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Quiver
A collection of nine short stories that examine forms of love and commitment and the issues of adultery, obsession and what they mean for the urban dwellers of the 1990s.
294 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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584 people want to read
About the author
Tobsha Learner
51 books87 followersAka T.S. Learner
Tobsha Learner was born and raised in England; she now divides her time between Australia, the UK and the USA. She is well known in Australia as an author and playwright.
Tobsha Learner was born and raised in England; she now divides her time between Australia, the UK and the USA. She is well known in Australia as an author and playwright.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 26, 2014
I couldn't handle completely finishing this book--I was skimming way too much.
This book should have been subtitled "Artsy people who are insane and also like a lot of sex."
The characters are weird, vacant assemblies of extreme idiosyncracies. The writing is irritating. Frequent faulty logistics that I think an editor should have caught annoyed me to no end (Spread her legs and then pulled off her jeans? What kind of elephant-pant jeans was this person wearing?).
Basically I won't be picking up another Learner work as her novel effort that I read was equally disappointing to me.
This book should have been subtitled "Artsy people who are insane and also like a lot of sex."
The characters are weird, vacant assemblies of extreme idiosyncracies. The writing is irritating. Frequent faulty logistics that I think an editor should have caught annoyed me to no end (Spread her legs and then pulled off her jeans? What kind of elephant-pant jeans was this person wearing?).
Basically I won't be picking up another Learner work as her novel effort that I read was equally disappointing to me.
September 5, 2016
First published in 1998, Tobsha Learner’s Quiver has gone on in the nearly twenty years since to assume the cachet of a modern erotic classic. This collection of a dozen exquisitely crafted short stories almost perfectly embodies my sense that before one can tell an exceptional story about sex, one must tell an extraordinary story about people. It’s the characters who truly make these stories memorable, from the frustrated artist in Man of Sighs and the disaffected porn star in Peel, to the very-publicly cuckolded symphony conductor with insomnia in Doubt—to mention only a handful. The writing is luminous, multi-textured, and occasionally disturbing, but almost always inspired and undoubtedly inspiring.
July 23, 2012
As far as erotica goes the book gives what it promises. I liked the format of the short stories, especially the last one where some of the characters from the other stories come together in a new story.
September 21, 2013
Often, the biggest downfall of erotica stories is that they use sex as a way to shock the reader. It's like the gratuitous sex scene in a movie. The reason I started reviewing erotica is because so many bloggers wouldn't, and I wanted to give the genre a chance. Then I read several not-so-good erotica books, and I was ready to throw up a white flag.
But I was pleasantly surprised by this collection of short stories. The focus is on the characters, not the sex. And the author really mixes it up with the types of characters she features. Two of my favorites: a long metaphor comparing sex and music (The Man Who Loved Sounds) and a ghost story (Pomegranate).
Yes, I still blushed occasionally, but I found myself intrigued with the characters. In one particular story, Tulip, I wanted to know what happened to Deidre--a woman who dares to consider love again and children.
If you are looking to dip your toe into erotica fiction, this short story collection would be a good starting point. It is well-written, character-focused, and still offers some hot scenes.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.
But I was pleasantly surprised by this collection of short stories. The focus is on the characters, not the sex. And the author really mixes it up with the types of characters she features. Two of my favorites: a long metaphor comparing sex and music (The Man Who Loved Sounds) and a ghost story (Pomegranate).
Yes, I still blushed occasionally, but I found myself intrigued with the characters. In one particular story, Tulip, I wanted to know what happened to Deidre--a woman who dares to consider love again and children.
If you are looking to dip your toe into erotica fiction, this short story collection would be a good starting point. It is well-written, character-focused, and still offers some hot scenes.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.
October 27, 2008
Erotic short stories that are intertwined with each other. Either by person or a fleeting reference.
June 14, 2017
Great collection of stories that all link up. There was only two that I wasn't that bothered about. I would definitely read more from this author. I downloaded Yearn.
April 6, 2019
it just wasn't very good... there must be better erotica out there. also there was a lot of issues around consent and the white/male gaze...
August 7, 2013
How do you even review something like this?
Do you base it on Literary Merit (1 star) or Erotic Potential (3 to 4 stars)?
I was hoping this would be a smarter take than the erotica being mass produced of late.
And it is, but Learner's erotic tales (there are twelve) are also weirdly clinical. In an effort to intellectualize sex, some of the sex isn't very...well, sexy. It's all, he put his penis here, and she moaned, and they did that. The tales are most definitely not cookie-cutter, and I dare say the subject matter won't be everybody's cuppa. We have a woman tied to a dentist's chair, a M/F/F/F scene involving popsicles, sex as revenge, etc.
Bottom line: There's some weird shit in here.
In a way, it's refreshing that this book doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It's not masquerading as literature or even romance. It's just smutty short stories. And that's ok.
P.S. Thanks to Netgalley for sending me a free galley of this book and broadening my reading horizons!
June 25, 2013
This contains twelve erotic quickies by the same author. I found some to be quite good and some to be a bit much. A couple of things bugged me, however, and are listed in my full review.
Full review with spoilers and for adults only can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
This book was provided by Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Full review with spoilers and for adults only can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
This book was provided by Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 21, 2013
Here's the thing- human sexuality is complicated. People have different preferences and proclivities, which is why a lot of books of erotic fiction are genre specific. Quiver is not.
That said, I thought the stories had good character development and were definitely well-written, explicit, and sexy. Just know that every story might not be to your particular taste.
That said, I thought the stories had good character development and were definitely well-written, explicit, and sexy. Just know that every story might not be to your particular taste.
November 4, 2013
I enjoyed the stories mostly because they were better than a lot of erotica. However, the author has problems with changing tense in the middle of some of the stories-- sometimes several times . It threw me out of the story even when I was in a sex scene. This is something the editor should have caught even if the author didn't.
May 13, 2013
This was a real pleasure to read. I found all the stories very exciting and I am reading it for my second time. The Author gives great detail and really keeps your interest. One of the hottest, erotic books I have read to date. All ready bragging about this one to my friends.
July 28, 2013
Beste Flugzeuglektüre! ;)
February 10, 2014
A few of the stories were fantastic; most were at least good.
May 3, 2015
A brave book.
Eroticism for everyday folk.
Enjoyable but I definitely had to read it in sessions.
All at once was a bit Fifty Shades for me.
Eroticism for everyday folk.
Enjoyable but I definitely had to read it in sessions.
All at once was a bit Fifty Shades for me.
August 11, 2016
A number of interesting interconnected stories, the one I liked was "Ice Cream".
October 11, 2012
Review in progress
December 15, 2025
Not my usual genre, and I don't plan to read more by the author. I basically had a complaint about every story - for example, dumb or sudden ending, far-fetched or silly, long boring intro, etc. One story even involved a woman making her boyfriend deaf as an act of revenge - yuck!
The most notable parts were the beginning and the end. The preface is a short blurb about the Khoisan men of South Africa, who have a quiver of tiny blunt arrows (I looked it up. The man shoots at a woman's butt if he wants to court her, and she can either say yes by picking it up off the ground or say no to leave it). The final story uses the interesting twist of putting all the various characters in the book in a stuck elevator.
The most notable parts were the beginning and the end. The preface is a short blurb about the Khoisan men of South Africa, who have a quiver of tiny blunt arrows (I looked it up. The man shoots at a woman's butt if he wants to court her, and she can either say yes by picking it up off the ground or say no to leave it). The final story uses the interesting twist of putting all the various characters in the book in a stuck elevator.
May 15, 2018
Helen M
3.5 A book of erotic short stories with inter related characters. Quite fun at times but at others not so.
3.5 A book of erotic short stories with inter related characters. Quite fun at times but at others not so.
May 19, 2019
This is genuinely one of the most shitty eroticas I have ever read in my entire life, and I fucking LIVE for it!!!!! Shannon was right!!
May 5, 2020
Interesting read. Three stars for content, a fourth star because I like the format of the individual short stories all intertwined. Made it easy to pick and read for a bit and come back to.
February 1, 2015
Sorry to 'one star' what is actually a well written set of short stories that many people would like, if they enjoy the genera. Nonetheless I did not like it.
I am always a little uncomfortable reviewing books of short stories, because you can enjoy one or two, but not others, making it hard to review the whole book. Also, short stories are so, well, short! How to review something that takes a mere half hour to read, it is so mood dependent whether you enjoy it or not.
Tobsha Learner has a pleasant literary style, the stories are descriptive and visual with a dreamy quality to them as the characters drift through the stories lightly. I have read other short stories by the author, I think (perhaps in a compilation) and they were enjoyable enough that I bought this book.
The real failing of it for me, was that the back cover describes it as "...twelve interlinked short stories..." and so I was expecting common story arcs or some sore of interlinked-ness. So I kept reading and getting more and more annoyed when I didn't find it. Sure, a main character in one story observes the couple from a previous one, a person on a park bench in one story was the main character in a previous one... Not a story arc though.
Also there was a sameness to the characters and stories than meant I kept loosing interest in what I was reading, so it took me a very long time to finish it and by the end I wasn't finding it even a little bit erotic, just annoying.
I am always a little uncomfortable reviewing books of short stories, because you can enjoy one or two, but not others, making it hard to review the whole book. Also, short stories are so, well, short! How to review something that takes a mere half hour to read, it is so mood dependent whether you enjoy it or not.
Tobsha Learner has a pleasant literary style, the stories are descriptive and visual with a dreamy quality to them as the characters drift through the stories lightly. I have read other short stories by the author, I think (perhaps in a compilation) and they were enjoyable enough that I bought this book.
The real failing of it for me, was that the back cover describes it as "...twelve interlinked short stories..." and so I was expecting common story arcs or some sore of interlinked-ness. So I kept reading and getting more and more annoyed when I didn't find it. Sure, a main character in one story observes the couple from a previous one, a person on a park bench in one story was the main character in a previous one... Not a story arc though.
Also there was a sameness to the characters and stories than meant I kept loosing interest in what I was reading, so it took me a very long time to finish it and by the end I wasn't finding it even a little bit erotic, just annoying.
May 23, 2013
Honestly I really didn't care for 'Quiver'. It took me several weeks to finish it because I had to keep pushing myself to finish it. I had won this book through a giveaway here on goodreads and if I hadn't felt obligated to finish and then review it I may not have finished it at all. I was excited to read it but as I made my way through the first few stories I found myself disappointed. A lot of the stories didn't really capture my interest and I found one extremely boring. And of course like mostly books of an erotic nature I found some of the elicit scenes cheesy.
However, I did really enjoy one or two of the stories almost enough to give the book another star but since I hadn't really liked the book as a whole I couldn't bring myself to do it over one story. The book did have one good factor. Learner did have many original ideas and many different themes were used throughout the book. And while all the short stories are connected and do come together at the end they can also stand independently. Maybe the book would be better enjoyed if the stories were read apart then as a whole cover to cover as I read it
However, I did really enjoy one or two of the stories almost enough to give the book another star but since I hadn't really liked the book as a whole I couldn't bring myself to do it over one story. The book did have one good factor. Learner did have many original ideas and many different themes were used throughout the book. And while all the short stories are connected and do come together at the end they can also stand independently. Maybe the book would be better enjoyed if the stories were read apart then as a whole cover to cover as I read it
April 28, 2013
ARC from NetGalley for honest review
1 Out of 5 STARS with a DNF label
Lawdy where do I begin. Right from the start I felt like I was reading a report of the two characters. Very cut and dry. No emotion. Even the sex scenes where very....
Step 1 put hand here
Step 2 now put it there
Step 3 orgasm
Step 4 the next day
I know this is a collection of short stories and not a book so there would be very limited character development. Having said that some time spent to humanize these people would have been great. I was all just so robotic. Also I have never been a fan of the "probed" terminology when talking about sex. At one point in a story the female says she felt the clit of the girl behind her touch her back when it became erect.......Uh are you sure it was a girl? Cause dang.
Had high hopes but sadly it didn't do it for me.... **Giggle Snort** No pun intended.
1 Out of 5 STARS with a DNF label
Lawdy where do I begin. Right from the start I felt like I was reading a report of the two characters. Very cut and dry. No emotion. Even the sex scenes where very....
Step 1 put hand here
Step 2 now put it there
Step 3 orgasm
Step 4 the next day
I know this is a collection of short stories and not a book so there would be very limited character development. Having said that some time spent to humanize these people would have been great. I was all just so robotic. Also I have never been a fan of the "probed" terminology when talking about sex. At one point in a story the female says she felt the clit of the girl behind her touch her back when it became erect.......Uh are you sure it was a girl? Cause dang.
Had high hopes but sadly it didn't do it for me.... **Giggle Snort** No pun intended.
December 30, 2013
Another collection of erotic short stories by this author was highlighted with a positive review in, I believe, Publisher's Weekly, and in turn, my interest in the author's work was piqued.
Quiver had some interesting stories, and I really liked that all of them were connected in some way. Several of the stories were written very well, while others left a lot to be desired on more than one level.
The language in these stories is not for the faint of heart, and well, usually the descriptions of sex utilized a variety of crude anatomical terms and acts that are not exactly main-stream (in my mind, at least) but will appeal to some audiences without issue.
Overall, Quiver had some good spots, but a lot of it wasn't my cup of tea.
Quiver had some interesting stories, and I really liked that all of them were connected in some way. Several of the stories were written very well, while others left a lot to be desired on more than one level.
The language in these stories is not for the faint of heart, and well, usually the descriptions of sex utilized a variety of crude anatomical terms and acts that are not exactly main-stream (in my mind, at least) but will appeal to some audiences without issue.
Overall, Quiver had some good spots, but a lot of it wasn't my cup of tea.
June 11, 2014
Ok I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I am mre of a Sharon Page , Noelle Mack , Joey W. Hill kind of girl. I like them a little more in your face, makes your own blood run hot kind of stories. When I saw the cover of Quiver ( I have the one with 2 beautiful naked women on it . 1 in water , 1 half out.)it was VERY appealing!! So of course i am giving this book a try. Well like I said I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. It was very matter of fact. Some of the stories had good story lines and could have been developed into whole books nicely , while others felt like i was reading a sex textbook. This was my first book from Tobsha Learner. Even though it wasn't my favorite book in the world, it was definitely good enough to give another one a try.
February 28, 2016
I liked the premise of the book, and liked how a few of the stories came together in the last one. If more of the stories were as heated as the ending of the last story, it would have been a much better book.
My friends told me that this was a good "naughty" book, but some of the stories were just sexual in nature. The first stories in the book were very graphic and exciting, and then it got really boring through the latter half of the novel. No one cares about a sad porn star's life at home. It's not riveting.
The earlier stories were interesting and charged, even the one story that contained a ghostly presence. I'm not really sure if I would pursue the other novel suggested, Tremble. It might just bore me.
My friends told me that this was a good "naughty" book, but some of the stories were just sexual in nature. The first stories in the book were very graphic and exciting, and then it got really boring through the latter half of the novel. No one cares about a sad porn star's life at home. It's not riveting.
The earlier stories were interesting and charged, even the one story that contained a ghostly presence. I'm not really sure if I would pursue the other novel suggested, Tremble. It might just bore me.
May 26, 2013
The writing in this was so distant and clinical. Everything, to me, read like the scene-setting notes in a play, just describing attributes and action without any emotional involvement or narrative richness and with virtually no dialogue to give characters depth beyond what the point-of-view character observed. I'm sure this kind of thing works for others, but it was not my cup of tea at all.
July 29, 2013
***ARC provided by Netgalley for a fair & unbiased review***
Although I have recently become enamored with the writing of Tobsha Learner, this latest compilation of erotic naughtiness, wasn't captivating for me. Don't get me wrong, there's lots of erotic elements, but very little passion. The sex seemed cold and matter of fact, but overall, this book was decent.
Giving this one: 2.75 stars.
Although I have recently become enamored with the writing of Tobsha Learner, this latest compilation of erotic naughtiness, wasn't captivating for me. Don't get me wrong, there's lots of erotic elements, but very little passion. The sex seemed cold and matter of fact, but overall, this book was decent.
Giving this one: 2.75 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews