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The Waiting Room
(This is not a romance. I NEVER write romances. If you're after one, please don't read this.)
“…We are all animals, Sophie, all of us. We think we are so smart—masters of our destinies, yes? We lie to ourselves that we have control. But if it does not rain, we die of thirst. If it rains too much, we drown…”
Everyone needs to discover his or her own special place in the world, but Sophie has found it almost impossible. Late one night, in the tumbledown waiting room of a derelict Cambodian train station, she meets a stranger who offers to change her life.
Having seen how fleeting and cruel life can be, Alex has found his own way to deal with its uncertainty. With the help of Marcus, his mentor, he has come to believe it is only through artificially imposed order and physical discipline that one can find a semblance of serenity.
Alex is certain he knows how to cure Sophie of her existential angst. But lurking beneath his altruism, does he have his own agenda?
The Waiting Room is a dark erotica novella exploring the limits of sexual domination and submission.
“…We are all animals, Sophie, all of us. We think we are so smart—masters of our destinies, yes? We lie to ourselves that we have control. But if it does not rain, we die of thirst. If it rains too much, we drown…”
Everyone needs to discover his or her own special place in the world, but Sophie has found it almost impossible. Late one night, in the tumbledown waiting room of a derelict Cambodian train station, she meets a stranger who offers to change her life.
Having seen how fleeting and cruel life can be, Alex has found his own way to deal with its uncertainty. With the help of Marcus, his mentor, he has come to believe it is only through artificially imposed order and physical discipline that one can find a semblance of serenity.
Alex is certain he knows how to cure Sophie of her existential angst. But lurking beneath his altruism, does he have his own agenda?
The Waiting Room is a dark erotica novella exploring the limits of sexual domination and submission.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2010
4 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Remittance Girl
29 books426 followersRemittance Girl is a writer of erotic fiction. NOT ROMANCE OR EROTIC ROMANCE. Most of my work is short stories, but I do write some longer pieces – serials, novellas, etc. I live as an expat in a small Southeast Asian country, where I teach, write and grow orchids. I live with a cat called Seven. Although writing is not my main profession, it is the focus of my life. I hope that shows in the quality of my work.
As a writer, I feel very strongly that the erotica genre has suffered greatly over the years from a lack of quality, good editorship, and a dearth of publishers willing to put new material out there. It seems to have been appropriated by two literary camps: romantic fiction and pornography. These days most erotic fiction is either a romance novel with the spicy bits left in or, on the other side of the spectrum, stroke fiction with the solitary and express purpose of providing guided masturbatory fantasies.
This is sad, because I think erotic fiction, as a genre, should be neither and both those things, but it ought to be more, as well. I have no objection to representations of romantic entanglements in erotica, just as I have no objections to them in a sci-fi novel. Nor do I have any objections to a reader finding that a specific story arouses them to the point of wanting to masturbate. That’s also fine. But there are perfectly good genres where either of those reader desires are fulfilled specifically.
I believe that erotica, as a genre, should deal with the theme of erotic desire and, ideally, how desire informs, changes and manipulates the lives of the characters who are desirous. If erotic fiction can be this, then I think it has the potential to be an important cultural product, and should be proudly included in the literary cannon.
Some of you will have cleverly noticed that Remittance Girl is not the name I was born with. I decided to use a pseudonym because it is in keeping with the tradition of the Victorian pornographers. I could have chosen a name that sounded like a name, but where would be the fun it that. This is my identity for my writing, and for my online persona. I’ve had it for many years now.
The name itself is a reference to a “remittance man”. Wikipedia describes a remittance man thus:
Remittance Man
In the 19th century, the English usage of the word usually referred to money sent from England – the opposite direction to today’s usual usage of the term. A remittance man was an exile living on money sent from home. Within Victorian British culture, this often meant the black sheep of an upper or middle class family who was sent away (from the UK to the Empire), and paid to stay away. These men were generally of dissolute or drunken character, and may have been sent overseas after one or more disgraces at home.
If you wish to contact me, please email me at remittancegirl(at)gmail(dot)com
As a writer, I feel very strongly that the erotica genre has suffered greatly over the years from a lack of quality, good editorship, and a dearth of publishers willing to put new material out there. It seems to have been appropriated by two literary camps: romantic fiction and pornography. These days most erotic fiction is either a romance novel with the spicy bits left in or, on the other side of the spectrum, stroke fiction with the solitary and express purpose of providing guided masturbatory fantasies.
This is sad, because I think erotic fiction, as a genre, should be neither and both those things, but it ought to be more, as well. I have no objection to representations of romantic entanglements in erotica, just as I have no objections to them in a sci-fi novel. Nor do I have any objections to a reader finding that a specific story arouses them to the point of wanting to masturbate. That’s also fine. But there are perfectly good genres where either of those reader desires are fulfilled specifically.
I believe that erotica, as a genre, should deal with the theme of erotic desire and, ideally, how desire informs, changes and manipulates the lives of the characters who are desirous. If erotic fiction can be this, then I think it has the potential to be an important cultural product, and should be proudly included in the literary cannon.
Some of you will have cleverly noticed that Remittance Girl is not the name I was born with. I decided to use a pseudonym because it is in keeping with the tradition of the Victorian pornographers. I could have chosen a name that sounded like a name, but where would be the fun it that. This is my identity for my writing, and for my online persona. I’ve had it for many years now.
The name itself is a reference to a “remittance man”. Wikipedia describes a remittance man thus:
Remittance Man
In the 19th century, the English usage of the word usually referred to money sent from England – the opposite direction to today’s usual usage of the term. A remittance man was an exile living on money sent from home. Within Victorian British culture, this often meant the black sheep of an upper or middle class family who was sent away (from the UK to the Empire), and paid to stay away. These men were generally of dissolute or drunken character, and may have been sent overseas after one or more disgraces at home.
If you wish to contact me, please email me at remittancegirl(at)gmail(dot)com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 11, 2014
Although I had the "pleasure" to come across 3 flashers in my life so far, it never occurred to me to excitedly spread my legs for them.
The heroine in The Waiting Room does exactly that though, when she misses the evening train to Phnom Penh and is stranded on a deserted train platform in Battambang, Cambodia, with a German backpacker.
It was a waiting room - a shell with no window fittings or doors, a decidedly dead Coke machine which probably hadn't worked in years and, very much to her surprise, another human being. (...)
The crickets were screaming, and the single strip of lightning flickered on and off, pinging occasionally the way all fluorescents do. Somewhere in the distance, a hollow bell rang - night prayers for Buddhist monks - and from another direction the strange reedy voice of a woman's voice singing karaoke in an outdoor café. Her eyes snapped open, irritated by the noise and the blinking light. The man on the bench opposite quickly shifted his gaze to the floor; he'd been staring at her.
Train stations apparently are a flasher hot spot. Only my first flasher didn't flash me there. When you're 9 years old, you have no business standing on nearly empty train platforms. Instead I was walking my dog in the park behind my parents house, when a man in a tracksuit took his thing out and started swinging it proudly around like a lasso. That can't have been comfortable, so I'm sure my memory is playing tricks with me. I remember freezing for a few seconds, while Mr. Tracksuit kept slinging it and stared intently at me. Then my barking dog snapped me out of my shock and I ran screaming.
What I've been meaning to say is; sometimes you completely understand why the main character does what she does. This is not one of those times. Sophie is a somewhat damaged girl. We never learn what has happened to her, apart from that she teaches English in Hanoi, lives there as a hermit in a small apartment and is unstable, self-destructive and has possibly dealt with sexual abuse. That makes it a little easier to grasp why she choses to share a cheap hostel room with a guy who just jerked off in front of her, to escape the mosquito's and the humid night air. But Sophie may have issues, her new companion isn't exactly an ordinary guy either...
"So-phie. So-phie-the-slut," he sang at her, stroking her lips with the tips of his fingers. "Sophie-the-slut, I know what will make you feel much better." he pushed her hips over, turning her onto her stomach, and covered the backs of her thighs with a heavy leg. A hand skipped down her back very lightly, teasingly. The blow to her buttocks came so fast and hard it winded her. It took her a full second to get enough breath to scream out, "What the fuck!" Scrabbling at the mattress to push herself up, the sting began to register even as he shifted more of his weight onto her, pinning her down. Her mind was racing. He'd hit her - he'd just fucking hit her - and this was exactly why it wasn't a good idea to go around fucking strangers.
You can say that again gurrl! It could've been Joran van der Sloot, for chrissake!
Although I admit that this was the scene that hooked me..hum..mm.
You can tell that Remittance Girl lives in Asia herself. She describes the atmosphere perfectly and includes enough details of the food, night markets, hellish trainrides and humid hostel rooms, to bring Cambodia alive. As in all of her stories, the erotic scenes in The Waiting Room are a perfect blend of beautiful prose, twistedness and dirtiness. They're always creative, and never boring. At the same time her stories - although every single one of them has managed to ignite my imagination - never manage to completely satisfy me. There's always something missing.
Here, it doesn't bother me as much as it did in Beautiful Losers - because that book had the potential to be mindblowing and it therefore still frustrates me that it didn't pull it off - but again the characters remain so very distant, taking away from the intensity, and certain aspects of the story don't add up. In this particular case I was intrigued by the glimpses into the life of the German. But eventually, that part of the story didn't live up to its expectations at all for me and might as well have been skipped.
The heroine in The Waiting Room does exactly that though, when she misses the evening train to Phnom Penh and is stranded on a deserted train platform in Battambang, Cambodia, with a German backpacker.
It was a waiting room - a shell with no window fittings or doors, a decidedly dead Coke machine which probably hadn't worked in years and, very much to her surprise, another human being. (...)
The crickets were screaming, and the single strip of lightning flickered on and off, pinging occasionally the way all fluorescents do. Somewhere in the distance, a hollow bell rang - night prayers for Buddhist monks - and from another direction the strange reedy voice of a woman's voice singing karaoke in an outdoor café. Her eyes snapped open, irritated by the noise and the blinking light. The man on the bench opposite quickly shifted his gaze to the floor; he'd been staring at her.
Train stations apparently are a flasher hot spot. Only my first flasher didn't flash me there. When you're 9 years old, you have no business standing on nearly empty train platforms. Instead I was walking my dog in the park behind my parents house, when a man in a tracksuit took his thing out and started swinging it proudly around like a lasso. That can't have been comfortable, so I'm sure my memory is playing tricks with me. I remember freezing for a few seconds, while Mr. Tracksuit kept slinging it and stared intently at me. Then my barking dog snapped me out of my shock and I ran screaming.
What I've been meaning to say is; sometimes you completely understand why the main character does what she does. This is not one of those times. Sophie is a somewhat damaged girl. We never learn what has happened to her, apart from that she teaches English in Hanoi, lives there as a hermit in a small apartment and is unstable, self-destructive and has possibly dealt with sexual abuse. That makes it a little easier to grasp why she choses to share a cheap hostel room with a guy who just jerked off in front of her, to escape the mosquito's and the humid night air. But Sophie may have issues, her new companion isn't exactly an ordinary guy either...
"So-phie. So-phie-the-slut," he sang at her, stroking her lips with the tips of his fingers. "Sophie-the-slut, I know what will make you feel much better." he pushed her hips over, turning her onto her stomach, and covered the backs of her thighs with a heavy leg. A hand skipped down her back very lightly, teasingly. The blow to her buttocks came so fast and hard it winded her. It took her a full second to get enough breath to scream out, "What the fuck!" Scrabbling at the mattress to push herself up, the sting began to register even as he shifted more of his weight onto her, pinning her down. Her mind was racing. He'd hit her - he'd just fucking hit her - and this was exactly why it wasn't a good idea to go around fucking strangers.
You can say that again gurrl! It could've been Joran van der Sloot, for chrissake!
Although I admit that this was the scene that hooked me..hum..mm.
You can tell that Remittance Girl lives in Asia herself. She describes the atmosphere perfectly and includes enough details of the food, night markets, hellish trainrides and humid hostel rooms, to bring Cambodia alive. As in all of her stories, the erotic scenes in The Waiting Room are a perfect blend of beautiful prose, twistedness and dirtiness. They're always creative, and never boring. At the same time her stories - although every single one of them has managed to ignite my imagination - never manage to completely satisfy me. There's always something missing.
Here, it doesn't bother me as much as it did in Beautiful Losers - because that book had the potential to be mindblowing and it therefore still frustrates me that it didn't pull it off - but again the characters remain so very distant, taking away from the intensity, and certain aspects of the story don't add up. In this particular case I was intrigued by the glimpses into the life of the German. But eventually, that part of the story didn't live up to its expectations at all for me and might as well have been skipped.
September 7, 2010
It is erotic. It is dark. It deals with Dominant/Submissive themes. All the stuff we love, right?
I find myself in a mental flurry because there is so much to say about The Waiting Room I am unsure where to begin. I want to approach this review as less of a personal experience and more of a review but it is very difficult. Let's see how I do.
The Waiting Room is 122 pages in PDF form and comes in at approximately 40,361 words. Remittance Girl (RG) uses language in a way I can only describe as sticky. The words remake a crumbling, crude backdrop into a poetic extension of the characters Sophie and Alex. (RG has written a companion piece in this posting for those interested.)
The settings stick to you, exposing this grimy world with poetic simplicity. I have never been to Cambodia but I feel like I would know Battambang Central Station, the dingy room, and the dusty streets at first glance. The setting is a mirror of opposition. The uglier the backdrop, the more honest Sophie and Alex's interactions. It is definitely a third character in this wrenching tale.
So what happens?
Sophie, a woman who practices surface-normality with discomfiting ease, meets Alex, a German tourist, in a broken-down train station. What begins as a daring masturbatory encounter in an empty room morphs into an introspective study of walls. Walls that people put up and walls that others are inspired to climb.
Sophie is the builder who continuously stacks brick after brick. Alex is the architect who can see her structure’s weakness.
The narrative flows between Sophie and Alex's experiences and Alex's recollection of those experiences to his mentor Marcus. We soon see Alex is not an accidental tourist of sorts who stumbles over Sophie. Chance happened, Fate stepped in, and Alex seized the moment.
Alex saw Sophie---the secrets, the numbness, the WHY as to what she is.
Alex wants to free Sophie. He uses his body and hers in ways that on the surface can be seen as kinky play but in reality is the language of true communication. Alex doesn't allow Sophie to hide from him. He sees her anger for what it is. He sees her pleasure the same. Whether he enters her with fingers, mouth, or cock, Alex is always searching for the truth, for another brick to slide out.
Eventually, he offers her three days of giving herself over to him. Sophie, despite her misgivings, accepts. Thus the tale of self-love begins.
The D/S between Alex and Sophie is a beautiful dance to watch. The dance isn't about hiding our flaws or searching for perfection. It's about honesty and how truth is an ever-fluid thing. Alex believes he knows exactly where and how far to take her. He missteps. Sophie, trusts him even when she may not trust herself, and finds her faith tested. When she falls she hits the ground hard. If you enjoy reading about D/S then you’ll find yourself seduced.
Which brings me to the erotica. It is hot. Hot y'all!
RG proves herself to be the master of all things wonderfully dirty. She takes these sexual acts, ones we've either all read or experienced a million times, and makes it fresh. I felt trepidation as Sophie lay over his knee for the first time. When Alex finally slid into Sophie, I felt the long-ago thrill of welcoming a new lover again. Their last scene together...oh, my! I only wish I was taller so I could try it out myself. Hell, I might have to rig several pillows to get some height so I can do it. Wanna know what it was? Go read it!
End thoughts? Alex wiggled into my mind. I came into The Waiting Room expecting a hot D/S story. I left it stripped. The story stirred up questions in me, ones that had been there for years.
Just like Alex didn't allow Sophie to turn away from her truths, I wasn't allowed to turn away from mine. I strongly, strongly suggest anyone who is looking for erotica with depth to read The Waiting Room. It is worth the mind-fuck. Truly. Honestly.
I find myself in a mental flurry because there is so much to say about The Waiting Room I am unsure where to begin. I want to approach this review as less of a personal experience and more of a review but it is very difficult. Let's see how I do.
The Waiting Room is 122 pages in PDF form and comes in at approximately 40,361 words. Remittance Girl (RG) uses language in a way I can only describe as sticky. The words remake a crumbling, crude backdrop into a poetic extension of the characters Sophie and Alex. (RG has written a companion piece in this posting for those interested.)
The settings stick to you, exposing this grimy world with poetic simplicity. I have never been to Cambodia but I feel like I would know Battambang Central Station, the dingy room, and the dusty streets at first glance. The setting is a mirror of opposition. The uglier the backdrop, the more honest Sophie and Alex's interactions. It is definitely a third character in this wrenching tale.
So what happens?
Sophie, a woman who practices surface-normality with discomfiting ease, meets Alex, a German tourist, in a broken-down train station. What begins as a daring masturbatory encounter in an empty room morphs into an introspective study of walls. Walls that people put up and walls that others are inspired to climb.
Sophie is the builder who continuously stacks brick after brick. Alex is the architect who can see her structure’s weakness.
The narrative flows between Sophie and Alex's experiences and Alex's recollection of those experiences to his mentor Marcus. We soon see Alex is not an accidental tourist of sorts who stumbles over Sophie. Chance happened, Fate stepped in, and Alex seized the moment.
Alex saw Sophie---the secrets, the numbness, the WHY as to what she is.
Alex wants to free Sophie. He uses his body and hers in ways that on the surface can be seen as kinky play but in reality is the language of true communication. Alex doesn't allow Sophie to hide from him. He sees her anger for what it is. He sees her pleasure the same. Whether he enters her with fingers, mouth, or cock, Alex is always searching for the truth, for another brick to slide out.
Eventually, he offers her three days of giving herself over to him. Sophie, despite her misgivings, accepts. Thus the tale of self-love begins.
The D/S between Alex and Sophie is a beautiful dance to watch. The dance isn't about hiding our flaws or searching for perfection. It's about honesty and how truth is an ever-fluid thing. Alex believes he knows exactly where and how far to take her. He missteps. Sophie, trusts him even when she may not trust herself, and finds her faith tested. When she falls she hits the ground hard. If you enjoy reading about D/S then you’ll find yourself seduced.
Which brings me to the erotica. It is hot. Hot y'all!
RG proves herself to be the master of all things wonderfully dirty. She takes these sexual acts, ones we've either all read or experienced a million times, and makes it fresh. I felt trepidation as Sophie lay over his knee for the first time. When Alex finally slid into Sophie, I felt the long-ago thrill of welcoming a new lover again. Their last scene together...oh, my! I only wish I was taller so I could try it out myself. Hell, I might have to rig several pillows to get some height so I can do it. Wanna know what it was? Go read it!
End thoughts? Alex wiggled into my mind. I came into The Waiting Room expecting a hot D/S story. I left it stripped. The story stirred up questions in me, ones that had been there for years.
Just like Alex didn't allow Sophie to turn away from her truths, I wasn't allowed to turn away from mine. I strongly, strongly suggest anyone who is looking for erotica with depth to read The Waiting Room. It is worth the mind-fuck. Truly. Honestly.
June 30, 2013
Amazing. Infuriating. Intensely erotic. Absolutely stunning. Ultimately satisfying. And suprisingly funny at times.
Coherent review to come. All I can say now is I loved every letter of it.
Thank you, Katinka, for recommending this author.
Coherent review to come. All I can say now is I loved every letter of it.
Thank you, Katinka, for recommending this author.
December 17, 2011
I usually don't read novellas, I like to feel drawn in by a longer story and novellas usually feel lacking. However, this novella was just long enough. I was so absorbed in the reading that any longer would've been too much. This story is a psychological delving into the mind that is wholly realistic and gritty yet strangely pure and beautiful.
In every literary genre I read, I find that there is this huge block of popular books, within the genre, that I just can't relate to. Other readers of the genre LOVE these books, and I think they're crap. But eventually, within that genre, I find my groove. I find my favorite authors--popular or not so much. Once I find the authors I love, it is so much easier to find other authors I love. Well, this hasn't happened with erotica. I want to read erotica. I'm slightly twisted that way. But I don't want to read anymore of the utter nonsense I've encountered thus far. It's all so trite, unrealistic, and with a complete lack of professional development. It saddens me, because I know the type of erotica I want to read is out there.
Yesterday,I happened upon a listopia list at Amazon with Remittance Girl on it and now I've finally found the type of erotica I've been looking for.
Remittance Girl wrote on her profile:
I completely agree with the author's point-of-view here. It's so difficult to slog through the mess of erotica available to find the good stuff. I just knew it existed though! Wish me luck in trying to dig out more good stuff from the pile (after I read Remittance Girl's entire backlist).
In every literary genre I read, I find that there is this huge block of popular books, within the genre, that I just can't relate to. Other readers of the genre LOVE these books, and I think they're crap. But eventually, within that genre, I find my groove. I find my favorite authors--popular or not so much. Once I find the authors I love, it is so much easier to find other authors I love. Well, this hasn't happened with erotica. I want to read erotica. I'm slightly twisted that way. But I don't want to read anymore of the utter nonsense I've encountered thus far. It's all so trite, unrealistic, and with a complete lack of professional development. It saddens me, because I know the type of erotica I want to read is out there.
Yesterday,I happened upon a listopia list at Amazon with Remittance Girl on it and now I've finally found the type of erotica I've been looking for.
Remittance Girl wrote on her profile:
As a writer, I feel very strongly that the erotica genre has suffered greatly over the years from a lack of quality, good editorship, and a dearth of publishers willing to put new material out there. It seems to have been appropriated by two literary camps: romantic fiction and pornography. These days most erotic fiction is either a romance novel with the spicy bits left in or, on the other side of the spectrum, stroke fiction with the solitary and express purpose of providing guided masturbatory fantasies.
This is sad, because I think erotic fiction, as a genre, should be neither and both those things, but it ought to be more, as well. I have no objection to representations of romantic entanglements in erotica, just as I have no objections to them in a sci-fi novel. Nor do I have any objections to a reader finding that a specific story arouses them to the point of wanting to masturbate. That’s also fine. But there are perfectly good genres where either of those reader desires are fulfilled specifically.
I believe that erotica, as a genre, should deal with the theme of erotic desire and, ideally, how desire informs, changes and manipulates the lives of the characters who are desirous. If erotic fiction can be this, then I think it has the potential to be an important cultural product, and should be proudly included in the literary cannon.
I completely agree with the author's point-of-view here. It's so difficult to slog through the mess of erotica available to find the good stuff. I just knew it existed though! Wish me luck in trying to dig out more good stuff from the pile (after I read Remittance Girl's entire backlist).
August 3, 2014
I'm sitting here debating between 4-5 stars but Alex completely won me over and I never felt like kicking the heroine so 5 stars it is.....
December 25, 2012
This is literary erotica. The distinction between it and erotic romance may not seem very large but the chasm can be huge. Largely psychological with a couple of protagonists who you desperately want to get to know this one screws around with your head quite a bit. I did not get Sophie at all for the longest time - didn't understand her. Alex I got - he made sense to me and his background was just out of reach until he started talking to his mentor in the intervening chapters. The push and pull here are aptly demonstrated by the mesmerizing dialogue and descriptions. I swear to you I FELT like I was there in that station and I could picture it completely. The author has a particular gift in drawing you in to the character's environment and swallowing you whole.
Loved it. Simply loved it.
Loved it. Simply loved it.
May 26, 2012
My very favorite type of book--well written, thought provoking--what else could a reader want?
May 17, 2012
Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner
This review on Dear Author caught my attention. The subject was daunting to me, but I usually enjoy the books Janine recommends
so I decided to check out the author. That’s how I came across The Waiting Room.
The book opens with Sophie getting ready to spend the night in the waiting room of a Cambodian train station. She’s not alone, there’s a man there as well. She falls asleep but a noise of a zipper lowering awakens her, and when she opens her eyes she sees him masturbating. At first she is shocked and doesn’t really know what to do, but instead of running or screaming she just stays and watches. She becomes aroused by him, the setting and something inside her, so she ends up masturbating with him. Afterwards, they decide to go to a hotel and spend the night and that’s when the story begins.
Explaining more would mean spoiling the plot but one thing you should know is that Alex, the stranger, is not a perv and neither is Sophie. He has been watching her for days and can recognize something in her, something akin to the man he used to be years ago. He can see that she’s broken and the fascination he feels is equal parts desire to help her and just plain greed. He wants to fix her for her wellbeing but also for the power that comes from it.
One of the aspects I found really interesting about the story is how the power progressively shifts from Alex to Sophie. Or maybe Alex was never truly in charge and I’m reading it wrong. But what’s obvious is that Sophie undergoes a change throughout the story. She goes from broken and just wandering, to broken but ready to fix herself. I don’t think she was a completely different person at the end of the story, but she wasn’t as helpless.
Sophie isn’t a likeable character, but I found her compelling, equal parts weak and strong. There were many things about her that remain a mystery. When she has sex she disconnects herself from the act so her body feels but her mind doesn’t. The reason for that is never clear, although at one point she assures Alex that she wasn’t abused or anything like that, so she is as clueless as we are. But is that true? Was she suppressing memories? I needed more answers, although I’m not sure the story would benefit from them.
Alex was even more mysterious and half the time I saw him more as a tool to help Sophie than anything else. It’s not until the end of the book that you realize how complex he was, just in a more subtle way than Sophie. His character arc was about accepting mistakes and not being so cocky. As I said, he wants to help Sophie, but he also wants the power and feeling of ownership that comes from it. I don’t think he was a good person and yet I liked him very much.
It may have all begun with his arrogance, but he was not so blind that he couldn’t see that it had ended with his need—to be needed.
“I didn’t say you should have dismissed her, Alex. But I want you to consider what you were in love with—her or her illness. Do you really think you could see through it to the essential Sophie?”
This is a BDSM story and I’m not an expert on the subject -I’m not even a fan- so my interpretation is probably wrong. But I like that it’s not just about sex but about the mind. It’s about rules, control and discipline, so sexual preference is part of it but not all. BDSM is a key element of the plot but the sex scenes are not heavy. You won’t find chains and whips here. But again, I’m not familiar with the subject, so for all I know chains and whips are just my ignorant view based on a stereotype and not at all accurate. What I do know is that I’m willing to read more stories like this one.
Finally, I must warn you that this is a highly erotic book, but not a romance. So don’t expect a conventional happy ending. I though the way it ends was fitting to both Sophie and Alex and exactly what they needed and deserved, but if you are looking for romance and HEAs you won’t find them here. The story is raw and gritty, and the content and language used may not be for everyone.
Grade: 4.5
This review on Dear Author caught my attention. The subject was daunting to me, but I usually enjoy the books Janine recommends
so I decided to check out the author. That’s how I came across The Waiting Room.
The book opens with Sophie getting ready to spend the night in the waiting room of a Cambodian train station. She’s not alone, there’s a man there as well. She falls asleep but a noise of a zipper lowering awakens her, and when she opens her eyes she sees him masturbating. At first she is shocked and doesn’t really know what to do, but instead of running or screaming she just stays and watches. She becomes aroused by him, the setting and something inside her, so she ends up masturbating with him. Afterwards, they decide to go to a hotel and spend the night and that’s when the story begins.
Explaining more would mean spoiling the plot but one thing you should know is that Alex, the stranger, is not a perv and neither is Sophie. He has been watching her for days and can recognize something in her, something akin to the man he used to be years ago. He can see that she’s broken and the fascination he feels is equal parts desire to help her and just plain greed. He wants to fix her for her wellbeing but also for the power that comes from it.
One of the aspects I found really interesting about the story is how the power progressively shifts from Alex to Sophie. Or maybe Alex was never truly in charge and I’m reading it wrong. But what’s obvious is that Sophie undergoes a change throughout the story. She goes from broken and just wandering, to broken but ready to fix herself. I don’t think she was a completely different person at the end of the story, but she wasn’t as helpless.
Sophie isn’t a likeable character, but I found her compelling, equal parts weak and strong. There were many things about her that remain a mystery. When she has sex she disconnects herself from the act so her body feels but her mind doesn’t. The reason for that is never clear, although at one point she assures Alex that she wasn’t abused or anything like that, so she is as clueless as we are. But is that true? Was she suppressing memories? I needed more answers, although I’m not sure the story would benefit from them.
Alex was even more mysterious and half the time I saw him more as a tool to help Sophie than anything else. It’s not until the end of the book that you realize how complex he was, just in a more subtle way than Sophie. His character arc was about accepting mistakes and not being so cocky. As I said, he wants to help Sophie, but he also wants the power and feeling of ownership that comes from it. I don’t think he was a good person and yet I liked him very much.
It may have all begun with his arrogance, but he was not so blind that he couldn’t see that it had ended with his need—to be needed.
“I didn’t say you should have dismissed her, Alex. But I want you to consider what you were in love with—her or her illness. Do you really think you could see through it to the essential Sophie?”
This is a BDSM story and I’m not an expert on the subject -I’m not even a fan- so my interpretation is probably wrong. But I like that it’s not just about sex but about the mind. It’s about rules, control and discipline, so sexual preference is part of it but not all. BDSM is a key element of the plot but the sex scenes are not heavy. You won’t find chains and whips here. But again, I’m not familiar with the subject, so for all I know chains and whips are just my ignorant view based on a stereotype and not at all accurate. What I do know is that I’m willing to read more stories like this one.
Finally, I must warn you that this is a highly erotic book, but not a romance. So don’t expect a conventional happy ending. I though the way it ends was fitting to both Sophie and Alex and exactly what they needed and deserved, but if you are looking for romance and HEAs you won’t find them here. The story is raw and gritty, and the content and language used may not be for everyone.
Grade: 4.5
March 22, 2012
Without question, five stars for this psychological drama with an understory of D/s ... any plot details would be a spoiler, and I'm just not willing to do that to any of you, dear readers.
I was sucked in on the first page and did not put the book down - I read it straight through to the end. Not a HEA book, either - which made it feel so possibly real. I enjoyed Sophie's struggles - both internal and with Alex - the denouement was not entirely predictable - and there were no loose ends left at the close.
Beautifully written, the book gave me such a clear vision of Hanoi and Phnom Penh - had Remittance Girl included photos, I don't think I would more clearly envision the characters and their surroundings. I could taste, smell and feel with them - a lovely (gritty) story with the steamiest sex I've read in some time. I trembled with Sophie when she was conflicted; I flinched at the blows Alex so kindly shared.
A refreshing, fantastic story - I wish I could read it again for the first time.
I was sucked in on the first page and did not put the book down - I read it straight through to the end. Not a HEA book, either - which made it feel so possibly real. I enjoyed Sophie's struggles - both internal and with Alex - the denouement was not entirely predictable - and there were no loose ends left at the close.
Beautifully written, the book gave me such a clear vision of Hanoi and Phnom Penh - had Remittance Girl included photos, I don't think I would more clearly envision the characters and their surroundings. I could taste, smell and feel with them - a lovely (gritty) story with the steamiest sex I've read in some time. I trembled with Sophie when she was conflicted; I flinched at the blows Alex so kindly shared.
A refreshing, fantastic story - I wish I could read it again for the first time.
January 6, 2012
Remittance Girl must be applauded for her talent in the art of transporting her readers out of their chairs and into the moment. The Waiting Room is a trip to Southeast Asia as vividly presented as the emotional conflict suffered by her heroine. Amazingly detailed and nuanced, I enjoyed the psychological ingredients laced into every aspect of this unconventional love story. I will term it a love story, in that the characters developed a strong bond in a short amount of time. Though it won't offer the HEA ending some might want, the rollercoaster ride through their journey is more than rewarding in it's own right.
This book was packed with the kind of hot sex that makes you think you should save some for later, but I ended up devouring every lovely detail like a true glutton. Intelligent, poignant and oddly respectful of a most common female dilemma. To be a slut or to be yourself? A question many will find familiar.
This book was packed with the kind of hot sex that makes you think you should save some for later, but I ended up devouring every lovely detail like a true glutton. Intelligent, poignant and oddly respectful of a most common female dilemma. To be a slut or to be yourself? A question many will find familiar.
January 16, 2012
Originally reviewed at The Forbidden Bookshelf.
The Waiting Room begins with a very unusual introduction. Alex and Sophie’s first meeting in an outdoor waiting room of a train station in Cambodia is very unexpected. They are both expatriates who are on their way back to Hanoi where they both work. It seems the next train is not due for several hours and nightfall has quickly descended upon them. Sophie decides to sleep on one of the benches but is soon woken by the sound of a lone stranger’s zipper being opened. What follows is a public scene of self-gratification that the two partake in that at first glance seems seedy and demeaning but a deeper look into it shows Alex’s very clever way to introduce himself as well as his intentions to Sophie.
This was a deeply emotional book about a man who saw a broken woman from a distance and built up a fascination and need to try and fix her. Alex saw in Sophie what he had experienced himself. He sensed in her a feeling of self-loathing and worthlessness that kept her from interacting on a deeper level with other people. He felt that if she did not do something soon she would lose herself to her angst and not be able to come back from it. When train service is halted due to flooding, Alex asks Sophie to stay with him for three days and let him help her to get over her depression and self-loathing. She agrees and what happens next is an emotional look into the interworking of the psychological journey that Alex takes her through. Sophie has a long history of disassociating during sexual acts. Alex uses pain, bondage and speech to keep her mind tethered to her body during their encounters.
After a couple of sessions of this therapy, Sophie finds that she can no longer recede inside herself and must face her feelings. This scares her and her flight response is triggered several times during the novel. At first Alex sees his need to help Sophie as a social project but he soon starts to have very strong feelings for her and doesn’t think he can let her go after their three days end.
After reading The Waiting Room I was really disappointed with how it ended. I was so invested in the relationship between Alex and Sophie that I couldn’t believe it didn’t end the way I wanted it to. It took a second read through for me to realize that the story had to end the way it did in order for Sophie to really find that inner strength that she would need to keep herself grounded. I loved the patient and understanding way that Alex dealt with Sophie and his German accented speech made me smile. The way he treated Sophie was heartwarming but her inner struggles with herself were sometimes heart breaking. This novel was very well written and the flow was perfect. I enjoyed how we got to see Alex’s point of view and back story through conversations with his mentor, Marcus that were weaved throughout the story. The Waiting Room was a compelling book and I would recommend this to readers that are looking for a deep and emotional story that will leave a lasting impression on them.
The Waiting Room begins with a very unusual introduction. Alex and Sophie’s first meeting in an outdoor waiting room of a train station in Cambodia is very unexpected. They are both expatriates who are on their way back to Hanoi where they both work. It seems the next train is not due for several hours and nightfall has quickly descended upon them. Sophie decides to sleep on one of the benches but is soon woken by the sound of a lone stranger’s zipper being opened. What follows is a public scene of self-gratification that the two partake in that at first glance seems seedy and demeaning but a deeper look into it shows Alex’s very clever way to introduce himself as well as his intentions to Sophie.
This was a deeply emotional book about a man who saw a broken woman from a distance and built up a fascination and need to try and fix her. Alex saw in Sophie what he had experienced himself. He sensed in her a feeling of self-loathing and worthlessness that kept her from interacting on a deeper level with other people. He felt that if she did not do something soon she would lose herself to her angst and not be able to come back from it. When train service is halted due to flooding, Alex asks Sophie to stay with him for three days and let him help her to get over her depression and self-loathing. She agrees and what happens next is an emotional look into the interworking of the psychological journey that Alex takes her through. Sophie has a long history of disassociating during sexual acts. Alex uses pain, bondage and speech to keep her mind tethered to her body during their encounters.
“Voice and pain – it was interesting to feel it happen. No not interesting…It was exquisite; like opening a rusty old door and finding such treasures behind it. Oh, Marcus, she did like pain, very much.” He grinned sheepishly at the man across the table. “Nice for me too, you know?”
~ Alex to Marcus
After a couple of sessions of this therapy, Sophie finds that she can no longer recede inside herself and must face her feelings. This scares her and her flight response is triggered several times during the novel. At first Alex sees his need to help Sophie as a social project but he soon starts to have very strong feelings for her and doesn’t think he can let her go after their three days end.
Horrified, Sophie suddenly realized what Alex had done to her; this was his legacy. The switch was gone. The rabbit hole she’d once slid down so easily was closed to her. She was condemned to consciousness.
And it felt. Good. Amazingly good.
After reading The Waiting Room I was really disappointed with how it ended. I was so invested in the relationship between Alex and Sophie that I couldn’t believe it didn’t end the way I wanted it to. It took a second read through for me to realize that the story had to end the way it did in order for Sophie to really find that inner strength that she would need to keep herself grounded. I loved the patient and understanding way that Alex dealt with Sophie and his German accented speech made me smile. The way he treated Sophie was heartwarming but her inner struggles with herself were sometimes heart breaking. This novel was very well written and the flow was perfect. I enjoyed how we got to see Alex’s point of view and back story through conversations with his mentor, Marcus that were weaved throughout the story. The Waiting Room was a compelling book and I would recommend this to readers that are looking for a deep and emotional story that will leave a lasting impression on them.
December 16, 2011
This is my favourite kind of erotica, a story that makes you think, and one that has enabled me think of other erotica stories I've read in a different light... some have moved closer to the porn side of things whilst others closer to the erotic.
For me erotica is more than a set of instructions neither is it a written 'visual' of a porn film, it doesn't need a 'love' story, The Waiting Room has/is none of these, but the mere fact that the story is still milling around in my head is testament to it's strengths.
For me erotica is more than a set of instructions neither is it a written 'visual' of a porn film, it doesn't need a 'love' story, The Waiting Room has/is none of these, but the mere fact that the story is still milling around in my head is testament to it's strengths.
July 30, 2014
Totally loved Sophie and Alex..what a wonderful read..
we all need a lover like Alex..and who taught Alex..why Marcus and at the age of 23.
some thought provoking stimuli going on here..well worth the read
we all need a lover like Alex..and who taught Alex..why Marcus and at the age of 23.
some thought provoking stimuli going on here..well worth the read
August 1, 2014
3.5 stars!
November 15, 2020
Well written with plenty to stimulate the mind and body. I wanted more, more, more! The grammar, prose, spelling and use of language was excellent. The sex scenes were interesting and diverse with arousing steaminess. The characters held my interest and were quite realistic. For me the work was stimulating and the intellect and education of the author was evident. Myself being a Sociologist found the standard worthy of the 4 stars which I rarely give!
The males POV and their thinking was interesting, so much different from a woman's - males always have to justify themselves in ways that are quite infantile as they have very weak ego's and are easily hurt by women. Marcus' brutality to Alex on his first 'taking' of Alex is evidence of this, 'he didn't wish to appear weak', what a load of bullshit! And to Alex it was forced feminization which hurt and affected him deeply, still to the present time.
My thoughts towards Marcus are not kind and he is full of deceit, jealousy, misogyny and driven by desires that are not of honest intent. It can be stated that he 'groomed' (brutally) the young men into his lifestyle and being older was able to affectively influence them, appearing to be wise and coaching the youth to be his 'protege's/pets.
Alex is extremely arrogant and for him to think that he can 'fuck' someone through d/s into a stable/rational person speaks to his arrogance, his ignorance and his lack of understanding of psychology and the human psyche. He got this ludicrous idea from Marcus and Marcus's treatment of him. WTF? But not as brutally, I will give him that. He is driven by lust more than altruism! He is deluding himself and may have damaged Sophie more than he will ever know.
Studies have found that a males worst fear is a woman laughing at him or embarrassing them, yet Alex had a few hypocritical traits, he didn't want to be seen crying with tears in his eyes at the restaurant with Marcus but he thought Sophie should not be embarrassed by 'coming' in public at the markets whilst she was stoned out of her brain and getting her ears cleaned no less. Or that it was OK to expose herself in public so he could enjoy and get aroused by the sight of it. I could understand her running. Women are taught to be modest, we aren't supposed to let it all 'hang out there'. Never mind it's also a crime (indecent exposure).
I could relate to Sophie and her internal dialogue and Marcus' comments about her 'external braces' were misogynistic. He was jealous! and quite spiteful and bitchy with those comments. He was just a banker, not a psychologist, not an expert and regardless no-one ever exposes all of their inner psyche! We all have 'braces' that help support us and conform to social mores. We are all vulnerable in some ways and need these 'fixtures' to cope with a world that is harsh, cruel and often defies our understanding of that world. It doesn't mean that we are mentally ill. Alex made too many assumptions about Sophie without even speaking to her and just because some of us are aloof doesn't mean we need fixing.
Overall an edifying read that will impact you and will give you some food for thought if you can handle it.
The males POV and their thinking was interesting, so much different from a woman's - males always have to justify themselves in ways that are quite infantile as they have very weak ego's and are easily hurt by women. Marcus' brutality to Alex on his first 'taking' of Alex is evidence of this, 'he didn't wish to appear weak', what a load of bullshit! And to Alex it was forced feminization which hurt and affected him deeply, still to the present time.
My thoughts towards Marcus are not kind and he is full of deceit, jealousy, misogyny and driven by desires that are not of honest intent. It can be stated that he 'groomed' (brutally) the young men into his lifestyle and being older was able to affectively influence them, appearing to be wise and coaching the youth to be his 'protege's/pets.
Alex is extremely arrogant and for him to think that he can 'fuck' someone through d/s into a stable/rational person speaks to his arrogance, his ignorance and his lack of understanding of psychology and the human psyche. He got this ludicrous idea from Marcus and Marcus's treatment of him. WTF? But not as brutally, I will give him that. He is driven by lust more than altruism! He is deluding himself and may have damaged Sophie more than he will ever know.
Studies have found that a males worst fear is a woman laughing at him or embarrassing them, yet Alex had a few hypocritical traits, he didn't want to be seen crying with tears in his eyes at the restaurant with Marcus but he thought Sophie should not be embarrassed by 'coming' in public at the markets whilst she was stoned out of her brain and getting her ears cleaned no less. Or that it was OK to expose herself in public so he could enjoy and get aroused by the sight of it. I could understand her running. Women are taught to be modest, we aren't supposed to let it all 'hang out there'. Never mind it's also a crime (indecent exposure).
I could relate to Sophie and her internal dialogue and Marcus' comments about her 'external braces' were misogynistic. He was jealous! and quite spiteful and bitchy with those comments. He was just a banker, not a psychologist, not an expert and regardless no-one ever exposes all of their inner psyche! We all have 'braces' that help support us and conform to social mores. We are all vulnerable in some ways and need these 'fixtures' to cope with a world that is harsh, cruel and often defies our understanding of that world. It doesn't mean that we are mentally ill. Alex made too many assumptions about Sophie without even speaking to her and just because some of us are aloof doesn't mean we need fixing.
Overall an edifying read that will impact you and will give you some food for thought if you can handle it.
August 16, 2020
Won't forget that in a hurry. Loved it; from beginning to the end. The end? Didn't think it would sit well with me, but guess what? Brilliant ending; 'Gone with the Wind-ishhh'.
The Author is a wordsmith, and I feel lucky to have come across her writing. Beautiful Losers is next up. Which will challenge me, but I'll explain that one after I've read it. Loved all the characters here, even smirking 'Al'. Even the Barber. What a day the Barber had; he wasn't expecting that - or was he? And Moc got the best 'tip' ever. 😂 🤣 There's nothing like a great book that makes you laugh out loud with LOVE for it -is there? Alex, Sophie and Marcus? Great characters, especially A and S. I liked the 'teasing' around Marcus and Alex. There was just enough; more and I might have resented it. It was about Sophie-the-Slut and Alex; the stars of this show.
It brought up so many/too many memories for me. It felt at times RG was writing my story. I was Sophie-the-Slut. It had me reminiscing about the Flasher from my youth. Never could think about that experience with anything other than abhorrence (isn't that what I'm supposed to feel?), but now I feel/see it differently. I even laughed about it. And about the way I handled it? I deserve TEN medals and 10 Oscars. 🏆 🥇 😂 🤣 I was 'Flashed' by the same guy every day for several weeks at age 17, driving alone with him in his car after work. He was much older than me and married but no kids. He wore the stupidest black Toupée you've ever seen. Sooooo obviously fake. He had a short, black beard. Why didn't I run a mile/call the Police/tell my Employer/tell my friends/parents, after the first time?? 🤔 😉 😂 I recalled various 'experiences' from my past, and thought of them in a totally different way; wished I'd reacted differently maybe? I never once spoke to the 'Flasher' except to say hello and goodbye, and he never said a word to me. I should have liked to have broken the 'spell' by asking him wtf he was doing?
Then the owner of a house I was renting a room in, who told me he fantasised about me coming into his bedroom in the middle of the night. And me lying in bed at night afterwards, having the same fantasy, but not acting upon his 'invitation'. 😔 And other erotic 'stuff' from the past. Yes this story is very evocative, and everything about it is perfect. Not least the wonderful locations in the far east, which are so well described by the writer, I felt right there with the characters from the book. A voyeur.
Couldn't recommend it more. This book and Gaijin by the same Author, are must-reads for lovers of the dark, decadent and delicious erotica.
The Author is a wordsmith, and I feel lucky to have come across her writing. Beautiful Losers is next up. Which will challenge me, but I'll explain that one after I've read it. Loved all the characters here, even smirking 'Al'. Even the Barber. What a day the Barber had; he wasn't expecting that - or was he? And Moc got the best 'tip' ever. 😂 🤣 There's nothing like a great book that makes you laugh out loud with LOVE for it -is there? Alex, Sophie and Marcus? Great characters, especially A and S. I liked the 'teasing' around Marcus and Alex. There was just enough; more and I might have resented it. It was about Sophie-the-Slut and Alex; the stars of this show.
It brought up so many/too many memories for me. It felt at times RG was writing my story. I was Sophie-the-Slut. It had me reminiscing about the Flasher from my youth. Never could think about that experience with anything other than abhorrence (isn't that what I'm supposed to feel?), but now I feel/see it differently. I even laughed about it. And about the way I handled it? I deserve TEN medals and 10 Oscars. 🏆 🥇 😂 🤣 I was 'Flashed' by the same guy every day for several weeks at age 17, driving alone with him in his car after work. He was much older than me and married but no kids. He wore the stupidest black Toupée you've ever seen. Sooooo obviously fake. He had a short, black beard. Why didn't I run a mile/call the Police/tell my Employer/tell my friends/parents, after the first time?? 🤔 😉 😂 I recalled various 'experiences' from my past, and thought of them in a totally different way; wished I'd reacted differently maybe? I never once spoke to the 'Flasher' except to say hello and goodbye, and he never said a word to me. I should have liked to have broken the 'spell' by asking him wtf he was doing?
Then the owner of a house I was renting a room in, who told me he fantasised about me coming into his bedroom in the middle of the night. And me lying in bed at night afterwards, having the same fantasy, but not acting upon his 'invitation'. 😔 And other erotic 'stuff' from the past. Yes this story is very evocative, and everything about it is perfect. Not least the wonderful locations in the far east, which are so well described by the writer, I felt right there with the characters from the book. A voyeur.
Couldn't recommend it more. This book and Gaijin by the same Author, are must-reads for lovers of the dark, decadent and delicious erotica.
Read
March 17, 2021The writing was so atmoshperic!! It made the setting come alive and I really appreciate that. However, I don't care enough for the characters to finish this so I stopped when I realized that I'm only forcing myself to continue reading.
December 30, 2021
I just discovered the author recently and this is the first book I have read of her. It was pretty good. I actually learned a thing or two from reading this and it was pretty fun to read too. I loved how flawed the characters are. I can't wait to read more of Remittance Girl's works.
April 2, 2013
I purchased The Waiting Room a few years ago and it occurred to me tonight that I hadn't written a review.
I usually write reviews of emotionally driven ineloquent drivel, partially as some sort of exercise in mind dysentery. As if I don't get it all out now, somehow I'll forget, which probably isn't the best way to write reviews. I try to process it while it's still raw but sometimes I find that I would have been better off sitting on it awhile—that and the fact that there are so many other readers that can write and articulate far better, more well-deserved reviews.
I've been a fan of RG for some time now, long enough to be able to say years and not remember exactly how I found her writing online. I was probably still using dial-up at the time.
Right now I'm re-reading The Waiting Room and it's both achingly haunting and familiar, seeping into my veins and settling into my gut in welcome ache of melancholy, anxiety and perhaps a dash of foreboding.
Erotica is different things to different people. To me this is erotica. It's not soft and fuzzy, romance paraded as something else because of a few scenes or some character's flippant, transient traits.
There also manages to be a sense of drama (and to me drama has been so over done that using the word sounds overly dramatic) without it being anywhere near soap time. (Yes I've read and occasionally read those types of novels, but honestly there is only so much of that OTT that I can take at any given time.)
I feel that her writing and characters sit somewhere on the edge of the subconscious, wedged underneath the faces that we put on and lives we lead from day to day and raw reality of what is really going on inside—the hidden and for most people—perhaps the uncomfortable part.
To me it's always seemed that labels are important to people because for most part and for many it puts things into perspective and context. It brings me so much pleasure that her characters smoothly defy this even while subscribing to certain realities and concessions.
In general (and probably naturally so) we feel we need to know what things mean or what things are so we can understand it in relation to ourselves. In other words, many of us are afraid of what we don't understand (or want to admit to ourselves).
The Waiting Room (and other her writing) is confronting, challenging and moving. It can open you up to the possibilities, if you so wish to take a chance and avail yourself to a perspective other than your own. You may even be secretly shocked at being titillated by something other than what is dictated by social conventions.
RG is also a master at placing you there: at the station with thick humidity and the mosquitoes, in the bathroom with the mould and in the bed under the sweat of limbs and flesh. You can hear the voices, smell the air, taste the saliva and be overwhelmed by the emotion.
I wish I could do justice to review Sophie and Alexander's story, or better yet, journey, but the best I can say is to read it. Yes there is no fairytale ending and I'll admit that it broke me, and so I imagine that their story picks up again, somewhere years later and it's still as challenging and still as difficult but every bit worth it.
It's smart smut. Once it slips under your skin you won't be the same and to be blunt, RG will f*** your mind and leave you wanting more.
I usually write reviews of emotionally driven ineloquent drivel, partially as some sort of exercise in mind dysentery. As if I don't get it all out now, somehow I'll forget, which probably isn't the best way to write reviews. I try to process it while it's still raw but sometimes I find that I would have been better off sitting on it awhile—that and the fact that there are so many other readers that can write and articulate far better, more well-deserved reviews.
I've been a fan of RG for some time now, long enough to be able to say years and not remember exactly how I found her writing online. I was probably still using dial-up at the time.
Right now I'm re-reading The Waiting Room and it's both achingly haunting and familiar, seeping into my veins and settling into my gut in welcome ache of melancholy, anxiety and perhaps a dash of foreboding.
Erotica is different things to different people. To me this is erotica. It's not soft and fuzzy, romance paraded as something else because of a few scenes or some character's flippant, transient traits.
There also manages to be a sense of drama (and to me drama has been so over done that using the word sounds overly dramatic) without it being anywhere near soap time. (Yes I've read and occasionally read those types of novels, but honestly there is only so much of that OTT that I can take at any given time.)
I feel that her writing and characters sit somewhere on the edge of the subconscious, wedged underneath the faces that we put on and lives we lead from day to day and raw reality of what is really going on inside—the hidden and for most people—perhaps the uncomfortable part.
To me it's always seemed that labels are important to people because for most part and for many it puts things into perspective and context. It brings me so much pleasure that her characters smoothly defy this even while subscribing to certain realities and concessions.
In general (and probably naturally so) we feel we need to know what things mean or what things are so we can understand it in relation to ourselves. In other words, many of us are afraid of what we don't understand (or want to admit to ourselves).
The Waiting Room (and other her writing) is confronting, challenging and moving. It can open you up to the possibilities, if you so wish to take a chance and avail yourself to a perspective other than your own. You may even be secretly shocked at being titillated by something other than what is dictated by social conventions.
RG is also a master at placing you there: at the station with thick humidity and the mosquitoes, in the bathroom with the mould and in the bed under the sweat of limbs and flesh. You can hear the voices, smell the air, taste the saliva and be overwhelmed by the emotion.
I wish I could do justice to review Sophie and Alexander's story, or better yet, journey, but the best I can say is to read it. Yes there is no fairytale ending and I'll admit that it broke me, and so I imagine that their story picks up again, somewhere years later and it's still as challenging and still as difficult but every bit worth it.
It's smart smut. Once it slips under your skin you won't be the same and to be blunt, RG will f*** your mind and leave you wanting more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2012
If I had to use a single word to describe Remittance Girl's The Waiting Room, it would be intellectual. This isn't a book designed to send your hands to your crotch for a quick release.
Saying that it's intellectual does not take away from it's erotic elements. The sex is arousing and the scenes well written.
RG does an amazing job of showing how the sexuality of the characters was shaped by intense psychological and physical experiences. My favorite scene involves willing submission of a strong character. Yum!
The only things that kept this from being perfect for me is that I'm a huge fan of Happily Ever After and this story is more along the lines of Content For Now. Also, the story is slanted more towards the character that I consider the submissive and I identify more easily with dominant characters. I found Alex more interesting than Sophie, my own preferences coloring my opinions of course.
All in all, if you want a well written book, that makes you think and curls your toes; you should pick up a copy of The Waiting Room.
Remittance Girl
Saying that it's intellectual does not take away from it's erotic elements. The sex is arousing and the scenes well written.
RG does an amazing job of showing how the sexuality of the characters was shaped by intense psychological and physical experiences. My favorite scene involves willing submission of a strong character. Yum!
The only things that kept this from being perfect for me is that I'm a huge fan of Happily Ever After and this story is more along the lines of Content For Now. Also, the story is slanted more towards the character that I consider the submissive and I identify more easily with dominant characters. I found Alex more interesting than Sophie, my own preferences coloring my opinions of course.
All in all, if you want a well written book, that makes you think and curls your toes; you should pick up a copy of The Waiting Room.
Remittance Girl
March 20, 2013
This was a random find for me and the blurb sucked me in. I liked the characters and the initial shock of the opening chapter. Call me a sicko, but all I needed was that first encounter to get me hooked. It wasn't a beautiful story with a saccharine ending. It was complicated, dark and dirty... and it was sad. Happily ever after isn't for everyone.
August 9, 2016
Yeah, meh, whatever. All the more disappointing because Remittance Girl can write, this is a poor show of terrible exposition, characters that haven't been fully explored and some dialogues that I want to unsee. Out of all her works I have read, this is the one I least enjoyed, and I would recommend reading any other of RGs works first before this one, which I find to be the least elegant.
May 25, 2013
So great. Like a super kinky gritty foreign movie you start watching and you cant look away even though its 3am you know you have work the next day. The story is fantastic, almost ugly at times but somehow even the ugly just made it more fascinatining and beautiful, if that makes any sense.
Want to read
September 26, 2013So, no rating, because honestly, other than the non traditional settings ( which I flat out loved) I have no idea how I feel about this book. I'm glad I read it, and will in all likelihood, look up more Remittance Girl titles, but it's definitely not my usual type of book.
November 18, 2010
Want a book to haunt you long after you read it?
This is a phenomenal piece of work. The prose and imagery invoke delicious sensations in the recesses of one's mind - especially mine.
This is a phenomenal piece of work. The prose and imagery invoke delicious sensations in the recesses of one's mind - especially mine.
May 7, 2011
4 stars out of 5.
dark erotica- BUT this one is as much about the mind as the body. :)
dark erotica- BUT this one is as much about the mind as the body. :)
December 17, 2012
This is not simple erotica, if you are a fan of complex relationships and wonderfully written sex get it. This is a beautiful little book.
December 23, 2012
I love books like this - equal parts erotic, intelligent and well written. Though this is a novella, the length is perfect for the story.
December 31, 2012
not really a romance but still really enjoyed it
May 27, 2014
Existential angst blended in with f*d up romance.
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