Erotic Literature?

[Casey]

I've read a lot of reviews on here that state these books are not literature because they are so erotic and raunchy. I'm interested in what people think on this, because I am not ashamed to admit I enjoyed this book, and consider it literature.

[Ashley]

I think this book is awesome

[Kandice]

I also consider it literature. I AM a bit embarassed to admit so in a mixed crowd, though. I sincerely enjoy Rice's writing style, in any form, so that proably has quite a bit to do with my opinion.

[Hillary]

If it causes one to pause, reflect and discuss, I consider it literature.

I read these books about 10 years ago when I was in my late 20s. I didn't have any interest in traditional romance novels because they were too, what's the right word....bland? I must admit, I was totally shocked and offended from the beginning of the 1st book. I couldn't stop reading, though. As I read more, and continued to be shocked and surprised by the violence and degradation (although by this time I got the gist and was getting used to the graphic level of detail), I did think the writing was good.

Her approach to eroticism was interesting and effective, but my preference would be different. Ideally, something with the love, fascination and chemistry of the characters in Twilight, with a little more "action" and detail. I think those books are actually more erotic in some ways, because they left just enough to the imagination, without compromising on the sweetness of the characters.

[Yumi]

Hillary, I got to say you hit it right on the nose! You toke the words right of my mouth. I read these books and could not put them down. Now the only problem is the books i have read lately don't match up to the beauty books. I can't seem to find another book to shock and surprise me as this book did.

[Brenda]

@Pepper... Try reading Comfort Food or Tender Mercies. I too love the Beauty series (I'm on book 2 right now) and haven't been able to find anything that matches up. But, those two books really hit it for me with excellent writing and storylines. :)

[Bethany]

@ Pepper- I really enjoy Joey W. Hill's writing. It's very erotic, though not quite as "shocking" as the Beauty Series. Be aware, her full length books have paranormal elements which I enjoy, but not all will. Vampires, angels, mermaids... Sounds cheesy. But I find her characters very engaging and their emotions very real. There's one short story in particular that was as touching as it was erotic. It's called Honor Bound. It's in the book "Laced with Desire" and it is not paranormal, unlike the rest. I was honestly in tears more than once (which doesn't happen to me often). I didn't expect it at all and I LOVE to be surprised. Hope you check her out/like her! ;)

[Britt]

I enjoyed the Sleeping Beauty Triliogy. I read it when I was a senior in high school. My step mom and dad gave it to me knowing my love for literature and reading. And I loved Anne Rice. They explained to me the importance of literature and preservation. They also raised me to understand that in life I was going to come across readings and things and I needed to have a open mind and know what was right and wrong. Grant it they never really read the books but they knew it was graphic. And since they didnt hide it from me and always let me make my own decisions when it came to literature, I always read with a clear mind.

[Nightcrawler]

I've been told I write like this "Anne Rice". I've never read her books before, so when I came across this one (no pun intended) I just HAD to read it to see what my "friends" were saying about my written stories. I have to admit, I'm honored to be compared to such a literary person such as Ms. Rice. Kudos!!! I'm half way through "The Claiming" and I already have plans on other books as well.

[RETRODOLL]

I really enjoyed the 'sleeping beauty' series. Anne Rice is really talented, but that book series isn't for the faint of heart! Another book you all might like is "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star" by Jenna Jameson, a former porn star. LOL.

[Nancy]

I loved the Beauty Trilogy. Another book in the same genre that you might enjoy is The Story of O. I can not remember the author.

[Nancy]

Nancy wrote: "I loved the Beauty Trilogy. Another book in the same genre that you might enjoy is The Story of O. I can not remember the author."

The Story of O by Paulene Reage.

[T]

I think some people are afraid of their own genitals -- or, rather, to the reaction their genitals are having to certain stuff that they've been taught they "shouldn't" like.

Like BDSM.

Not only do I consider The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (and Anne Rice's other Beauty books) to be literature, I consider it to be fine literature. It also turns me the fuck on.

[Nancy]

Thorne wrote: "I think some people are afraid of their own genitals -- or, rather, to the reaction their genitals are having to certain stuff that they've been taught they "shouldn't" like.

Like BDSM.

Not only ..."


They definitely turn up the heat and get the hormones jumping......quickly

[shuurei]

I read this book when I was in first year college. One of my colleagues recommended this book and she even told me to read this within 3 days because she only borrowed it in the library. However, I read it within 1 and half days. I couldn't stop myself reading Sleeping Beauty. Anne Rice was able to give a different perspective of Sleeping Beauty and the eroticism that was presented in the book was very detailed that actually shocked readers. Of course I considered this a literature because she twisted the story and come out different from the main stream sleeping beauty from her imagination and it was well written and did not come out as a "perverted" story telling.

[Brenda]

Thorne wrote: "Not only do I consider The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (and Anne Rice's other Beauty books) to be literature, I consider it to be fine literature. It also turns me the fuck on..."

I absolutley agree... :)

[Nightcrawler]

RETRODOLL wrote: "I really enjoyed the 'sleeping beauty' series. Anne Rice is really talented, but that book series isn't for the faint of heart! Another book you all might like is "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star..."
Not for the faint of heart is absolutely correct!! I found myself looking away to wipe the visuals out of my mind from time to time.. lol.

[T]

Anne Rice has spoken of her Beauty books as being "the Disneyland of S&M" (which is okay by me, because I really like Disneyland! -- especially the Pirates ride... lol), but I agree with RETRODOLL: even as the Disneyland of S&M this "isn't for the faint of heart." Not the fuck at all. ;)

If you haven't seen it already, you might enjoy watching and listening to Anne Rice herself talk about her Beauty series in a two to three minute video clip at YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjHGBZ...

[Nightcrawler]

Nice... Thanks for the link, Retrodoll.

[Andrea]

I think that these books are about more than just sex. There is a lot to be said about the nature of human relationships presented in this book. There are those who need to control everything, and those who wish to submit, etc. When I read these books, I found that I was more interested with the dynamics of the personal relationships than the detailed descriptions of sex.

[Reanna]

I really enjoyed the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy and have since ready Belinda, definitely not what I was expecting in the fact that I didn't find it as "shocking" or as graphic as the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy.

I think these books are definitely literature and also amazing reads. But I have to agree definitely not for the faint of heart.

I'm also with Bethany you should definitely check out Joey W. Hill's novels, and even if you just want to kind of experience her writing without getting yourself into the novels check out her blog http://www.storywitch.com/ she has vignettes that you can read and also free short stories, an excellent writer who definitely knows how to tell an amazing story.

@ Bethany, have you read the rest of Joey's Knights of the Boardroom series? I think the first and second books have a little more of the "shocking factor" since they draw a fine line between non-con.

[Alex]

Thanks for the link, Retrodoll. As she says, the Sleeping Beauty novels are fantasy with a capital F, not to be taken in any way literally. But they allow readers (or this reader, anyway) to explore forbidden areas without the trammels of rt, including everything about Sex and Relationships we instinctively feel or have been educated to feel is unacceptable. The trilogy starts with a rape. It's a quite deliberate stratagem on the writer's part, and I was duly shocked, horrified, dismissive etc as befits a man of my age and Age. I picked it up again months later, and found the endless scenes of degradation etc quite boring. But on a third and fourth return... I still haven't finished the trilogy and maybe never will, but I see (and to some extent experience) what the author means to do. She's let loose something wild that usually stays safely below the level of consciousness -- and though we may not approve of it, we should at least acknowledge that it's there!

Bottom line, she describes "Beauty" as pornography, and it is, in the sense that it's written for the purpose of arousing the reader. But it goes far deeper thn anything else I've read -- including "O" -- into our unacknowledged drives and desires. I think it deserves to be taken seriously -- more than O, perhaps, which was maybe written by a woman, but written to gratify her lover, so repeats the usual male-dominance fantasies and in the end becomes (maybe on purpose) a grotesque parody. "Beauty" starts grotesque and gets grotesquer, and goes on being grotesque till the reader has to accept it on its own terms. Quite an achievement!

[Nadja]

I loved this book and the one after it, Beauty's Punishment. I'm waiting on the 3rd one, Beauty's Release to come available in my local library. They have kept me completely engrossed the whole time I was reading them! Anne Rice did a great job on this series.

[tommy]

The trilogy is literary enough that I got an M.A. in English Literature for writing about it. I think it had a lot to say about reader-author interaction.

I also thought it was super hot.

[Farrah]

I don't know if it Anne Rice's best sample of writing but the books are wildly imaginative and fresh and creative. They blur the line slightly of literature and erotica.

[Donna Farley]

Have read all three of the Beauty books. I never saw them as raunchy i saw them as a glimpse into a world that many keep locked in the fantasy, a secret in the mind. For a segment of society who are drawn or involved in the world of BDSM it has been a book to read. Not a possible way to live but the dynamics of the exchanges that often take place.

Where as Screw The Roses Send me the Thorns became the go to primer for safety and techniques the Beauty series was one people could identify with their role. It is a piece of fiction that affected many peoples choices in the live world.

I found them a good read and saw another side to the author I have enjoyed reading. To define books based on the erotic as not good literature puzzles me. I am glad to hear they are available in the libraries

[Paris (kerbytejas)]

I love erotic books & reading BDSM books - and the spicier and edgier the better, but I found the Claiming of Sleeping Beauty to be one of the most boring books around, and have no plans to read the rest of the trilogy even though i have it.
I did expect more from the book, just from the reviews & praise others had provided. My only complaint - is the boredom level, not the subject matter, or the delivery of it.

[Shannon]

I loved all three book! I thought the story was just great! I had never read erotic books before this series.

[Michael]

I liked all three books. The level of eroticism was a little tame. In comparison to some other erotic authors, Anne Rice did a very good job.

[[deleted user]]

by ann rice this was so different for ann rice l I found at parts the shockvaue was the olny part of the story. it was not smut at part it was humitation ,ddegredation , rape , and oragies every where . if you are going to do a hard core D/s book do it right lplease read SUBMISSIVE BY ANYA HOWARD THAT IS HOW IT IS DONE WELL!!!!!!!!!!

[Donna Farley]

Hard core D/s? In my opinion one of the things about BDSM is it is consensual, safe and sane. It is also defined by the people in a particular relationship. Anne Rice defined the relationship and the people.

So there are things that different people participate in and seek out in this life choice. D/s has been defined in my 30 years in this life choice as Dominance and submission at times to mean the mental aspect of the power exchange. S/m is often defined as the physical exchange of a relationship. Of course both with differing degrees of giving and raking control. I felt Rice did an adequate job in showing that exchange. It is fiction and has to be taken in that vein.

For you define what is humiliation for another or degradation simply means it is something you do not or would not seek in this life choice, but you do not have the right to define anther's view or need of that as negative. Many people are very turned on and seek the very thing you do not appreciate in the book.

How "IT" is done well is defined by the people in that relationship. Often it is said a submissive can negotiate and a slave does not. That also is defined in each relationship.

The advent of the internet and and chat have turned a life choice into a fetish ball so to speak with a lot of people seeking kink in the bedroom or on Saturday night, on the internet or someones else's ideal of what submission "really" is.

In years past there were private groups and still are some have been around for years. Not a place someone can just drop into. people live this life choice daily and thrive in their choices. "No" is a very respected and real part of this life choice, that is where consensual comes in.

I stand by my previous post on here that it is a good book for someone questioning this life to examine the defined roles. Better yet take the time to pick up a copy Of Screw The Roses Send Me the Thorns for an explanation of the life and safety and definitions.

Anne Rice is an excellent writer and I appreciate her works but never got into the vampire books.

Try the Marketplace series also for another look. Just stay out of the so called sites on line that are written by people who have six month of online experience and have become experts on the life choice.. for any reality.

[Marlene]

I read the Beauty trilogy several years back. I bought and have kept the set. I think they are brilliantly done!

[[deleted user]]

yes kasey i think i agree with you now that i think about it is a life choice D/s what happenen s in these book is abuse thankx for reminding me that i had fogotten what 2 people choose is very drrerent than what happens in this book

[[deleted user]]

i accually know what subs are and ungerstand a great deal about and read about bondage and choices . I miswrote when i caleed any thing other than abuse of these so i apologize and relax i got your point fixed it. so let move on humitlstion degredation is not a part of D/s bondage or 2 people con. action in those aares abuse is rape and slavery taken from yor home and used as a slave for the purpose of other with out your choice inthe first 2 books i stand by what i say now and thanks for reminding me i miswrote

[[deleted user]]

i still think the first two are ranchy and the third much better and fantacy driven. my fatantacy ia not to hang upside down from the front of a bar naked after scrubbing the floor with a tooth broush also naked oh yeah i am a princess slave bought at a slave auction ripped from my home.

[Liza]

I haven't read them in years! But they were GOOD. I've read her softcore stuff Belinda / Exit to Edenafter reading these. They were boring in comparison, just when it would get good..new scene. lol

[[deleted user]]

good erotic litrature is all over the place not ann rice version bieve me. just go to smashword..com and therre are tons off it

[Kira]

This book is kind of the original 50 Shades of Grey, non?

[[deleted user]]

it is stil crap and i gve it 2 stars out of respect fot the authors good worh i am sure this will get a few peoples backs up but our own DARREN GETS BETTER ST WRITTRN EROTIC LIT THIAN THIS JUST FOR SHOCH VAULE PUT THAT IN YYOUR PIPES THSTS HOW I FEEL ABOUT HOW POORly THIS WAS EROTIC LIT

[Jenna]

I love Anne rice, I love her Vampire Chronicles and i loved these its been years since ive read them but i liked them

[Paris (kerbytejas)]

I was quit bored by the first book of the trilogy and could not finish reading it

[Licha]

I do think it is literature. I didn't much care for it though. Would much rather watch a porn movie.

[Trent]

Liza wrote: "I haven't read them in years! But they were GOOD. I've read her softcore stuff Belinda / Exit to Edenafter reading these. They were boring in comparison, just when it would get good..new scene. lol"

Liza, I totally agree. I loved the first two books in the series, but the third lost me...until the very last scene.

As you note, Exit to Eden had a lot of potential that was squandered by fade to black scene endings. The movie was a HORROR SHOW. ::: shudder :::

I suspect Anne's heart wasn't really in Exit or Belinda; her heart was definitely (along with other body parts) in the Beauty series though :)

[Cindyg]

I have the Beauty books in both hard cover and paperback and I don't intend to get rid of them anytime soon.
I personally enjoyed all three books.
Sure opened my eyes, that's for sure.

[Bernadette]

Kira wrote: "This book is kind of the original 50 Shades of Grey, non?"

Not in my opinion.

[Bernadette]

I've recently read all three books thanks to Netgalley and found them quite repetitive on the whole. I preferred the third book in the series if I'm honest.

[McKaylin]

At first reading the first book in the Sleeping Beauty series, I kept asking myself, "Why am I continueing reading this?" The first book was the hardest one for me, though by the second book I was hooked. I still have the third to read yet, but I am quite excited to start. It definitely opened my eyes--I guess that's the best way I can describe them. They don't follow any other books out there--at least from what I've read.

[Beth]

I found the first book so offensive. After I read it, I thought it was just a book written by someone who wanted to write a book about sex, degradation. I saw no story, did not like any of the characters, Beauty herself was a stupid girl, the entire book so turned me off that I have no desire to get the second one. Trash, it was all trash.

[Jackie]

My issue with these books (I have only read the first 2)is that it was rape, not consensual. If you enter into this type of relationship by choice then by all means go at it. I could not get into the books at all and I could not relate to the characters. These people were passed around unwillingly, humiliated, and degraded. If this was all consensual and the characters were people I could relate to, it would have been a much better read. I do think Anne Rice is a great author but these books lacked something for me. I felt like I was watching a train wreck...I couldn't stop reading. I thought for sure it would get better, I was so disappointed!

[Paris (kerbytejas)]

Beth wrote: "I found the first book so offensive. After I read it, I thought it was just a book written by someone who wanted to write a book about sex, degradation. I saw no story, did not like any of the char..."

i agree it was a did not finish for me - i was hard pressed to find it erotic - it was borning