιατί δεν υπάρχει χειρότερο γεγονός για κάποιον που αγαπάει τα βιβλία τόσο πολύ. Έξτρα μείον το απαράδεκτο εξώφυλλο το οποίο έβρισκα από την πρώτη στιγμή τρομακτικό!!!!! ...more

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Dec 15, 2013 Bucletina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Sasha Grey sabe escribir. Estoy honestamente gratificada por haberme topado con un libro intenso, de redacción impecable, repleto de referencias culturales, que le hace honor a los grandes maestros de la literatura erótica, de la filosofía y del arte de escribir en general. Si su autora no fuera quien es, y de habernos podido desembarazar del nefasto yugo de esa trilogía inmunda (que trajo aparejada una cadena de libros espantosos, de bajísimo nivel, burdos, básicos y prejuiciosos), La Sociedad ...more

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Oct 03, 2015 Felipe Lemo rated it liked it

Right, huuum let's see...
So yes this book is good, and very well written, bit god has it made me feel tricked! I picked it up because I loved the the synopsis: “A secret club where the world’s most powerful people meet to explore their deepest, often darkest sexual fantasies.” But it really is just that. She does nothing to portray this secret society, or how she managed to get in there - okay, she does, but it really is disappointing. It was through her friend's friend, Bundy. A guy who runs se Right, huuum let's see...
So yes this book is good, and very well written, bit god has it made me feel tricked! I picked it up because I loved the the synopsis: “A secret club where the world’s most powerful people meet to explore their deepest, often darkest sexual fantasies.” But it really is just that. She does nothing to portray this secret society, or how she managed to get in there - okay, she does, but it really is disappointing. It was through her friend's friend, Bundy. A guy who runs several online porn sites from the vanilla (normal) sex to the most absurd fantasies you are to find outside of the deep web - And this society was the only reason I bought the book in the first place. So one lost star for misleading the reader.

Caring on, Sasha Grey makes her sex scenes - which are, almost exclusively, fantasies while the character is on reality touching herself - very disappointing! They all seem to have been taken from a porn movie script really. They don't have any of that aura around them like in the Crossfire series, or the Fifty Shades hotness.
Which is also one of the reasons she gets three stars. She doesn't make sex seem like a fantasie or a beautiful perfect dream. Sasha describes her sex scenes as they are. Sweaty and pleasurable.

Another thing that really surprised me in the book is the many observations she makes. Very often she refrains from the main story and makes observations about topics that vary from politics and religion to an entire chapter on why the word "cum" doesn't please her as much as "come". That, by the way, was one of the most weird and interesting (in a certain way) chapters I have ever read.

The ending of the book really got me by surprise, very much the same way in which Fifty Shades of Grey decided to make its climax - no pun intended. Grey finishes the novel by discovering her boyfriends boss has a very interesting sex kick. And she then thinks she has an advantaged over him.

So yeah, there you have it. You have somewhat of a story about a film student who is currently going through a rough patch in her love life with boyfriend Jack. And starts fantasizing - a lot - about her teacher and even Jack himself on various different sex scenarios. Until she meets this very intriguing girl, Anna. She then starts living through this girls experiences. And Anna starts showing our protagonist the various forms in which sex can come.

In conclusion I was hopping for far more Juliette Society gatherings and explanation and far more real sex scenes and not just fantasies. I enjoyed very much the bits in which Sasha Grey seems to be talking to us in her observations rather then talking trough her character. ...more

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Sep 08, 2013 Belinda Lorenzana rated it it was ok

Shelves: narrativa, 2013

Lo primero que me compré en la tienda Kindle México fue La sociedad Juliette de Sasha Grey. Una compra de amor. En el fondo, tenía grandes esperanzas, pero no me lo decía para no parecerme cursi.

Desde el principio se nota que la Grey ha leído a Palahniuk: oraciones cortas, reiteraciones, posibles diálogos con el lector, puntos y aparte que funcionan. Y, claro, personajes más o menos cuarteados. Sólo más o menos. Tristemente, las cuarteaduras llegan a convertirse en errores de construcción.

Sasha ...more

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Sep 20, 2015 Tonkica rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Covjek bi pomislio da bivsa porno glumica ima bujniju mastu, a i da ce joj netko pomoci oko odabira zanra, ili ti ga teme uopce! O cemu ona, o nekom klubu koji se spominje na par stranica.. A ovo ostalo o svemu i nicemu! :/
Preskocite, jer stvarno necete nista propustiti!

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Dec 16, 2014 Petra Miocic rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014-read, porn, chosen-poorly

http://procitajto.com/2014/12/13/klub...

Seks je moć. Ili, bolje rečeno, seksualne su igre ujedno i igre moći u kojima je netko uvijek potčinjen, a netko je drugi, samim time, dominantan… Bar nas u to žele uvjeriti mahom autorice sveprisutne erotske (da ne kažemo porno) literature. Dragi muškarci, ako ste mislili da će za vas nastupiti svijetliji dani kada žene, željne „nečeg novog“ umjesto za savjetima iz ženskih časopisa posegnu za savjetima porno dive, prevarili ste se. O, kako li ste se samo
http://procitajto.com/2014/12/13/klub...

Seks je moć. Ili, bolje rečeno, seksualne su igre ujedno i igre moći u kojima je netko uvijek potčinjen, a netko je drugi, samim time, dominantan… Bar nas u to žele uvjeriti mahom autorice sveprisutne erotske (da ne kažemo porno) literature. Dragi muškarci, ako ste mislili da će za vas nastupiti svijetliji dani kada žene, željne „nečeg novog“ umjesto za savjetima iz ženskih časopisa posegnu za savjetima porno dive, prevarili ste se. O, kako li ste se samo prevarili. Jer, nakon što je gospodin Grey svoju Annu proveo kroz ukupno 150 nijansi, na scenu je stupila gospođa Grey.

Sasha Grey, rekli biste, zna znanje. Pa kad, nakon višegodišnjeg i vrlo uspješnog izbjegavanja takve vrste literature napokon odlučite da je kucnuo čas da i sami pročitate nešto „sočno“, odabrat ćete Klub Juliette. Pogotovo ako vas zavede kratak sadržaj u kojem će vam, između treptaja zavodljivih trepavica biti obećan ulaz u supertajno i elitno društvo, iskustvo koje nećete zaboraviti.

Autorica je preuzela lik Catherine, mlade studentice filma koja živi u stalnoj vezi s Jackom, studentom ekonomije čija je pažnja trenutno usmjerena na rad u izbornom stožeru senatorskog kandidata. Na javi, Catherine je pomalo seksualno inhibirana, jedino mjesto gdje si daje oduška njezina je mašta. A sanjari mnogo, posebice o Marcusu, zgodnom i strogom profesoru kojeg je, navodno, obradila Anna, njena mnogo seksualno osviještenija i otvorenija fakultetska kolegica. Pričama o Marcusovim seksualnim navikama (koje uključuju odjeću njegove majke i jedan prazan drveni ormar izbušen na strateškim mjestima) Anna golica Catherininu maštu čime ona, čini se, postane još razularenija te se pred naizgled mirnom i čednom Catherine briše ionako tanka granica između maštarija i svijeta zbilje. Catherine polako dopušta Anni da preuzme kontrolu i postupno je uvede u za nju dotad nepoznat svijet ispreplitanja seksa i moći, ponekad i na najpogubniji način.

Odnos dviju prijateljica uskoro počinje nalikovati još jednoj igri moći, s dominantnom Annom i submisivnom Catherine spremnom poduzeti sve ne bi li što više nalikovala svojoj seksualnoj heroini. Jer, na taj će način, vjeruje, osloboditi i samu sebe i ostvariti puni seksualni potencijal. A za Catherine, to se ostvarenje može postići samo kroz grubi, grupni i anonimni seks prepun scena kakve bi većina smatrala perverznima. No, ukusi se razlikuju, a upravo ta raznolikost preferencija stvara probleme u Catherineinoj vezi s Jackom koji ne samo da ne osjeća potrebu za fizičkim kažnjavanjem svoje partnerice već to smatra pomalo odbojnim. Catherine se, u svojoj probuđenoj samosvijesti, okreće prirodnoj ljepoti prevare i istinsko ostvarenje želja doživljava na privatnim zabavama kluba Juliette čija nam je vrata autorica, čini se nevoljko, otvorila tek u drugoj polovici knjige. Očekivali biste kako će klub nove goste dočekati u punom sjaju, no to ovdje nije slučaj. Nažalost. A cijenu će, naposljetku, ipak platiti dvije (pre)znatiželjne djevojke upletne u igru moći staru gotovo koliko i samo čovječanstvo.

Ljubitelji 50 nijansi sive mogli bi ostati iznenađeni. E. L. James možda je koketirala sa seksom, ali Sasha Grey njime se već godinama vješto poigrava i nakon Catherine i Anne, o Christianu biste mogli početi razmišljati kao o modernom gospodinu Darcyju, a o najuspješnijoj erotskoj trilogiji razmišljat ćete kao o suvremenici britanskih romantičarki.

Ako ste, pak, uvijek smatrali kako bi na onih 50 nijansi dobro došla još barem jedna, onda je ovo prava knjiga za vas. U priči ćete dobiti i dobru curu rastrganu između života na javi i intimnih maštarenja i fatalnu „zloćku“ koja je sa svojom seksualnošću odavna na „ti“ (a budući da i sama Catherine izjavljuje kako se uz Annu osjeća kao da su „dvije glave u jednom tijelu“ zapitat ćete se je li jedna potpuna bez druge), a manjkavost u razradi radnje nadomjestit će dugi, detaljni i sirovi opisi raznovrsnih seksualnih radnji. No, ovo nije knjiga zbog koje ćete osjetiti nešto prema likovima, posebno ne romantičnu naklonost. Kao što je Sasha Grey jednom izjavila, cilj joj nije bio pisati o seksu kao o zabavnoj aktivnosti već je željela prikazati mračnu stranu seksualnosti u svoj njenoj punini.

U tome je, bez dileme, uspjela. Ljubitelji Sashinih filmskih ostvarenja vjerojatno će pronaći zadovoljstvo i u njenom literarnom pokušaju. Na ostalima je da pokušaju, a na autorici ovog teksta da se zapita je li sivo njena boja ...more

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Dec 24, 2015 Anna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Μέσα στη μανία που προκάλεσε το Fifty Shades of Grey, είπα να δοκιμάσω να διαβάσω κάτι σχετικό, και τι καλύτερο - σκέφτηκα - από ένα βιβλίο που έχει γράψει μια πορνοστάρ, δηλαδή "ειδική" επί του θέματος! Τελικά, τζίφος η υπόθεση!!!

Καταρχήν να σχολιάσω ότι το βιβλίο είναι ιδιαίτερα καλογραμμένο, ο λόγος έχει καλή ροή, ενώ οι σκέψεις που κάνει η πρωταγωνίστρια έχουν βάση και λόγο ύπαρξης. Το αρνητικό, όμως, είναι ότι κυρίως περιοριζόμαστε στις σκέψεις της πρωταγωνίστριας, στις φαντασιώσεις της - π Μέσα στη μανία που προκάλεσε το Fifty Shades of Grey, είπα να δοκιμάσω να διαβάσω κάτι σχετικό, και τι καλύτερο - σκέφτηκα - από ένα βιβλίο που έχει γράψει μια πορνοστάρ, δηλαδή "ειδική" επί του θέματος! Τελικά, τζίφος η υπόθεση!!!

Καταρχήν να σχολιάσω ότι το βιβλίο είναι ιδιαίτερα καλογραμμένο, ο λόγος έχει καλή ροή, ενώ οι σκέψεις που κάνει η πρωταγωνίστρια έχουν βάση και λόγο ύπαρξης. Το αρνητικό, όμως, είναι ότι κυρίως περιοριζόμαστε στις σκέψεις της πρωταγωνίστριας, στις φαντασιώσεις της - που είναι υπερβολικά πολλές, σε βαθμό μάλιστα το αγόρι της να την κάνει από το σπίτι τους για ένα διάστημα, ενώ η περιβόητη μυστική λέσχη εμφανίστηκε ελάχιστα - και είχε πραγματικά ενδιαφέρον αυτά που περιέγραφε εκεί, αλλά μην βάζεις τίτλο αυτό που πιάνει το 1/5 (και αν) του βιβλίου. Περισσότερο θα ταίριαζε κάτι σαν "Μια φοιτήτρια σε νέες περιπέτειες" ή κάτι αντίστοιχο που να παραπέμπει και σε ταινίες ανάλογου περιεχομένου παρά το "Μυστική Λέσχη Ιουλιέτα". Πιασάρικος μαρκετίστικος τίτλος και μόνο.

Φυσικά στο τέλος υπάρχει το κλισέ περί έρωτα και εξουσίας, αλλά ομολογουμένως δεν κατάλαβα πού ήθελε να το πάει η Σάσα Γκρέυ, νομίζω κάτι του στυλ ότι αν παίξεις με τη φωτιά κινδυνεύεις να καείς, αλλά τελικά πρέπει ή όχι να παίζεις με τη φωτιά, τι είναι προτιμότερο; Ή επίσης πρέπει να υποκύπτεις στα πάθη σου, τα οποία μπορεί να σε καταστρέψουν ή είναι εξαιρετικά επικίνδυνο; Και παρόλο που είναι επικίνδυνο, αξίζει το ρίσκο ή πρέπει να τα χαλιναγωγήσεις; Και ο θύτης πρέπει να τιμωρείται σε αυτές τις περιπτώσεις ή όλα επιτρέπονται;

Αυτές και άλλες παρόμοιες φιλοσοφίες θα σας προβληματίσουν στη διάρκεια ανάγνωσης αυτού του βιβλίου. Για ένα χαλαρό ανάγνωσμα καλό είναι, αν θέλετε να προβληματιστείτε ουσιαστικά επί του θέματος, δείτε το "Μάτια ερμητικά κλειστά". Για ερωτικές σκηνές, προτιμήστε τα κλασικά οπτικοακουστικά μέσα με πρωταγωνίστρια τη συγγραφέα. ...more

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Jul 04, 2014 Valerija rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2014

The worst book I ever read in my life. I thoght that I'll never finish this shit. Now when it's done I can finally live again. So stupid, boring and poorly writen.

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Dec 06, 2013 Bre V. rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Well, what is there to be said about Sasha Grey's maiden voyage into fiction?

Anyone who knows anything about the author beyond the fact that she's a former pornstar knows at least one thing - she's fucking smart. Indisputably smart. She has a keen observation and a very unique voice that's clearly all her own. I really enjoyed her narration style for the first-person perspective of the main character - her internal dialogue is really, really good and an entire chapter on the merits of cum-play w Well, what is there to be said about Sasha Grey's maiden voyage into fiction?

Anyone who knows anything about the author beyond the fact that she's a former pornstar knows at least one thing - she's fucking smart. Indisputably smart. She has a keen observation and a very unique voice that's clearly all her own. I really enjoyed her narration style for the first-person perspective of the main character - her internal dialogue is really, really good and an entire chapter on the merits of cum-play was more than just provocative, it was actually very well articulated and illustrated.

The book itself gives you a bit of a wrong impression, though - the Juliette Society is not the focus of the story in the way you may have been expecting. I was looking for a deeper dig into the Society itself, the roots, the members, etc. Perhaps I've been too spoiled by Suzanne Collins in wanting to know exactly how a society works so it can be overthrown efficiently. The bulk of the story is spent with the narrator lamenting her lack of a sex life with her boyfriend Jack as well as describing the particulars of her sexuality as it expands and becomes more all-encompassing. While that angle may have had, let's face it, a porno-like aspect about it (nubile young girl meets sexually incandescent other young girl and it ignites her lackluster sex life by pulling her into things she never imagined doing or wanting to do), it was handled surprisingly well. It's also nice to see a female protagonist who is unabashedly, unapologetically sexual without it being rooted in childhood abuse or serious emotional dysfunction. Grey didn't rely one bit on the tired old tropes of why women want to fuck - she simply let us take a peek into the mind of one. I appreciate the hell out of that.

Which of course, brings us to the sex scenes. Even had I not known Sasha Grey was the one writing the book, it would have been clear that someone with a lot of adjacency to porn was behind it. The scenes are very explicit and very visual, very clearly painted pictures. They're good, they read like a porno. Very effective though just as disjointed as some porn movies make sex scenes seem - there were times when they felt shoe-horned in for the sake of being titillating. Still, considering the purpose of the novel, I can't say I was surprised. My only real complaint is the sporadic use of "butthole", which will never, ever be a sexy word and almost breaks the flow of the setup. At one point, the narrator opines that she doesn't find any slang terms for a penis other than "cock" to be sexy, that "dick" does nothing for her. I appreciate that - "butthole" does nothing for me except remind me of all the bad insults I used to sling in third grade.

Her skewering of Bundy, a character who seemed to be based heavily on that asshole whose name I've already forgotten that's now in jail but started the whole Girls Gone Wild franchise was laugh out loud good. I loved it. My only issue was the way he was supposed to be sympathized with to some degree at the end as a poor, pitiful guy with no chance who had made shitty choices because he had never been taught otherwise. Bundy is a rapist. He films girls who are clearly intoxicated performing sex acts they regret and profits off of them. There's nothing redeeming about the guy in any way.

The climax (hehe) was predictable - who didn't see that the old guy from the party was Jack's politician boss? The near-murder felt like a neat wrapup on a story I was hoping for more depth from, a quick way to explain it all away in the last few seconds. It was a little unsatisfying. But, I did rather like the ending, the careful, precarious balancing act between the narrator and the murderer, a mutually assured destruction arrangement. I'm sure that wasn't what people were expecting, and while the moral ambiguity of the decision can be readily criticized, it felt realistic. Our narrator isn't a heroine. She's not out to change the world or save lives or rid the world of evil. She's a college girl who wants to save her own ass and the subsequent ass of the man she loves.

In short, it was a good read. Quick, very witty, interesting prose, interesting concept. I do recommend - and I hope Sasha Grey writes again. ...more

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Oct 12, 2013 eleonora - rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

Quando ho pensato che se proprio dovevo leggere un libro simil-erotico di quelli che ultimamente vanno tanto di moda, era meglio dare la possibilità ad un'autrice che, anche se al suo debutto, perlomeno conosceva la materia. Insomma, speravo in qualcosa di ben diverso dalle "sfumature", e la trama sembrava promettente. Posso confermarlo: la trama è promettente. Peccato che non venga assolutamente sviluppata e che, al centro di tutto il romanzo, vi siano solamente i sogni - sessuali - ad occhi ap ...more

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