Vaginal Fantasy Book Club discussion
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He, She and It
Aug 2014: He, She and It
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What are your thoughts on the Shira/Yod/Malkah sexual relationship?
Will any of the ladies be drinking Manischewitz Concord Grape wine in honor of the Jewish themes in the main pick this month?? L'Chaim!!
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Do you think Shira should have built a new Yod? Do you think Yod could have ever really be recreated or would the new cyborg be a different person entirely? Were both creators wrong in creating a weapon with feelings and thoughts? Was it more wrong to then undo them with no regard to the feelings of their creations?
This month, our book club was able to delve into the Jewish culture. In the past we have explored characters of mixed race/heritage and characters who have been homosexual/lesbian or bisexual. What other cultures or facets of the human condition that are not often written about? A character that is physically handicapped (blind, deaf, wheelchair-bound), suffers from autism or bipolar disorder. We have yet to read a book that takes place in Japan or India, etc. Or perhaps a character who is transsexual.
If you are interested in a book which takes place in Japan, I can recommend two books. Both of them have honored places in my personal library, and are fine reads, but for different reasons.1) Wild Sheep Chase, by Haruki Murakami. ~ This book is both a travelogue and a mystery. It is told in the first person by a narrator who never identifies himself. He is hired by mobsters to track down a certain sheep in Japan. The story is strange, but at the same time contains a wit and charm that is compelling.
2) Confessions of a Yakuza, by Junichi Saga. ~ This is the biography of a Japanese Mobster, told to his doctor in a series of visits as the man is dying. The story offers a frank, honest portrait of a man who lived on the far side of the law, but at the same time maintained a rigid code of personal and professional honor. The book also has some beautiful illustrations to complement the tale. This book was originally published in Japan as 'The Gambler's Tale'.
That reminds me of 4 books, all Asian inspired, but maybe not much sexy times.. Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was (comedy and male MC)
The Fox Woman
The Initiate Brother
And one of my favorites Daughter of the Empire
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@ Michele: I remembered The Fox Woman having plenty of sex, though it's been a decade or so since I read it last.
Michele wrote: "That reminds me of 4 books, all Asian inspired, but maybe not much sexy times.. Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was (comedy and male MC)
[book:The Fox Woman|..."
Ooooooo Daughter of the Empire is soooo good!
If you could build your own cyborg who would it look like and what attributes would you give it?Example: My cyborg would look like Michael Fassbender, and he would be programmed to quote all of Firefly,open my wine bottles, and give a great manicure.
Mariko Oshiro is not your average Tokyo cop. As the only female detective in the city’s most elite police unit, she has to fight for every ounce of respect, especially from her new boss. While she wants to track down a rumored cocaine shipment, he gives her the least promising case possible. But the case—the attempted theft of an old samurai sword—proves more dangerous than anyone on the force could have imagined.
I enjoyed this one, very interesting... :)
Lindsay wrote: "We have yet to read a book that takes place in Japan or India, etc. Or perhaps a character who is transsexual."I haven't read it yet but on my soon to-read list is Biting the Sun by Tanith Lee which is about a society where people change genders and bodies.
As for Japanese romance book recs:
The Goddess Chronicle by Natsuo Kirino is on my to read list. I really liked her feminist mystery noir books which she is famous for in Japan and overseas but this book seems to be different because it's more mythological romance.
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. This book is more about accepting loss than traditional romance but it does explore confusing romantic relationships and friendships in a Japanese college.
Chinese historical romance book recs:
On my to-read list Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin and The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin.
Asian inspired fantasy books:
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman. It's YA fantasy adventure but the sequel delves a bit into attraction and romance. Although the main focus of the story is the heroine's transformation, the dynamics of power and the supernatural mystery. There is also a transgender concubine/warrior and a disabled character who are part of the main cast of characters.
Random rec: Otherbound is not an Asian inspired world but it does have disabled and queer characters as the main protagonists and takes place in both the real world and a desert fantasy world.
Glaiza wrote: "Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. This book is more about accepting loss than traditional romance but it does explore confusing romantic relationships and friendships in a Japanese college...."I love Norwegian Wood. It is a beautiful and shattering novel.
I am familiar with this and many books that take place in Asia or focus on their cultures. My question was more rhetorical so the book club could explore these and other not as common characters and settings.
Felicia wrote: "It's hard to find books that have diversity in this category, I'm definitely open to any suggestions! Asian/Japan seems like we could def find some candidates for sure!"I know it is! I have always enjoyed novels as a way to slip into someone else's mind. I would be curious to find a novel with a protagonist who lives in a world unable to see or hear and how they and us as readers would explore world with a type of sensory depravation.
Please consider availability of the selected books - I could not find a single copy of He, She, It that wasn't "unavailable in your country" - I live in Australia, and it seems the book is only available in the US.
Do you think you could fall in love with a purely machine cyborg, or do you think you would always find it to be machine in the back of your mind, offsetting your ability to really bond with the cyborg?
Stephanie wrote: "I could not find a single copy of He, She, It that wasn't "unavailable in your country" - I live in Australia, and it seems the book is only ava..."This might be a little late for you now, but outside of the US, it was published under the title Body of Glass.
Gadi's predilection for young girls was looked on as an embarrassment by most people, not wrong or perverted. Even Shira didn't seem have a problem with it, she even ended up having sex with him again.Did this acceptance of his behavior bother you in any way?
Vaginal Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Norwegian Wood (other topics)Bridge of Birds (other topics)
The Fox Woman (other topics)
The Initiate Brother (other topics)
Biting the Sun (other topics)
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