Since I've admitted in Readers Respond that I am admittedly apparently dense about this particular discussion, I asked Jo additional questions. I agree wholeheartedly that it is the execution of a story or scene that matters. Being outrageous is ridiculously easy. In fact, at the lowest level it's a real cheap shot. Execution, as Judy Cuevas said, is everything.
Readers are surely free to share their opinions on the books they buy.
They certainly aren't obliged to be reverent just because a writer has been courageous. My main point is in reference to Pat Gaffney's post. I don't see that breaking the boundaries is good in itself. It's only good if it works - which is what Judy Cuevas was talking about, as I see it. I'm curious as to how much most readers want the boundaries broken.