So, fess up - what books you read that you don't want anyone else to know about hum?

I read The Passionate Pirate - some Mills and Boon thing and I ENJOYED IT. So there, though it had the most ridiculous story and why do women seem to find it romantic to be put in such a submissive position?

Doubt I'd like it now though, I'd probably just cringe but when I was a teen is was like - so wow. Fortunately I have come to my senses, but still have a thing for pirates when it comes to Captain Jack Sparrow.

So, come on.

LMAO...that title would put me off! I've read many romance novels because their light fast reads, but since joining GR I've become a bit more discriminating. I still like one from time to time, but man those covers and titles are really embarrassing, especially when I have to check out at the library. I wish I could remember titles, but they really are not memorable reads.

Ok, I guess if we all share something embarrassing it won't hurt as bad. But all you people out there better add something and not just read all these posts here!!! ;)

So, I was going through this Anne Rice phase back in the 90's. And I discovered she had written some erotica, so I thought, hey what the heck! I read Sleeping Beauty, Book 1: The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty which she wrote using the name A.N. Roquelaure. Let's just say it definitely lived up to the "erotica" label! Is it bad that I then went and bought book 2 of the series??? :)

LMAO...Heather don't feel bad...I have those on my TBR list!! *blushing*

Jackie...LOL!!! If you ever get around to reading them, you'll have to let me know!!!

I read the Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, because I bought it at a used book store, not quite sure what it was. I wanted to read the next one, but was always way too embarassed to purchase it!!!! I also read my mom's copy of 9 1/2 Weeks and the Story of O. (in secret, of course)

Umm, Dark Lover, by J.R. Ward, partially because a friend threw it on my workstation at work (I am a teacher) and said here read some cheesy vampire porn... though I didn't feel it was anymore porn than many romance novels, I read it and was mildly curious about the rest, but never actually got them. However, I still haven't put it on my lists of books read on here yet.

I liked the Anne Rice books sort of. I mean I liked them being well-written dirty books but her kinks aren't mine so I only sort of enjoyed them.

The Story of O is an amazing book on every level.

I read Exit to Eden when I was a teenager. I really liked it then, but I don't know how it would hold up now at the age of thirty.

I'm not ashamed of liking The Story of O, though. That book was fascinating.

I'm not really ashamed at all of reading dirty books, whether they are well written or rubbish but I do feel a bit silly reading stuff like Amy Fisher: My Story. Real rubbish.

I read all the 'acceptable' books in my high school library and so picked up books that looked interesting, which is how I got into vampires/werewolves for a while.

So, one day my mom caught me with Blood and Chocolate, and thereafter we had a talk and I had to show her all the books I read every time I wanted to read one.


She didn't catch me reading Clan of the Cave Bears or something ... it looked interesting and I started reading and was like 0_o er ... um ... and stopped reading it.

I was reading the Ladys Tutor by Robin Schone. I take the book I'm reading everywhere with me. I was in the waiting room of my doctors office and proceeded to do some major blushing. LOL! I had to take the book to the car to cool off. Umhhmm. I left that one at home.

CC

I'm reading American Psycho, and taking it on the tram I get very self-conscious, trying to hide the cover. I'm paranoid that people will take it as a reflection of me personally.

I've never really been embarrassed by what I've read. My mother never really cared about what I read. And she never seems to be embarrassed to read what she wanted, so I guess it picked that up from her.

I don't get embarrassed by what I read really...the only thing that comes to mind is when I read the Gossip Girl series and some of the spin-offs. I read in my car a lot and get kind of embarrassed leaving stuff like that out on the seat.
My mom got me a Judy Blume box set when I was in fourth grade or something and hid Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret from me in the entertainment center. I found it and didn't know what the big deal was.

I read The Blonde Geisha I got it online when I bought it I didn't know it was an erotic novel but then when I got it, it said EROTIC NOVEL on the front I blacked it out so people at my college wouldnt see...lol.

What I read doesn't usually embarrass me, its the cover art that embarrasses me! Why, oh why, do we have to have half naked men and women galloping across the covers of our books? I'm not going to choose to read the book because of the size of the guy's... hmm.... well. You know what I mean.

IUHoosier wrote: "What I read doesn't usually embarrass me, its the cover art that embarrasses me! Why, oh why, do we have to have half naked men and women galloping across the covers of our books? I'm not going t..."

I agree! It's not really the content of the books I am ever embarrassed about. It's the really ridiculous cover art. Even the modern woman, chick lit type of fiction...it always features some dopey looking woman tottering around in high heels after some hunky dude.

I'm discouraged by reading anything pink, or anything with some stupid shallow looking girly picture (hand bags, shoes etc) because er... I just don't want to be seen dead reading that.

I kinda want to read The Princess Diaries but the front cover of the last book I looked at was atrocious. It was all pink and sparkly with all this girly stuff all over it.

fiona I had that too a bit, but started reading them anyway and enjoy them sometimes.

I'd have to put some wrapping paper over their covers or something. I didn't want to be seen buying them either. Which is stupid I know. I doubt anyone actually cares.

That's one of my favorite continuing thread categories over at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books: "Cover Snark."

My favorite is the one of the three-handed lady.

I'm about to start the second book of the Twilight series, and I have to say I will be kind of embarrassed to take that one out into public, even though I know it has a lot of fans. I am by no means a teenage girl, and I do a majority of my reading on the bus to and from work. I also have a pulp romance novel sitting on my shelf, and I'm waiting for the day that I can coop myself up inside, not go out in public, and burn through the thing.

I almost feel embarrassed to be embarrassed. Is there really any shame in reading books like this knowing that so many people read them? There's a woman I ride the bus with, who is ALWAYS reading a pulpy romance novel like people read the daily newspaper. I've never thought any less of her for it; I just always take it for granted that this individual is particularly fond of romance novels. And if she's not embarrassed, then there's no reason any else should be either.

Heather wrote: "Ok, I guess if we all share something embarrassing it won't hurt as bad. But all you people out there better add something and not just read all these posts here!!! ;)

So, I was going through th..."

I read the Sleeping Beauty series back in the 90's. They're not books you can easily describe to anyone whose not read them. Reading them was almost like passing a car wreck - you just can't help but look.

Around the same time, I saw Anne Rice on a TV interview talking about them...she said something to the effect that what was in the books was every woman's fantasy. After reading the books, I'd have to disagree.

That's what I hate about being a gay man...I like read LBQT novels except that most of them have hot guys half clothed on the cover....not that I mind looking at them , but I do not want it known on the bus, plane , beach that I am lovingly partnered to another man. If I did I would just wear a rainbow flag everywhere I went.

P.S. And just to avoid any conflict it isn't because I am ashamed of who I am as much as it is not really anyones business, especially on a bus, plane, beach.

I once read two-thirds of that Dianetics thing - now that is really embarrasing. I was young *shrugs*

ScottK wrote: "That's what I hate about being a gay man...I like read LBQT novels except that most of them have hot guys half clothed on the cover....not that I mind looking at them , but I do not want it known o..."

Scott, how's this for an embarrassing cover?

The Price of Temptation

I enjoy well-written erotica (m/f, f/f, m/m) and am certainly not ashamed of it. I agree with Scott, though, that many of the covers are too embarrassing to display in public. A discreet cloth cover solves the problem. But what to do about flushed cheeks and sweaty palms? Some books are better left at home.

Or there's hide-a-book covers. Someone posted a topic about them somewhere. Maybe you could invest in one of those?

And that cover is just hilarious! I want to read that now!

I don't think, other then The Passionate Pirate I've read any erotica. I am interested in reading Fanny Hill though... which is 18th C erotica. There's quite a few mentions of quivering may poles in there...

Nancy wrote: "ScottK wrote: "That's what I hate about being a gay man...I like read LBQT novels except that most of them have hot guys half clothed on the cover....not that I mind looking at them , but I do not ..."

Is that a basketball in his britches?

Nancy that is a great one...lol

I thought it was a funny period at the beginning of Harry Potter. People would be talking what a hype it was between children and then on the metro or train people of all different ages (20, 35, 56 or more) would be reading the books. And you would notice that many, I saw especially adult men, would read the book but not take it completely out of there bag adn look around with a face saying..please let nobody I know be here too and see what I am reading....

ScottK wrote: "That's what I hate about being a gay man...I like read LBQT novels except that most of them have hot guys half clothed on the cover....not that I mind looking at them , but I do not want it known o..."

Scott,

My problem with publicly reading the gay books, that I love by the way, is that people always mistake me for the Hot dude on the cover. Then I have to explain and it's very embarrasing for all involved. Lol, I WISH!

Kev

Jeane wrote: "I thought it was a funny period at the beginning of Harry Potter. People would be talking what a hype it was between children and then on the metro or train people of all different ages (20, 35, 56..."

Haha! I loved watching all these people of diff. ages walking around reading HP. I saw one woman probably in her late thirties, with her family. Children were ahead of her with her husband or whoeever (this is on the ferry) and she was just walking around head in The Deathly Hallows not even looking where she was going. Good thing her hubby was with the children!

And before the 7th book came out I kept seeing this strange old man... he usually always had some other book and he was always scribbling in it with a pencil. Maybe he was a proffessor or a very mature student or something because he was always in the library cafe (like I was! we were the two regulars) anyway. One day instead of his usual he came out with the Harry Potter books. And he looked so serious over them.

Nancy, that cover is hilarious!

I'm not into the erotica/romance kinds of books (of course, I've never read them, so maybe I could be!) but I get somewhat embarrassed by those Red Dress Ink books sometimes (and yes, I read them anyway -- guilty pleasure!) Some of them are well-written and good books, but some of them have such ditzy titles/cover pictures. I took a bunch back to a used bookstore, and the guys going through the stack were teasing me about them (haven't been back to that bookstore since...)

Really, I'm not embarrassed to be seen reading anything, though. I'd rather be seen reading (even if it is a somewhat silly book) than be one of those annoying people broadcasting my personal business by screaming into my cellphone.

My brother is gay. I'm so gonna make a poster of that book cover for him for Christmas.... lmao

I did find this little tiny feathery rooster for him.... I can't give it to him in front of all of the family, but I was planning on adding a note saying: It took some doing, but I found a little c**k for you. :)

One of these days I'll read the book and let you know if it's as cheesy as the cover!

Jane wrote: "Is that a basketball in his britches?"

A little squishy for a basketball, do you think?

(#27) Scott, how's this for an embarrassing cover?

The Price of Temptation

I like the look on the family member in the portrait over the hall table...

I read a bunch of things that my mother had almost hidden. (My mom was like Jessalina's... just read it if you want to. No big deal.) The books she had almost hidden were her (gay) brother's... very racy stuff. Can't remember any of the titles, however, except the Kinsey report, but that hardly counts, does it.

I read The Happy Hooker as a teenager, and while it was sort of disgusting, it was like a wreck - you had to read it. That's probably one of the worst books I read, except for some porn disguised as sci-fi I found on my brothers' bookshelves. I was so naive, I thought people really thought like that! Now I have to hide the steamy novels only at work - I teach preschool. Otherwise, I just read what catches my attention.

Can anyone say BARBARA CARTLAND????

Agggggggghhhhhh *barf* Ann how could you? How many of BC's books did you read?

I don't really get embarrassed by reading dirty books, but more books that everyone thinks are real crap (like BC!). I read Amy Fisher: my True Story or similar and that was bad.

Nancy wrote:

A little squishy for a basketball, do you think?"

You're right. Maybe they're Nerf balls.

lmao Hayes... I actually had to scroll back up and click the link again just so I could look at the family portrait on the wall... :)

Petra, I guess I read around 25, but that was years ago!! Don't hate me!! I did not know any better! lol
I also read Rosemary Rogers... Hey, this thread is embarrassing books, isin't is??!!
:)

25! Gee did you keep all the books? Get a signed (pink) picture? Just joking!

Never heard of Rosemary Rogers.

I read The Passover Plot in college. I thought the book was fascinating, but it's one of those that has the potential to start some REALLY heated discussions (as I found out). I guess the fact I was reading the book at all was like some kind of open invitation to bashing. ~shrugs~ I just thought the book had an interesting theory.

I spent a summer at my granparents, and the only reading material available was Barbara Cartland, and Earl Stanley Gardener! I think I was 12 or 13. I loved the Gardeners, but the Cartlands were atrocious. I still read them, because I HAD to read. There must have been 30 of them. I never wanted any of my girlfriends to know. They may be half a step above Harlequin, but that's probably debatable!

I used to live in brooklyn, a 5-minute walk from the main branch of the brooklyn library at prospect park. [Brilliant - I really miss that time and that place, great movie theater too *sigh*. :]

I was thinking about coming to Italy and so I decided that I should read something in Italian. The only thing available at my reading level were the italian equivalent of the Harmony/Harlequin Romances, written during the Fascist era to boot!! They were hilariously funny. And no one could understand the titles, but they were embarrassing just the same because of the cover art.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chose... and all that. (The more things change, the more they stay the same.) Can't remember who said that first, or is it just a timeless saying?

ok ok, I confess. I read my mothers hidden Mills and Boon and Harlequin books when I was younger.