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[Topping from Below: A Novel] [By: Reese, Laura] [July, 2012]
An explosive, erotic novel about two sisters, each of whom embarks upon a voyage into the heart of evil and a game with a seductive man who knows no rules or limits. Only one returns.
Successful, attractive, and in control, Nora seemed so different from her shy, terribly vulnerable younger sister. Grieving for Franny, Nora reads her diary and is stunned when it reveals a secret sadomasochistic affair with a mysterious professor known only as M. Nora vows to seek justice for the sister she never really knew and undertakes a daring scheme to seduce this lethal and manipulative man in the hope of uncovering information about the murder. Instead, she finds herself in thrall to his bizarre sexual magnetism, trapped in a passion so dark and perverse, and yet so compelling, that she is willing to risk her life. And she is in danger, although it may be from someone much closer to her than M., someone so close she might not see it until it is too late.
With an ending as startling as it is haunting, Topping From Below is unlike any novel you’re ever read. Ever.
Successful, attractive, and in control, Nora seemed so different from her shy, terribly vulnerable younger sister. Grieving for Franny, Nora reads her diary and is stunned when it reveals a secret sadomasochistic affair with a mysterious professor known only as M. Nora vows to seek justice for the sister she never really knew and undertakes a daring scheme to seduce this lethal and manipulative man in the hope of uncovering information about the murder. Instead, she finds herself in thrall to his bizarre sexual magnetism, trapped in a passion so dark and perverse, and yet so compelling, that she is willing to risk her life. And she is in danger, although it may be from someone much closer to her than M., someone so close she might not see it until it is too late.
With an ending as startling as it is haunting, Topping From Below is unlike any novel you’re ever read. Ever.
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First published June 1, 1995
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About the author
Laura Reese
8 books101 followersLaura Reese is the author of the critically acclaimed Topping from Below and Panic Snap. She lives in Davis, California.
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May 29, 2012
What's a nice reviewer like me doing in a book like this?
Well, I have been disturbed recently by the gradual infusion of BDSM into popular culture, culminating in the chart-rogering 50 Shades of Grey, and the song by Rihanna called S&M ("pain is my pleasure… chains and whips excite me") which was No 1 in various countries, enjoyed by millions of teenyboppers. Reviews of 50 Shades and co-incidentally or not Story of O have been popping up all over Goodreads lately. BDSM has gone mainstream.
It's all very well, and I would be the last to rain goldenly on anyone's parade (I mean, this stuff was being lampooned amusingly by Tom Lehrer back in the 60s :
You can raise welts like nobody elts
As we dance to the Masochism tango)
but it's beginning to bug me now. Because – surprise!! - 99% of the Ms in the S&M relationships are women.* Yes, these are all stories of men beating and humiliating women and women wanting men to beat and humiliate them. How delicious! So the message, whether intentional or not, is : some women like pain. And further : when some women say no, really they mean yes. Aka she was asking for it.
This was the kind of unreconstructed misogyny bandied around in the 1950s, before feminism. Now it's rebranded itself as transgressive and daring and it's big.
I looked at some reviews of 50 Shades of Gray and was immediately put off reading that one. One review said something like this book is crap, the really good no-holds-barred BDSM novel which is actually really well written is Topping from Below. And I thought well, I can't get on my soapbox again without reading an example of this stuff, so here I am.
Ugh.
Blech.
Sick bag!
No, a bigger one please. Thank you.
Please note – what follows is full of spoilerish comments and allusions to some very unwholesome practices.
If you take the S&M stuff out of this novel you have an adequately written stupid thriller. A strong independent woman suspects that her sister's boyfriend murdered her, as do the police. But they can't get any evidence. So she befriends him (like you would). He immediately tells her – ah, you think I killed your sister and you're going to try to find evidence! She says – yes, I do, you bastard, you killed my sister. So they start sleeping together, like you would. Well, you would if you were in an erotic thriller, because it's compulsory.
You can see that the plot is the usual silliness. But the sex is serious. The villain is referred to as M thoughout the novel. M likes to beat women, tie them up and that kind of thing. He describes what he does as consensual.
Question : What is consent ? Use example of mummification in your answer.
Example 1 – The boyfriend proposes mummification. The girlfriend smashes him over the head with a dinner plate, and the dinner is still on it. The bouillabaise goes everywhere. The stain on the wall will puzzle future residents. The girlfriend storms out and never sees the guy again. That is not consent.
Example 2 – The boyfriend proposes mummification. The girlfriend asks what it is, it sounds intriguing. Boyfriend explains that he wishes to wrap her body head to toe in clingfilm: " You'll be completely immobilised. You won't be able to see or hear. The only thing you'll have is air holes. Total sensory deprivation. It might last for hours, time will mean nothing to you, and I won't unwrap you until it sounds like you're beginning to breathe funny." Girlfriend says, ooh yes, let's do that now! That's consent.
Example 3 – The boyfriend is rich & handsome, the girlfriend is on the plump side and generally not that personable. She knows she'll never get anyone remotely like this again, it's a one time thing. She's in love, really. So he suggests mummification. She hates the idea, she's afraid of it, she thinks he's a freak, but she's not going to smash him over the head with the dinner plate. She murmers dubiously, suggests counter-proposals ("just bandage my feet"), he brushes them all aside. He says look, you do this or you're out that door. She never says yes. He pushes her into a room and mummifies her. She's absolutely terrified. Is this consent?
"Hey, M - You know, she really didn't consent, did she? "
"Well, she could have walked out the door. I wouldn't have stopped her. "
(Cops say: Some guys think that if the woman gives him a blow job while he's pointing a gun at her, that's consent. The guy will say – "she consented! She coulda not consented." Yeah? But you would have shot her. "Yeah well – she consented." - quote from a book called "What Cops Know")
Consent is the thing this novel plays around with the most – Nora never consents to being tied up and whipped but M does so anyway and she fights and screams and all of that and - oh really well I never - after he's done beating her she finds that she –in some mystical way – really enjoyed it – as he knew she would. So she consents in retrospect.
(p167)
I'm not sure how the pain figures into all this, but on some sexual level I enjoy being dominated, being controlled by another person. I can't explain it. As a feminist, it goes against everything I believe.
Nora continues to consent to all this by continuing to turn up at M's house. So all the S&M scenes give the strong idea of NON-consent, but the consent is always given in retrospect. And the apparent illusion of non-consent is what makes the thrill so great for both parties.
Aargh, my head is hurting.
Just to make us all feel better, Laura Reese throws in two psychological explanations for these sisters' acquiescence to all the whippings and torture – the younger one always felt responsible for the death of her younger brother , and the older one feels guilty about her former indifference to the younger one. So you know on some level this is why they want a man to beat them! But then she also throws in stuff like this speech by M :
You're going to enjoy this, Nora. Immensely. Once your freedom of choice is removed, once you give yourself over to me, you'll experience a new kind of liberation : complete abandon, no responsibility, no choice but to accept the pleasure and the pain I give you.
Okay, now here are a couple of quotes from the blurbs on the back:
Fiendishly horny, unexpectedly affecting – Mary Gaitskell
Sex is kinky and love is twisted. A daring erotic thriller – San francisco Chronicle
The plot is sparked by a dangerous current of eroticism –
Harpers Bazaar
A compelling plot intertwined with steamy scenes. When's the last time you read raunchy sex and a good mystery in the same book? – Playboy
Devilishly pornographic – Publisher's weekly
See how they're sort of all going oo-la-la this is so naughty but nice? Aren't we wicked? Well, now I must mention that on p180 M pulls out a video and asks Nora to watch it – "there are only two actors in this film, a man in his forties and a young girl . She appears to be nine or ten." That's right, Mr Naughty but Consensual Bondage likes kiddieporn. It slightly bothers Nora but she sleeps with him anyway. Then later, this fiendishly horny novel gives us a detailed scene between our heroine Nora and M's Great Dane. That's right, it's a dog, not a euphemism. I found that scene unexpectedly affecting, as Ms Gaitskell says. I should hastily mention that the Nora/Great Dane encounter is presented as entirely consensual and "the taboo nature of the act aroused me immensely". So, you know, no harm done!
(So according to Mary Gaitskell kiddieporn and sex with animals is fiendishly horny. I'm so glad I've only ever given Mary Gaitskell bad reviews.)
One last point - it's hard to know what Laura Reese thinks about people. Does she really think a woman would get into a sexual relationship with a guy who she thinks tortured her sister to death
in order that she might be able to find out something incriminating? Honestly, this is that kind of unbelievable rubbish people only do in thrillers, which is why I mostly dislike thrillers. Or am i wrong? Do you know anyone who has deliberately slept with someone they thought murdered a close relative? Maybe it happens a lot and I just live a sheltered life. Please let me know! Add a message in the space provided! It just seems to me that thrillers attempt to portray a realistic believable world (no magical realism, no talking animals) with lots of convincing local details (this takes place very specifically in Davis, California, and, you know, I think the city should sue!) but then populates it with crazy unbelievable characters. Maybe the thrillers wouldn't be thrilling if people behaved normally in them.
I can't think of a way to end this review so I'll just say - don't read this book. I hope I spoiled it for you.
* e.g. in these movies
Belle de Jour
Last tango in Paris
9 ½ weeks
Damage
The Night Porter
In the Realm of the Senses
The Piano Teacher
Blue Velvet
Secretary
A Serbian Film
The Killer Inside Me
Well, I have been disturbed recently by the gradual infusion of BDSM into popular culture, culminating in the chart-rogering 50 Shades of Grey, and the song by Rihanna called S&M ("pain is my pleasure… chains and whips excite me") which was No 1 in various countries, enjoyed by millions of teenyboppers. Reviews of 50 Shades and co-incidentally or not Story of O have been popping up all over Goodreads lately. BDSM has gone mainstream.
It's all very well, and I would be the last to rain goldenly on anyone's parade (I mean, this stuff was being lampooned amusingly by Tom Lehrer back in the 60s :
You can raise welts like nobody elts
As we dance to the Masochism tango)
but it's beginning to bug me now. Because – surprise!! - 99% of the Ms in the S&M relationships are women.* Yes, these are all stories of men beating and humiliating women and women wanting men to beat and humiliate them. How delicious! So the message, whether intentional or not, is : some women like pain. And further : when some women say no, really they mean yes. Aka she was asking for it.
This was the kind of unreconstructed misogyny bandied around in the 1950s, before feminism. Now it's rebranded itself as transgressive and daring and it's big.
I looked at some reviews of 50 Shades of Gray and was immediately put off reading that one. One review said something like this book is crap, the really good no-holds-barred BDSM novel which is actually really well written is Topping from Below. And I thought well, I can't get on my soapbox again without reading an example of this stuff, so here I am.
Ugh.
Blech.
Sick bag!
No, a bigger one please. Thank you.
Please note – what follows is full of spoilerish comments and allusions to some very unwholesome practices.
If you take the S&M stuff out of this novel you have an adequately written stupid thriller. A strong independent woman suspects that her sister's boyfriend murdered her, as do the police. But they can't get any evidence. So she befriends him (like you would). He immediately tells her – ah, you think I killed your sister and you're going to try to find evidence! She says – yes, I do, you bastard, you killed my sister. So they start sleeping together, like you would. Well, you would if you were in an erotic thriller, because it's compulsory.
You can see that the plot is the usual silliness. But the sex is serious. The villain is referred to as M thoughout the novel. M likes to beat women, tie them up and that kind of thing. He describes what he does as consensual.
Question : What is consent ? Use example of mummification in your answer.
Example 1 – The boyfriend proposes mummification. The girlfriend smashes him over the head with a dinner plate, and the dinner is still on it. The bouillabaise goes everywhere. The stain on the wall will puzzle future residents. The girlfriend storms out and never sees the guy again. That is not consent.
Example 2 – The boyfriend proposes mummification. The girlfriend asks what it is, it sounds intriguing. Boyfriend explains that he wishes to wrap her body head to toe in clingfilm: " You'll be completely immobilised. You won't be able to see or hear. The only thing you'll have is air holes. Total sensory deprivation. It might last for hours, time will mean nothing to you, and I won't unwrap you until it sounds like you're beginning to breathe funny." Girlfriend says, ooh yes, let's do that now! That's consent.
Example 3 – The boyfriend is rich & handsome, the girlfriend is on the plump side and generally not that personable. She knows she'll never get anyone remotely like this again, it's a one time thing. She's in love, really. So he suggests mummification. She hates the idea, she's afraid of it, she thinks he's a freak, but she's not going to smash him over the head with the dinner plate. She murmers dubiously, suggests counter-proposals ("just bandage my feet"), he brushes them all aside. He says look, you do this or you're out that door. She never says yes. He pushes her into a room and mummifies her. She's absolutely terrified. Is this consent?
"Hey, M - You know, she really didn't consent, did she? "
"Well, she could have walked out the door. I wouldn't have stopped her. "
(Cops say: Some guys think that if the woman gives him a blow job while he's pointing a gun at her, that's consent. The guy will say – "she consented! She coulda not consented." Yeah? But you would have shot her. "Yeah well – she consented." - quote from a book called "What Cops Know")
Consent is the thing this novel plays around with the most – Nora never consents to being tied up and whipped but M does so anyway and she fights and screams and all of that and - oh really well I never - after he's done beating her she finds that she –in some mystical way – really enjoyed it – as he knew she would. So she consents in retrospect.
(p167)
I'm not sure how the pain figures into all this, but on some sexual level I enjoy being dominated, being controlled by another person. I can't explain it. As a feminist, it goes against everything I believe.
Nora continues to consent to all this by continuing to turn up at M's house. So all the S&M scenes give the strong idea of NON-consent, but the consent is always given in retrospect. And the apparent illusion of non-consent is what makes the thrill so great for both parties.
Aargh, my head is hurting.
Just to make us all feel better, Laura Reese throws in two psychological explanations for these sisters' acquiescence to all the whippings and torture – the younger one always felt responsible for the death of her younger brother , and the older one feels guilty about her former indifference to the younger one. So you know on some level this is why they want a man to beat them! But then she also throws in stuff like this speech by M :
You're going to enjoy this, Nora. Immensely. Once your freedom of choice is removed, once you give yourself over to me, you'll experience a new kind of liberation : complete abandon, no responsibility, no choice but to accept the pleasure and the pain I give you.
Okay, now here are a couple of quotes from the blurbs on the back:
Fiendishly horny, unexpectedly affecting – Mary Gaitskell
Sex is kinky and love is twisted. A daring erotic thriller – San francisco Chronicle
The plot is sparked by a dangerous current of eroticism –
Harpers Bazaar
A compelling plot intertwined with steamy scenes. When's the last time you read raunchy sex and a good mystery in the same book? – Playboy
Devilishly pornographic – Publisher's weekly
See how they're sort of all going oo-la-la this is so naughty but nice? Aren't we wicked? Well, now I must mention that on p180 M pulls out a video and asks Nora to watch it – "there are only two actors in this film, a man in his forties and a young girl . She appears to be nine or ten." That's right, Mr Naughty but Consensual Bondage likes kiddieporn. It slightly bothers Nora but she sleeps with him anyway. Then later, this fiendishly horny novel gives us a detailed scene between our heroine Nora and M's Great Dane. That's right, it's a dog, not a euphemism. I found that scene unexpectedly affecting, as Ms Gaitskell says. I should hastily mention that the Nora/Great Dane encounter is presented as entirely consensual and "the taboo nature of the act aroused me immensely". So, you know, no harm done!
(So according to Mary Gaitskell kiddieporn and sex with animals is fiendishly horny. I'm so glad I've only ever given Mary Gaitskell bad reviews.)
One last point - it's hard to know what Laura Reese thinks about people. Does she really think a woman would get into a sexual relationship with a guy who she thinks tortured her sister to death
in order that she might be able to find out something incriminating? Honestly, this is that kind of unbelievable rubbish people only do in thrillers, which is why I mostly dislike thrillers. Or am i wrong? Do you know anyone who has deliberately slept with someone they thought murdered a close relative? Maybe it happens a lot and I just live a sheltered life. Please let me know! Add a message in the space provided! It just seems to me that thrillers attempt to portray a realistic believable world (no magical realism, no talking animals) with lots of convincing local details (this takes place very specifically in Davis, California, and, you know, I think the city should sue!) but then populates it with crazy unbelievable characters. Maybe the thrillers wouldn't be thrilling if people behaved normally in them.
I can't think of a way to end this review so I'll just say - don't read this book. I hope I spoiled it for you.
* e.g. in these movies
Belle de Jour
Last tango in Paris
9 ½ weeks
Damage
The Night Porter
In the Realm of the Senses
The Piano Teacher
Blue Velvet
Secretary
A Serbian Film
The Killer Inside Me
July 20, 2013
Nietzsche wrote; "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that he does not become a monster in the process."
This isn't "Fifty Shades of Grey" ladies...
This was the most twisted and vile book I've ever read in my entire life! Although the subject matter was an abomination, I cannot and will not give it a low rating, I don't know who this author is, what her internal dialogue was while writing this book. Where she got the material for her book is a very disturbing thought! But I will say this, the biatch can write the sh!t out of a book!
There are some scenes in this book, that I just cannot forget! One particular scene, whenever I think about it, I feel claustrophobic!!At the moment I can't even look at my own dog, my mind is just plain raw! I feel like I've been chewed up and spat out again!
Dear author, you dedicated this book to your family! WTF for???? Why would you do that???
This was dark, this wasn't erotica. This was a thriller slash horror! Seriously think very carefully before you read this book! It contains the highest form of humiliation a human being can be exposed to, and trust me the scenes will replay themselves over and over again in your head. Just don't read this book! I still don't wanna look at my dog!
This isn't "Fifty Shades of Grey" ladies...
This was the most twisted and vile book I've ever read in my entire life! Although the subject matter was an abomination, I cannot and will not give it a low rating, I don't know who this author is, what her internal dialogue was while writing this book. Where she got the material for her book is a very disturbing thought! But I will say this, the biatch can write the sh!t out of a book!
There are some scenes in this book, that I just cannot forget! One particular scene, whenever I think about it, I feel claustrophobic!!At the moment I can't even look at my own dog, my mind is just plain raw! I feel like I've been chewed up and spat out again!
Dear author, you dedicated this book to your family! WTF for???? Why would you do that???
This was dark, this wasn't erotica. This was a thriller slash horror! Seriously think very carefully before you read this book! It contains the highest form of humiliation a human being can be exposed to, and trust me the scenes will replay themselves over and over again in your head. Just don't read this book! I still don't wanna look at my dog!
August 31, 2013
So, I have read quite a lot of dark and twisted books...
But I think this is by far the most twisted, messed up book I've EVER read. It managed to shock and surprise and horrify me all at the same time.
The story basically comes down to this:
Nora is a journalist who's younger sister Franny was brutally murdered almost a year ago. The police never found evidence as to who might have been her killer and now Nora has decided to take matters into her own hands. After reading Franny's journal Nora finds out her sister was seeing a man named Michael (who Nora mostly refers to as M.). In her journal Franny wrote about Micahel that he was sweet and caring when they first started seeing each other but that he became more demanding, controlling and cruel as their relationship went on.
Naturally, M. seems the most likely suspect of Franny's murder. Therefore, Nora decides to befriend M., seduce him and collect evidence that might back up these suspicions.
After that, we follow the story from both Nora's POV and from Franny's diary about the encounters they have with M. The story has a very slow built-up and many of the scenes are described very detailed which at times bothered me a little. But overall, I still enjoyed the writing style and the unique concept and characters the author created. The story kept me guessing the entire time and still managed to surprise me at the very end.
Now, about my feelings throughout the story:
Nora, Nora, Nora...
She's probably one of the most ignorant and arrogant characters I've ever come across and I just couldn't understand her reasoning for doing things the way she did.
And the way she wanted to "right" everything by saying it was all for justice or the greater good?
Let me tell you, Nora, there are way more sane and normal ways to achieve that purpose!
To be honest, I actually didn't like any of the characters in this book. Not a single one of them was even remotely likeable.
But M. was without a doubt the worst, most sadistic, manipulative bastard of them all.
He's the kind of man who takes pleasure in humiliating women, degrading them and making them do unspeakable acts that shocked and repulsed the hell out of me.
And there's one particular scene that I know will haunt me for a long time... I feel like my brain is scarred now and I'm trying really hard not to think back about it and relive it all over again.
So, would I recommend other people to read this story?
Unless, you feel like you're up for a challenge and you want to read something that will mess with you head, big time! Then I would suggest you do read it and come tell me what you thought about it.
As for me, I'm off to read a light and fluffy read now... Hopefully that'll help me get over some of the twisted things I read in this book!
3.5 STARS.
January 25, 2014
Thanks to my dark read cohorts (you know who you are!!!) I didn't get an ounce of sleep. Finished at 6:30 am and had nightmares about dogs and woke up to a Facebook newsfeed about dogs *heads for the loo*
Still, I don't regret reading it...but this is not a book I would recommend to 90% of readers. Maybe to fellow dark readers and my enemies ;)
Oh hey friend! If you recommended this to me, here you go:
Still, I don't regret reading it...but this is not a book I would recommend to 90% of readers. Maybe to fellow dark readers and my enemies ;)
Oh hey friend! If you recommended this to me, here you go:
Read
September 6, 2014LIST OF MUST HAVES:
*The book (duh, obviously)
*Dictionary: exorable,tropism,ersatz,tessellated ,crepuscular claustrophobia..WTF? (this is way above my grade level)
*patience (the author tends to overkill EVERYTHING)
*A strong heart (honestly, this book is NOT for the faint of heart)
*A bottle of your favorite alcoholic beverage(trust me on this one)
*Barf bags<----plural
*Pepto (Costco size)
*Sleeping pills (extra strength)....J/k.
*****Okay you are now ready to enter the twilight zone****
WHAT THE FUCKITY FUCK DID I JUST READ???????? I'm all about a good mindfuck, in fact I hunt them like Elmer Fudd hunts rabbits but Damn this piece of literature takes it to an entirely bizarre level. To say this book was different is an understatement.
The story is about Nora and her quest to find her sister Franny's murderer. Franny was found bound, gagged and slashed in her apartment days after her death.. Nora is positive her sisters secret lover Michael (his choice not hers) is the killer. So, she basically plans seducing a confession out of him ... I knew right there this bitch was going to get on my last good nerve...Who in there right mind seduces a killer????
The fuckery that goes on between Nora and Michael caused me to have the following reactions-->
I found myself questioning Nora, A LOT..
and other times they had me wondering
I could go on and on for days about this book and there is a lot more to the story but honestly I am too lazy to get into any further detail. As I stated early this book was .....DIFFERENT!
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
*The book (duh, obviously)
*Dictionary: exorable,tropism,ersatz,tessellated ,crepuscular claustrophobia..WTF? (this is way above my grade level)
*patience (the author tends to overkill EVERYTHING)
*A strong heart (honestly, this book is NOT for the faint of heart)
*A bottle of your favorite alcoholic beverage(trust me on this one)
*Barf bags<----plural
*Pepto (Costco size)
*Sleeping pills (extra strength)....J/k.
*****Okay you are now ready to enter the twilight zone****
WHAT THE FUCKITY FUCK DID I JUST READ???????? I'm all about a good mindfuck, in fact I hunt them like Elmer Fudd hunts rabbits but Damn this piece of literature takes it to an entirely bizarre level. To say this book was different is an understatement.
The story is about Nora and her quest to find her sister Franny's murderer. Franny was found bound, gagged and slashed in her apartment days after her death.. Nora is positive her sisters secret lover Michael (his choice not hers) is the killer. So, she basically plans seducing a confession out of him ... I knew right there this bitch was going to get on my last good nerve...Who in there right mind seduces a killer????
The fuckery that goes on between Nora and Michael caused me to have the following reactions-->
I found myself questioning Nora, A LOT..
and other times they had me wondering
I could go on and on for days about this book and there is a lot more to the story but honestly I am too lazy to get into any further detail. As I stated early this book was .....DIFFERENT!
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
May 29, 2012
A Question for You, Reggie
Hi, Reggie, I normally love Paul Bryant's reviews, but his review of "Topping from Below" has me perplexed.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Does he take the novel too seriously or not seriously enough?
Please help.
Ian
Reggie Responds
Thanks for your question, Ian.
Paul is one of my favourite reviewers on GR, too.
However, when he takes the side of feminism in his reviews, he allows his normally astute views to be whipped into a frenzy (see "American Psycho").
Two passages from his review will show just how wrong you can be, when you allow your individuality and judgement to be subsumed by some fringe ideology that posits sexual equality as the norm, when we know damned well that everywhere there is passionate inequality and BDSM.
First, Paul asks:
"Does she [the author, Laura Reese] really think a woman would get into a sexual relationship with a guy who she thinks tortured her sister to death in order that she might be able to find out something incriminating?"
Second, he complains about the doggy fashion (and by that I don't mean canine wardrobe):
"Then later, this fiendishly horny novel gives us a detailed scene between our heroine Nora and M's Great Dane. That's right, it's a dog, not a euphemism."
I don't know whether "euphemism" is the word that Paul was searching for.
However, I will substitute "metaphor", in order to argue that the true appeal of "Topping from Below" is its recontextualisation of one of the great works of English literature.
Is it realistic that a woman would sleep with the murderer of a close relative?
Of course it is, it's been done before.
What about Gertrude and that murdering bastard, King Claudius?
And if that's not enough of a clue, Laura Reese makes her literary and historical intentions clear with the reference to the "Great Dane".
Paul waxes desperate with imagination, but he misses the point that "Topping from Below" is a contemporisation of "Hamlet", a work of literature that risks losing relevance in the world of Facebook and Twitter.
"Topping from Below" is "Hamlet" with whips and chains (OK, and, I suppose, symbolic, implied, literary bestiality).
Laura Reese is a whiplash girl child in the dark, crying out, trying to focus our attention on the root cause of today's social problems.
Yes, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
And the problems start at the top, on the top, with the dominants.
We submissives have to fight back and exert control over those who would dominate us.
Not just men, as Paul implies, but dominants of all eight or nine genders and/or political persuasions (especially female bondage monarchists, not mentioning any names, Mother).
We are born free, and everywhere we are in chains.
Submissives of the world unite.
We must top from below!
(Sgd.) Reggie Side
In next week's column:
Bird Brian asks, "Stuff Denmark, Reggie, WTF's going down in Greece?
Hi, Reggie, I normally love Paul Bryant's reviews, but his review of "Topping from Below" has me perplexed.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Does he take the novel too seriously or not seriously enough?
Please help.
Ian
Reggie Responds
Thanks for your question, Ian.
Paul is one of my favourite reviewers on GR, too.
However, when he takes the side of feminism in his reviews, he allows his normally astute views to be whipped into a frenzy (see "American Psycho").
Two passages from his review will show just how wrong you can be, when you allow your individuality and judgement to be subsumed by some fringe ideology that posits sexual equality as the norm, when we know damned well that everywhere there is passionate inequality and BDSM.
First, Paul asks:
"Does she [the author, Laura Reese] really think a woman would get into a sexual relationship with a guy who she thinks tortured her sister to death in order that she might be able to find out something incriminating?"
Second, he complains about the doggy fashion (and by that I don't mean canine wardrobe):
"Then later, this fiendishly horny novel gives us a detailed scene between our heroine Nora and M's Great Dane. That's right, it's a dog, not a euphemism."
I don't know whether "euphemism" is the word that Paul was searching for.
However, I will substitute "metaphor", in order to argue that the true appeal of "Topping from Below" is its recontextualisation of one of the great works of English literature.
Is it realistic that a woman would sleep with the murderer of a close relative?
Of course it is, it's been done before.
What about Gertrude and that murdering bastard, King Claudius?
And if that's not enough of a clue, Laura Reese makes her literary and historical intentions clear with the reference to the "Great Dane".
Paul waxes desperate with imagination, but he misses the point that "Topping from Below" is a contemporisation of "Hamlet", a work of literature that risks losing relevance in the world of Facebook and Twitter.
"Topping from Below" is "Hamlet" with whips and chains (OK, and, I suppose, symbolic, implied, literary bestiality).
Laura Reese is a whiplash girl child in the dark, crying out, trying to focus our attention on the root cause of today's social problems.
Yes, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
And the problems start at the top, on the top, with the dominants.
We submissives have to fight back and exert control over those who would dominate us.
Not just men, as Paul implies, but dominants of all eight or nine genders and/or political persuasions (especially female bondage monarchists, not mentioning any names, Mother).
We are born free, and everywhere we are in chains.
Submissives of the world unite.
We must top from below!
(Sgd.) Reggie Side
In next week's column:
Bird Brian asks, "Stuff Denmark, Reggie, WTF's going down in Greece?
July 19, 2013
This book have been giving me nightmares for the second night in a row. And here I thought that CJ Roberts crossed the line, author of this book crossed it, took it and ran with it. This book made me realize that I am not as openminded as I thought I was and that there is a line I would never cross and places I would never go :-S. With that being said, it was very well written psychological triller, with no likable characters or happy ending (or it depends on what outcome one is expecting). Brilliantly horrific mind-f@ck.
April 1, 2011
This was one of the books in my GR's book of the month in March 2011. I read this and honestly, it shows a bad side of BDSM that I'm not thrilled with...at all. It comes across as those in the BDSM are callous sociopaths who can easily kill a person w/o a problem. It perverts and twists a lifestyle into a horrible lie. I'm very disappointed in this book and don't recommend it to anyone.
I would like to point out, Ms. Reese possesses an excellent writing style. She also wrote a very good mystery story. As a writer, this book would receive great reviews. She is an excellent story teller and her sex scenes would have been fine, had she not twisted it up with a murderer.
I feel dirty after reading this book. Ms. Reese takes the BDSM lifestyle and perverts it into a demonic sadistic sham for Vanilla people to nod their heads and say, "I KNEW these people were mentally ill. Look at this. This is so wrong." The sense of unease after reading this book is so great, I want to wipe it from my mind. I would like to state, none of the humiliation or sex acts bothered me. Even the bestiality was fine. It's how Ms. Reese made it dirty and disgusting which caused me to be disappointed and ill at ease.
I will not be reading anymore of Ms. Reese's books. I see her second one is yet another distortion and misrepresentation of the BDSM lifestyle. I do not recommend this book to anyone.
I would like to point out, Ms. Reese possesses an excellent writing style. She also wrote a very good mystery story. As a writer, this book would receive great reviews. She is an excellent story teller and her sex scenes would have been fine, had she not twisted it up with a murderer.
I feel dirty after reading this book. Ms. Reese takes the BDSM lifestyle and perverts it into a demonic sadistic sham for Vanilla people to nod their heads and say, "I KNEW these people were mentally ill. Look at this. This is so wrong." The sense of unease after reading this book is so great, I want to wipe it from my mind. I would like to state, none of the humiliation or sex acts bothered me. Even the bestiality was fine. It's how Ms. Reese made it dirty and disgusting which caused me to be disappointed and ill at ease.
I will not be reading anymore of Ms. Reese's books. I see her second one is yet another distortion and misrepresentation of the BDSM lifestyle. I do not recommend this book to anyone.
Read
July 20, 2013 No Rating....No Review....DNF!!!
October 21, 2014
This is a misrepresentation of safe, sane and consensual BDSM.
At first I really enjoyed the female POV, and found the mystery intriguing. I chalked up the judgmental tone to her inexperience with the BDSM lifestyle. However, as the story progressed and the play became more and more extreme even crossing the line into bestiality and child porn, it became clear that the BDSM lifestyle was purposefully being misrepresent as corrupted and evil.
It is even more disturbing that the tone of the ALL the content is written in an erotic tone, even the obvious abuse. I strongly suspect it was done purposefully to make the reader identify with the protagonist's own confusion about where to draw the line, unfortunately it ends up coming off as eroticizing the despicably abuse. Not to mention it gives the very inaccurate impression that any "normal" person can being turned into a twisted abuser by participating in BDSM play. ugh!
It's hard enough being a sexual minority. BDSM doesn't need authors and books exploiting common misconceptions to characterize everyone involved in the community as abusers and/or murders.
I would actually go as far to say this is thinly veiled anit-BDSM propaganda. A cautionary tale meant to scary sexual adventurous women away from exploring their sexuality for fear of being raped, murdered or turned into a "perverted freak."
Note: I edited/updated this review after receiving an messaging requesting I give more details and plainer language around why this misrepresents BDSM. This was one of the first reviews I posted to GoodReads and I own that it was very short, vague and passive in it's tone. I hope this makes it clear why I gave this book a 1star review, but also why I enjoyed the first parts of the story. If you have questions feel free to leave a comment or seem me a message.
At first I really enjoyed the female POV, and found the mystery intriguing. I chalked up the judgmental tone to her inexperience with the BDSM lifestyle. However, as the story progressed and the play became more and more extreme even crossing the line into bestiality and child porn, it became clear that the BDSM lifestyle was purposefully being misrepresent as corrupted and evil.
It is even more disturbing that the tone of the ALL the content is written in an erotic tone, even the obvious abuse. I strongly suspect it was done purposefully to make the reader identify with the protagonist's own confusion about where to draw the line, unfortunately it ends up coming off as eroticizing the despicably abuse. Not to mention it gives the very inaccurate impression that any "normal" person can being turned into a twisted abuser by participating in BDSM play. ugh!
It's hard enough being a sexual minority. BDSM doesn't need authors and books exploiting common misconceptions to characterize everyone involved in the community as abusers and/or murders.
I would actually go as far to say this is thinly veiled anit-BDSM propaganda. A cautionary tale meant to scary sexual adventurous women away from exploring their sexuality for fear of being raped, murdered or turned into a "perverted freak."
Note: I edited/updated this review after receiving an messaging requesting I give more details and plainer language around why this misrepresents BDSM. This was one of the first reviews I posted to GoodReads and I own that it was very short, vague and passive in it's tone. I hope this makes it clear why I gave this book a 1star review, but also why I enjoyed the first parts of the story. If you have questions feel free to leave a comment or seem me a message.
July 23, 2013
~~~4/4.5 DISTURBINGLY DARK PSYCHOTIC THRILLER STARS~~~
Topping From Below is a twisted tale of sex, lies, and suspense but all done in a manner to find justice and retaliation. It's written intricately well. Your always second guessing your theories and assumptions until the bitter end. Just when you think you have things figured out, it smacks you right in the face with new revelations.
The story is told in Nora's point of view but also through tidbits of information through her sister's diary (Fanny).
Once Nora's starts uncovering information through Fanny's diary she is determined to put herself in her sister's shoes to get to the bottom of what had transpired in her sister's life. But what ends up happening is more sadistic than Nora had anticipated and she is thrust into a world of eroticism and sadomasochism.
Nora pissed me off! She was as deranged as her counterpart M. I couldn't understand why she would put herself in such situations. I also couldn't relate to her logic and why she endured so much for the sake of justice.
But oh NO, Nora was a saint compared to the demented, sadistic, Michael. Michael is in a league of his own. He tops the cake! He is the pure definition of evil, he is aggressive, brutal, vicious, merciless, and heartless.
This is not your traditional dark read, its WAY beyond that. The things done in this book are inconceivable, demented, and disturbing. If you get squeamish easily then this is not the book for you. But if you are, much like myself this book will push the envelope and will leave you scarred for life.
Topping From Below is a twisted tale of sex, lies, and suspense but all done in a manner to find justice and retaliation. It's written intricately well. Your always second guessing your theories and assumptions until the bitter end. Just when you think you have things figured out, it smacks you right in the face with new revelations.
The story is told in Nora's point of view but also through tidbits of information through her sister's diary (Fanny).
Once Nora's starts uncovering information through Fanny's diary she is determined to put herself in her sister's shoes to get to the bottom of what had transpired in her sister's life. But what ends up happening is more sadistic than Nora had anticipated and she is thrust into a world of eroticism and sadomasochism.
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look long into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you."
Nora pissed me off! She was as deranged as her counterpart M. I couldn't understand why she would put herself in such situations. I also couldn't relate to her logic and why she endured so much for the sake of justice.
But oh NO, Nora was a saint compared to the demented, sadistic, Michael. Michael is in a league of his own. He tops the cake! He is the pure definition of evil, he is aggressive, brutal, vicious, merciless, and heartless.
This is not your traditional dark read, its WAY beyond that. The things done in this book are inconceivable, demented, and disturbing. If you get squeamish easily then this is not the book for you. But if you are, much like myself this book will push the envelope and will leave you scarred for life.
January 3, 2013
Wow where to start? well here's good
This book ticked all boxes for me it was a crime mystery..raunchy..as well it had extreme BDSM an epic whodunit?
and I have walked away with more questions than answers (even though the book does tell you own done it)
<<<<<----the look on my face after this book.
even though I quite like the idea of a bdsm lifestyle and I have read quite a few books and visited quite a few websites on the subject (I do not live the lifestyle), but based on my knowledge I will never understand how Nora could go to M the way she did even not knowing of his involvement the very fact he did have a relationship her sister I don't have any siblings but if I did their ex's are off-limits IMO!.
5 stars
all throughout this book I jumped on how many stars to give it...there is two subjects in this book that is a total hard limit me no question and I will never change my mind on these in fact when I read the first subject that hit a nerve I nearly deleted the book and reported it (not kidding)but at its end even thought I still did not want those two subjects in there I get that it was part of the authors attempt at character building.
My final character thoughts are Nora did everything wrong and M is everything that gives the BDSM lifestyle a bad name (no safeword or get out options? I don't think so mate) but this was honestly the best book I have read in a long time, it kept me guessing right from page one and just when I thought I had the answers it flipped the script on me again and I was just as lost as page one for the plot, my confusion and the roller-coaster ride I have just been on I give this book 5 stars and add it to my favourites list.
This book ticked all boxes for me it was a crime mystery..raunchy..as well it had extreme BDSM an epic whodunit?
and I have walked away with more questions than answers (even though the book does tell you own done it)
<<<<<----the look on my face after this book.even though I quite like the idea of a bdsm lifestyle and I have read quite a few books and visited quite a few websites on the subject (I do not live the lifestyle), but based on my knowledge I will never understand how Nora could go to M the way she did even not knowing of his involvement the very fact he did have a relationship her sister I don't have any siblings but if I did their ex's are off-limits IMO!.
5 stars
all throughout this book I jumped on how many stars to give it...there is two subjects in this book that is a total hard limit me no question and I will never change my mind on these in fact when I read the first subject that hit a nerve I nearly deleted the book and reported it (not kidding)but at its end even thought I still did not want those two subjects in there I get that it was part of the authors attempt at character building.
My final character thoughts are Nora did everything wrong and M is everything that gives the BDSM lifestyle a bad name (no safeword or get out options? I don't think so mate) but this was honestly the best book I have read in a long time, it kept me guessing right from page one and just when I thought I had the answers it flipped the script on me again and I was just as lost as page one for the plot, my confusion and the roller-coaster ride I have just been on I give this book 5 stars and add it to my favourites list.
August 31, 2012
This book is so pretty disgusting that the only thing that made me feel a little worse was reading that other people felt as disgusted by this book as myself.
In fact, I wish I did not read this book. The dog, pig scenes... the strong sister becoming a stupid moron... BDSM being portrayed as something completely distorted... the fat sister who wants to be loved and has no self-steem and dies for it...
This is not erotica, this is a perversion in senses that are unbelievable. And I am not a puritan or something, but it's been long a book or movie made me feel so disgusted like this one.
I could write more and more, but I do agree with most people who rated 1 star for this book, so, most have already been stated. I just lament I did not see those reviews before being exposed to such horrible experience.
By the way, women writing about women being abused with no kind of justice in the end? Oh, the guy lost his hands? A woman was degraded to death and the other followed the same path as her sister, but so willing, she who seemed to be strong, and then... well, that end... it seems to me that even though M. lost his hands and would not be able to play anymore, not the music he loved so much, his reputation as musician was intact... so, what's the point of the book besides making the readers get just disgusted? No justice, no redemption... really a bad bad book.
And Michael - the name of an angel, was how 1st sister called him. Really?
M., maybe for murderer, as the other referred to him, but also Man, but no masochist at all, sadistic in fact.
Angel and Devil really in between the lines? *sigh*
And the title, meaning exchanging places from M to S in the BDSM? Not applicable at all, since she is maculated forever... and is pathetic to go after her old boyfriend... well, all in all, this book was an insult, a well-written insult, but still a huge insult.
This is such a terrible book that, in fact, my rating is 0 of 5.
In fact, I wish I did not read this book. The dog, pig scenes... the strong sister becoming a stupid moron... BDSM being portrayed as something completely distorted... the fat sister who wants to be loved and has no self-steem and dies for it...
This is not erotica, this is a perversion in senses that are unbelievable. And I am not a puritan or something, but it's been long a book or movie made me feel so disgusted like this one.
I could write more and more, but I do agree with most people who rated 1 star for this book, so, most have already been stated. I just lament I did not see those reviews before being exposed to such horrible experience.
By the way, women writing about women being abused with no kind of justice in the end? Oh, the guy lost his hands? A woman was degraded to death and the other followed the same path as her sister, but so willing, she who seemed to be strong, and then... well, that end... it seems to me that even though M. lost his hands and would not be able to play anymore, not the music he loved so much, his reputation as musician was intact... so, what's the point of the book besides making the readers get just disgusted? No justice, no redemption... really a bad bad book.
And Michael - the name of an angel, was how 1st sister called him. Really?
M., maybe for murderer, as the other referred to him, but also Man, but no masochist at all, sadistic in fact.
Angel and Devil really in between the lines? *sigh*
And the title, meaning exchanging places from M to S in the BDSM? Not applicable at all, since she is maculated forever... and is pathetic to go after her old boyfriend... well, all in all, this book was an insult, a well-written insult, but still a huge insult.
This is such a terrible book that, in fact, my rating is 0 of 5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2012
Update 3/10/12 I've been reading about Fifty Shades of Grey and while I have yet to read that book - probably won't -- it would seem to be very similar to this one. I'm wondering if perhaps James is a pseudonym for Reese.
I stumbled across Reese truly by accident. Amazon.com has some very nice features, and one of them is links to books that their computer program calculates you might be interested in based on previous purchases and queries. Reese's name popped up under mysteries, so I poked around in the readers' comments and reviews and was intrigued enough to purchase a copy for myself. One writer even suggested Reese might be a pseudonym for Anne Tyler. (I don't think so.)
It's a riveting book, and I have donated it to the library. But, beware. This is not a book for the fainthearted, nor for those whose libidinous impulses scare them into suppression of the distasteful, nor those who are uncomfortable with erotic and graphic sex. Now that I've created a stampede on the circulation desk, a few words about the plot.
This is a book about power and love and the depths to which we will go to achieve them. Nora is convinced that her sister Franny has been killed by M. (rarely is he referred to by his full name, Michael). Franny's body was discovered bound and marked with cuts, and Nora and the police discover that Franny's diary reveals her obsession with M., who wields a sadomasochistic domination over Franny.
The police, while suspicious, are unable to find evidence linking him to Franny's murder, so Nora decides to ingratiate herself with M. in order to collect evidence that will convict him. She begins to discover, however, that she likes M.'s weird sexual practices. M., who Nora quickly realizes knew more about Franny than she herself had, teases her with pieces of information about Franny and the accidental death of their brother Billy, which haunted the sisters.
Franny, unbeknownst to anyone, would hitch rides to the ocean, and then step out into the cold water seeking ever larger waves. "This is a game she started playing several months ago: to see how far she'll push herself; to see if the ocean can scare everything out of her, every memory, good and bad. She wants a wave so big and scary that she'll be sucked into a black hole of fear, remembering nothing. But each time she comes out here it seems harder and harder to reach that black hole, each time she has to push herself further."
Nora becomes more entwined with M., much to the consternation of Ian, her boyfriend, and Joe Harris, a police detective she has befriended. To her horror, she learns that M. has befriended Ian and that Ian has revealed to M. that he had had a brief liaison with Franny. Nora's suspicions begin to focus on Ian as the killer, and after she finds a roll of duct tape and some pornographic pictures of Franny and Ian hidden in Ian's closet, she turns him into the police and considers moving in with M. Her perception of reality unravels after M. gives her a video of Franny that reveals a detail Nora had missed and that turns everything upside down once again.
Note that if erotica or explicitness scares you, don't read this book.
I stumbled across Reese truly by accident. Amazon.com has some very nice features, and one of them is links to books that their computer program calculates you might be interested in based on previous purchases and queries. Reese's name popped up under mysteries, so I poked around in the readers' comments and reviews and was intrigued enough to purchase a copy for myself. One writer even suggested Reese might be a pseudonym for Anne Tyler. (I don't think so.)
It's a riveting book, and I have donated it to the library. But, beware. This is not a book for the fainthearted, nor for those whose libidinous impulses scare them into suppression of the distasteful, nor those who are uncomfortable with erotic and graphic sex. Now that I've created a stampede on the circulation desk, a few words about the plot.
This is a book about power and love and the depths to which we will go to achieve them. Nora is convinced that her sister Franny has been killed by M. (rarely is he referred to by his full name, Michael). Franny's body was discovered bound and marked with cuts, and Nora and the police discover that Franny's diary reveals her obsession with M., who wields a sadomasochistic domination over Franny.
The police, while suspicious, are unable to find evidence linking him to Franny's murder, so Nora decides to ingratiate herself with M. in order to collect evidence that will convict him. She begins to discover, however, that she likes M.'s weird sexual practices. M., who Nora quickly realizes knew more about Franny than she herself had, teases her with pieces of information about Franny and the accidental death of their brother Billy, which haunted the sisters.
Franny, unbeknownst to anyone, would hitch rides to the ocean, and then step out into the cold water seeking ever larger waves. "This is a game she started playing several months ago: to see how far she'll push herself; to see if the ocean can scare everything out of her, every memory, good and bad. She wants a wave so big and scary that she'll be sucked into a black hole of fear, remembering nothing. But each time she comes out here it seems harder and harder to reach that black hole, each time she has to push herself further."
Nora becomes more entwined with M., much to the consternation of Ian, her boyfriend, and Joe Harris, a police detective she has befriended. To her horror, she learns that M. has befriended Ian and that Ian has revealed to M. that he had had a brief liaison with Franny. Nora's suspicions begin to focus on Ian as the killer, and after she finds a roll of duct tape and some pornographic pictures of Franny and Ian hidden in Ian's closet, she turns him into the police and considers moving in with M. Her perception of reality unravels after M. gives her a video of Franny that reveals a detail Nora had missed and that turns everything upside down once again.
Note that if erotica or explicitness scares you, don't read this book.
Read
December 29, 2019What in the hell did I just read????
I'm going to have to think about this one for a bit... Holy hell!
I'm going to have to think about this one for a bit... Holy hell!
August 30, 2013
The first thing I have to comment on, is that I wasn't appalled by the book in the least. The author may have gone outside the box a bit with the BDSM but I think it was needed in order to build up the immorality of M. It was substantial to the story and kept my rapt attention throughout the book.
This story had so many twists and turns and while reading I actually believed in the killers innocence. I even found myself rooting for his HEA. I also have to add that this book is very very deep and the characters in this book would be great case studies in the field of psychology. I give a bunch of kudos to the author for the depth of the writing.
This story had so many twists and turns and while reading I actually believed in the killers innocence. I even found myself rooting for his HEA. I also have to add that this book is very very deep and the characters in this book would be great case studies in the field of psychology. I give a bunch of kudos to the author for the depth of the writing.
did-not-finish
March 1, 2021DNF. I don't have any triggers when it comes to dark erotica/romance, but I do apparently have a limit to how grossed out I'm willing to be when I'm reading something. This book made me realize what that limit was. Just.... I don't even know what I just read.
April 30, 2013
So this ended up interesting. I originally bought this book to see if it was REALLY as disturbing as some the reviewers said it was. I bought it, and then put it down and walked away at barely 25%. It wasn't the content that I found disturbing however, it was so boring! The first whole section about Franny bored me to tears. It felt slow and drug on and on. The first section with Nora felt much the same. I needed a break.
I don't like walking away from books. A story left unfinished nags at the recesses of my brain. So I picked it back up determined to see it through. By about 30-35% I was completely engrossed!
All and all I think the end result here was pretty amazing. Its a psychological thriller as well as a "who done it" and a look into, not so much BSDM for me, but more the sexual perversions of a sociopath and the lengths to which some people will go to feel whole. I couldn't put it down once I restarted it and I'm very glad I stuck with it.
As far the the reviewers who gave it bad rating based on its disturbing content, I think that its clearly marked and we are thoroughly warned before hand that the content is not easy to swallow. It is NOT for everybody. In fact, I'm sure its not for most people. But really, you cant
but a book that warns about its content then complain ABOUT that content. That doesn't seem right to me.
I think what I found most disturbing in this book weren't the things listed above but more the complete debasement of Franny. I didn't find any of these characters all that likeable but the treatment of Franny, her lack of an ability to defend herself, and later Noras actions and her
emotional decline will stick with me for a long time.
I gave this book 4 stars insread of 5 because I still can't get over how slow it was at times. I know it was building an attachment and understanding of the sisters but at times it felt more like information dumping. I still loved it for the emotional turmoil it put me yhrough and for keeping me guessing. Would I recommend it? Not to anyone I had to look in the eye when they were done with it ! ;-)
I don't like walking away from books. A story left unfinished nags at the recesses of my brain. So I picked it back up determined to see it through. By about 30-35% I was completely engrossed!
All and all I think the end result here was pretty amazing. Its a psychological thriller as well as a "who done it" and a look into, not so much BSDM for me, but more the sexual perversions of a sociopath and the lengths to which some people will go to feel whole. I couldn't put it down once I restarted it and I'm very glad I stuck with it.
As far the the reviewers who gave it bad rating based on its disturbing content, I think that its clearly marked and we are thoroughly warned before hand that the content is not easy to swallow. It is NOT for everybody. In fact, I'm sure its not for most people. But really, you cant
but a book that warns about its content then complain ABOUT that content. That doesn't seem right to me.
I think what I found most disturbing in this book weren't the things listed above but more the complete debasement of Franny. I didn't find any of these characters all that likeable but the treatment of Franny, her lack of an ability to defend herself, and later Noras actions and her
emotional decline will stick with me for a long time.
I gave this book 4 stars insread of 5 because I still can't get over how slow it was at times. I know it was building an attachment and understanding of the sisters but at times it felt more like information dumping. I still loved it for the emotional turmoil it put me yhrough and for keeping me guessing. Would I recommend it? Not to anyone I had to look in the eye when they were done with it ! ;-)
September 11, 2017
3.5 Stars - The writing was excellent but I cannot for the life of me like this disturbing and very dark read and I like dark reads! WELL ACTUALLY YES, YES I CAN! THIS WAS ONE SICK RIDE!
September 25, 2016
Great twist near the end! Never expected it.
August 21, 2012
Story: FAIR
Intimacy Level: HARDCORE BDSM
Enjoyment: OK
OK, I'm always open to things when reading my romance and erotica books. I've read disturbing and dark erotica, but this one, took it to another level. I really don't have much to say on this book. Franny has always been a loner, until she met Michael aka M. M took his time to introduce Franny to his style of sex and intimacy. But after months of being together, Franny is found dead. Enters her sister Nora, who wants to find her killer, and after reading Franny's diary, she thinks M is the killer.
I don't know what's worst, what M made Franny do throughout the relationship or the extreme lengths Nora went through to prove M is the killer. Don't get me started on the pig scenes, seriously. To each his own with taste and the books that you like. When you read this book, you will either fall into two categories, I hate it or I like it, not sure who will love it, but it is what it is. The main problem for me that prevent me from liking the book, M, I really don't like him.
http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com
Intimacy Level: HARDCORE BDSM
Enjoyment: OK
OK, I'm always open to things when reading my romance and erotica books. I've read disturbing and dark erotica, but this one, took it to another level. I really don't have much to say on this book. Franny has always been a loner, until she met Michael aka M. M took his time to introduce Franny to his style of sex and intimacy. But after months of being together, Franny is found dead. Enters her sister Nora, who wants to find her killer, and after reading Franny's diary, she thinks M is the killer.
I don't know what's worst, what M made Franny do throughout the relationship or the extreme lengths Nora went through to prove M is the killer. Don't get me started on the pig scenes, seriously. To each his own with taste and the books that you like. When you read this book, you will either fall into two categories, I hate it or I like it, not sure who will love it, but it is what it is. The main problem for me that prevent me from liking the book, M, I really don't like him.
http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com
December 24, 2013
Hmmmm???? I don't know what to say. I am never at a loss for words. It's not in me, buuuuut I am at a loss for a lot of words. I can't give this book a 5 because some parts were down right disgusting. UGH!!!! But, I have to give it to the author for not giving a shit and doing it. This book as absolutely NO boundaries at all. I have never in my life read anything like this. I'm a little bit ashamed of myself for reading it, however it was well written, easy to follow, and definitely kept my attention, maybe more to find out what else this author could possibly put out there. Although I did have to step away a couple times, I kept going back. I'm glad that is over with....PHEW.
Woof.
Woof.
January 22, 2015
4 star story. 5 star twisted WTF ending.
After finishing this I feel the desperate urge for a hug… or to forcefully hold my cat and rock back and forth. What astory literary adventure!
Nora Tibbs, a journalist living in bustling California, is devastated by her little sister’s murder. Francis “Franny” Tibbs leaves behind a diary detailing a secret S&M affair she had with a music professor. Deplorable and dehumanizing acts were committed against her and Nora is sure that the Master whom Franny was seeing is guilty of her sister’s grisly murder.
Obsessed Nora decides to seduce the man, M. and investigate him in order to prove his guilt in Franny’s murder. As Nora becomes closer to M. he reveals more and more about Franny. Caught in a cat and mouse game it becomes unclear who is really on top and who is on bottom. Did M. murder Franny? And to what depths of depravity will Nora travel to reveal the true killer?
The first thought I have on this book is there was nothing explicitly written that caused me to feel the way I feel after reading this. Yes, there were some seriously disturbing scenes but overall the book itself leaves such a negative feeling. It’s like the video in The Ring- you just can’t get rid of it and set it aside. This book reminds me of older writings by V.C. Andrews- I remember being on vacation in Mexico years ago reading a V.C. Andrews book thinking “Oh this is great” and I had already made up my mind on the plot. However, the big revelation turned out I was reading the book from the view of a sociopath. I felt betrayed, aghast! How could an author do that to an unsuspecting reader?! Same with this book.
The second thought I have is wow! I absolutely respect this author for writing such a controversial book. Keep in mind this was published in the 90s LOOONNNGG before “BDSM became mainstream” and Fifty Shades. I attempted to google this author and found nearly nothing- semi autobiographical? Where did her inspiration come from? I’d love to know.
Nora. The main character. I can’t hate her- even though she isn’t likable in any sense. I feel she is a good representation of humanity-darkness and light. She wasn’t a bad person yet she neglected her little sister unintentionally. She wants to make amends by exposing the killer- but she doesn’t know what she’s bargaining with. I could understand her motives in the beginning and considered her brave, fierce, and a true spitfire. However, as the story progressed and she deteriorated so did my opinion of her. Everything M. told her he did, everything he revealed Nora put aside and continued on her pursuit. I truly don’t understand how a big sister could overlook such things that happened to a little sister. Not only that she overlooked these revelations but she continued a consensual relationship with M.
M. I don’t understand how any woman in her right mind would find anything redeeming about him. I feel “sadistic” is too glamourous a word to describe him as his warped practices do not ascribe to safe and sane BDSM lifestyle. He was a true, through and through, sociopath- a Ted Bundy in respects. No conscience.
I thought I had experienced it all but the ending packed a powerful punch- a revival to the story and I was left almost without words. The writing in this book is beautiful, descriptive, and like a deadly spider’s web- it’ll trap you and suffocate you.
This book is not for everyone and my recommendation is for those 21+ and those who have already read dark erotica.
After finishing this I feel the desperate urge for a hug… or to forcefully hold my cat and rock back and forth. What a
Nora Tibbs, a journalist living in bustling California, is devastated by her little sister’s murder. Francis “Franny” Tibbs leaves behind a diary detailing a secret S&M affair she had with a music professor. Deplorable and dehumanizing acts were committed against her and Nora is sure that the Master whom Franny was seeing is guilty of her sister’s grisly murder.
Obsessed Nora decides to seduce the man, M. and investigate him in order to prove his guilt in Franny’s murder. As Nora becomes closer to M. he reveals more and more about Franny. Caught in a cat and mouse game it becomes unclear who is really on top and who is on bottom. Did M. murder Franny? And to what depths of depravity will Nora travel to reveal the true killer?
"...if the submissive attempts to control or manipulate the relationship, his or her behavior is negatively referred to as "topping from the bottom." This is an apt phrase for my relationship with M. He is unaware of it, but I'm topping him from below."
The first thought I have on this book is there was nothing explicitly written that caused me to feel the way I feel after reading this. Yes, there were some seriously disturbing scenes but overall the book itself leaves such a negative feeling. It’s like the video in The Ring- you just can’t get rid of it and set it aside. This book reminds me of older writings by V.C. Andrews- I remember being on vacation in Mexico years ago reading a V.C. Andrews book thinking “Oh this is great” and I had already made up my mind on the plot. However, the big revelation turned out I was reading the book from the view of a sociopath. I felt betrayed, aghast! How could an author do that to an unsuspecting reader?! Same with this book.
The second thought I have is wow! I absolutely respect this author for writing such a controversial book. Keep in mind this was published in the 90s LOOONNNGG before “BDSM became mainstream” and Fifty Shades. I attempted to google this author and found nearly nothing- semi autobiographical? Where did her inspiration come from? I’d love to know.
Nora. The main character. I can’t hate her- even though she isn’t likable in any sense. I feel she is a good representation of humanity-darkness and light. She wasn’t a bad person yet she neglected her little sister unintentionally. She wants to make amends by exposing the killer- but she doesn’t know what she’s bargaining with. I could understand her motives in the beginning and considered her brave, fierce, and a true spitfire. However, as the story progressed and she deteriorated so did my opinion of her. Everything M. told her he did, everything he revealed Nora put aside and continued on her pursuit. I truly don’t understand how a big sister could overlook such things that happened to a little sister. Not only that she overlooked these revelations but she continued a consensual relationship with M.
“Parallels. I see parallels everywhere. How could I have been so blind? When she had no one, Franny slipped inward, inside herself; and I, trusting no one, have been there all my adult life. We are alike, so very much alike. And I could have saved her."
M. I don’t understand how any woman in her right mind would find anything redeeming about him. I feel “sadistic” is too glamourous a word to describe him as his warped practices do not ascribe to safe and sane BDSM lifestyle. He was a true, through and through, sociopath- a Ted Bundy in respects. No conscience.
"People are disposable, Nora. I've mentioned this before. They have a shelf life, a time span."
I thought I had experienced it all but the ending packed a powerful punch- a revival to the story and I was left almost without words. The writing in this book is beautiful, descriptive, and like a deadly spider’s web- it’ll trap you and suffocate you.
This book is not for everyone and my recommendation is for those 21+ and those who have already read dark erotica.
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you."
May 18, 2014
Omg! I'm still in completely shock. Still reeling from this brilliant story. I'm still back in the "training room" at Michael's house while it catches on fire! The feel of this almost feels as if it was based on a true story? I wonder if it was? The writing style the author uses here was just amazing & brilliant. I loved it! A couple moments made me cringe. But it was an interesting journey to get on. This by far is one of the darkest I've read! And by dark & twisted I mean…Golden Showers, Sex with animals, Electroshock, Cutting, severing limbs, etc. Definitely won't be for everyone. But I couldn't put it down because the suspense of it is brilliant.
I will start with Michael first…or "M" as he's called majority of the time. He had us all fooled! Nora, Ian & now including me LOL! Because at first I suspect he's the bad guy. But then I didn't. And I began to soften up a bit to him the more him & Nora began to spend time together. But in the end, I realize he's a sick, twisted, manipulative, evil, no morals, heartless BASTARD! I won't reveal what happens. But in the end, his true colors fully show. And everything comes full circle to show who he is. And he disgusted me. At the same time he fooled me a lot of the time, I began to even like him in some weird way, and began to think he had this cool, sophisticated, suave aura about him than began to draw me in. Which he does have all that. But underneath it all is pure evilness.
And then Nora. My heart went out to her majority of the time dealing with the aftermath of Franny. I felt her passion & determination to get to the bottom of things to find out every detail of what happened. And i don't blame her. There was times I felt worried for her because she willingly put herself in harms way many times. Usually always involved Michael. I think she's been through so much and has learned a lot about life and about herself coming out of this.
Last Franny & Ian. Franny was pretty much the main common denominator in this whole thing. Everything was revolved around her. And the very beginning of the book is her POVs. I felt sorry for her. Franny is so pathetic in many ways but you feel sympathetic for her because she just wants love. She feels as if she has no one anymore. And she's gotten to the point where she'll do anything to feel love or feel that someone cares. Its sad really how low she stoops. And she has such low self esteem. It almost made me cringe at how desperate she comes across sometimes.
With Ian i liked him well enough most of the time. I thought he was this sweet, normal, down to earth guy. And then I got my suspicions about him. Michael did a sneaky job of that. But in the end, I felt sorry for Ian is some way's too. His whole life got turned upside down and changed. He isn't completely innocent though and had a few of his own secrets.
No one walks away from this unscathed. Everyone pays some kind of price in the end. I do love how this book keeps you guessing all the way up till the very end! I only wish Michael would pay more of a price and there would be some more justice for him. But it is, what it is. The sex was hot!! Except the bizarre out there moments, the "bestiality" moments makes this certainly not for the faint of heart.
Other than that, this book was brilliant! I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Bravo!
I will start with Michael first…or "M" as he's called majority of the time. He had us all fooled! Nora, Ian & now including me LOL! Because at first I suspect he's the bad guy. But then I didn't. And I began to soften up a bit to him the more him & Nora began to spend time together. But in the end, I realize he's a sick, twisted, manipulative, evil, no morals, heartless BASTARD! I won't reveal what happens. But in the end, his true colors fully show. And everything comes full circle to show who he is. And he disgusted me. At the same time he fooled me a lot of the time, I began to even like him in some weird way, and began to think he had this cool, sophisticated, suave aura about him than began to draw me in. Which he does have all that. But underneath it all is pure evilness.
And then Nora. My heart went out to her majority of the time dealing with the aftermath of Franny. I felt her passion & determination to get to the bottom of things to find out every detail of what happened. And i don't blame her. There was times I felt worried for her because she willingly put herself in harms way many times. Usually always involved Michael. I think she's been through so much and has learned a lot about life and about herself coming out of this.
Last Franny & Ian. Franny was pretty much the main common denominator in this whole thing. Everything was revolved around her. And the very beginning of the book is her POVs. I felt sorry for her. Franny is so pathetic in many ways but you feel sympathetic for her because she just wants love. She feels as if she has no one anymore. And she's gotten to the point where she'll do anything to feel love or feel that someone cares. Its sad really how low she stoops. And she has such low self esteem. It almost made me cringe at how desperate she comes across sometimes.
With Ian i liked him well enough most of the time. I thought he was this sweet, normal, down to earth guy. And then I got my suspicions about him. Michael did a sneaky job of that. But in the end, I felt sorry for Ian is some way's too. His whole life got turned upside down and changed. He isn't completely innocent though and had a few of his own secrets.
No one walks away from this unscathed. Everyone pays some kind of price in the end. I do love how this book keeps you guessing all the way up till the very end! I only wish Michael would pay more of a price and there would be some more justice for him. But it is, what it is. The sex was hot!! Except the bizarre out there moments, the "bestiality" moments makes this certainly not for the faint of heart.
Other than that, this book was brilliant! I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Bravo!
Want to read
August 27, 2013Well, you know when you read reviews and most of them are either 1 star or 5 star reviews then either someone's done something right or they've done something wrong really right...This book just topped my TBR and I'm not sure if I'll go through with it. Truth is, I love dark and I love effed up so this might just be my cuppa tea. To be continued...
December 2, 2017
Soraya Naomi and Christine the Dark Romance Junkie you crazy loons! ;) Thanks for finding this disgusting book! LOL
August 12, 2018
I'm Speechless!!!
April 2, 2023
Noir erotic
Credo che esista un lato oscuro in ognuno di noi, dietro la superficie della nostra umanità, che in certe persone è contorto, estremo e selvaggio e che in altre è meno acuto ma è sempre presente e lotta in continuazione ormai con la nostra anima civilizzata.
[...]
Di notte chiudo gli occhi e sogno l'uomo che mi ha obbligato a obbedire, sogno la frusta di cuoio che mi faceva stare al mio posto, le catene che mi martoriavano le carni e gli ordini che mi imbrigliavano l'anima, il bisogno primordiale, così profondo, oscuro e pagano, che univa il piacere al dolore. Nei miei sogni mi umilio alle sue richieste, ma mi sottometto e lo desidero ancora. I miei bisogni e i miei desideri sono inspiegabili persino a me stessa. Una volta M. mi disse che dovevo conciliare le mie inclinazioni intellettuali con i miei istinti.
Noir erotic ad altissima suspence e gradazione, superiore ai 40° non alcolici, sempre sulla linea tra erotismo e sadomasochismo....ma no niente affatto!!
La linea viene superata, oltrepassata, cancellata si sposta molto più in là verso una depravazione, quasi pazzesca.
Credo che esista un lato oscuro in ognuno di noi, dietro la superficie della nostra umanità, che in certe persone è contorto, estremo e selvaggio e che in altre è meno acuto ma è sempre presente e lotta in continuazione ormai con la nostra anima civilizzata.
[...]
Di notte chiudo gli occhi e sogno l'uomo che mi ha obbligato a obbedire, sogno la frusta di cuoio che mi faceva stare al mio posto, le catene che mi martoriavano le carni e gli ordini che mi imbrigliavano l'anima, il bisogno primordiale, così profondo, oscuro e pagano, che univa il piacere al dolore. Nei miei sogni mi umilio alle sue richieste, ma mi sottometto e lo desidero ancora. I miei bisogni e i miei desideri sono inspiegabili persino a me stessa. Una volta M. mi disse che dovevo conciliare le mie inclinazioni intellettuali con i miei istinti.
Noir erotic ad altissima suspence e gradazione, superiore ai 40° non alcolici, sempre sulla linea tra erotismo e sadomasochismo....ma no niente affatto!!
La linea viene superata, oltrepassata, cancellata si sposta molto più in là verso una depravazione, quasi pazzesca.
October 25, 2025
I’m sick for finishing this bs. ALL THE CHARACTERS WERE TERRIBLE. This book was twisted and dark. Definitely a different take on dark “romance” if you would even call it that.
August 1, 2012
no option for really hated it?!?!
scarification, mummification, cutting, the verbal and physical degradation that was nothing... the beastiality... in horrifying detail... SICK!!! I really wanted to root for the sister who claimed she was trying to avenge her sis's death when law enforcement seemed to drop the ball ... but the brutalizing, torturous death was at the hands of a sado-masachist how you can do a 360 & willingly participate on the premise of learning from him directly what he did to her? she knows what he did .... I couldn't get how she participated in everything sister did reluctantly. the difference was her sister was an emotional cripple and so desperately wanted to be loved that she died trying to get this man's affection when he admittedly used her for his amusement.
very sad and revolting story....
scarification, mummification, cutting, the verbal and physical degradation that was nothing... the beastiality... in horrifying detail... SICK!!! I really wanted to root for the sister who claimed she was trying to avenge her sis's death when law enforcement seemed to drop the ball ... but the brutalizing, torturous death was at the hands of a sado-masachist how you can do a 360 & willingly participate on the premise of learning from him directly what he did to her? she knows what he did .... I couldn't get how she participated in everything sister did reluctantly. the difference was her sister was an emotional cripple and so desperately wanted to be loved that she died trying to get this man's affection when he admittedly used her for his amusement.
very sad and revolting story....
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