Review: berry gud...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 22, 2013
Right. So here we go.Let me begin by saying I DO NOT read erotica - it's not one of the genres I'm into, however, there was something about the synopsis and title of this book which pulled me in, and somehow I ended up reading it.I thought it was brilliant (cannot believe I said that). I am not converted - I will not be reading anymore erotica from now on, but the thing about this book is that it was so much more than the sex and the orgies and whatnot. This was an intelligent discourse on gender roles, gender politics, relationships, sexual psychology... and it was all done with this very sophisticated, perfectly pitched veneer of pure comedy - totes amazeballs!The characterisation was very strong - I thought Blaire was a wonderful character - I'd like to meet her. Me and her would have nothing at all in common. I don't approve of her choices or life-style, but I still think she's great. How about that.The other good thing was that Blaire is really convincing as a woman - the author has a scarily accurate insight into the female psyche here.I did not mind the text speak at all - I feel as the book was written from Blaire's point of view it ought to be in her voice - and it is her voice - it's what made the characterisation so effective, and what endeared her to me was her way with words.I will be using *sad trombone* in my text messages and emails from now on. I literally creased up at the Lord of the Rings movie Gandolf reference while sitting on the London Underground on the way to work. Much of the narrative had me laughing out loud (literally 'lol-ling') because it was so witty, so quick and just plain funny. All this brought levity to subject matter that was very serious at its core.I didn't agree with all of the arguments being put forward about promiscuity, sexual deviancy (if you wanna call it that) and gender politics, but because they were presented with convincing well thought out ideas to back them all up, at the very least I could respect them.The criticisms I would make are as follows:1) I thought the whole lesbian love thing between Blaire and Rae was actually a bit of a cop-out, and not convincing as the 'thing Blaire loves the most' that spurs her on to become a super hooker spy.2) The relationship/love between Blaire and Rae became even less convincing when this epic love-triangle crops up between Blaire, Sabrina and Drummond - like what? So they're in this three-way marriage now, where they just love on each other all the time, when there's been absolutely no relationship development between the three of them throughout the story? Blaire and Sabrina spent most of the story hating each other from a distance and therefore not actually properly getting to know each other - and the thing with Drummond never really took off and he seemed to spend a lot of time avoiding Blaire - so where did the love-fest come from, and was Rae forgotten about in that mix?3) The epilogue - I don't think it was necessary and I don't think it added to the book as a whole, though I appreciate it opens things up for a sequel.4) Now, this is not really a criticism as such, because what I'm about to comment on actually makes this the genre that it is. The sex. It was plentiful and crude and lewd and in yer face ... and all that. That's to be expected - it's erotica after all - but someone of my background and sensibility.. no, all of that stuff just wasn't for me and I did find those scenes uncomfortable to read for that reason - but I appreciate those scenes were there because this is the type of book that it is.So... seeing as I've already stated I don't read books like this and I don't intend to become a 'fan' of erotica in that sense, the question remains - will I be reading the sequel if and when it comes out? Well, for this, I'd make an exception. But only for this.Great read. Check it out.