Erotic Surrender: The Sensual Joys of Female Submission

by Claudia Varrin

Varrin relates her personal experiences with submissive fantasies as she introduces the general D&S (dominance and submission) vocabulary and emphasizes the emotional and physical benefits that can be derived from erotic surrender.

Genres: BDSM, Nonfiction, Sexuality

276 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

Reviews

[Teela Hudak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a best suited to a beginner looking into the submissive roles within heterosexual couples. It paints BDSM in a softer light and gives plenty of personal narratives/role play scenarios. I found this book difficult to read through and found many points in which I was exasperated. The author makes several references to BDSM and sex as a "dark garden". I personally did not care for this imagery as I did not identify with it and many of the places where it was used I felt were not entirely appropriate or helpful. She also made several mentions of sex magic, sometimes referring it to a pagan sense and other times not with no explanation. She gives the impression of the spirituality of BDSM without every really discussing it until a short portion at the end of the book. I felt many of the things she spends a considerable amount of time on required no more than a mention (how many of us need explicit showering directions?) and other subjects that should have warranted more attention (such as safety or sub space) received just barely more than a mention. I found this book had nothing to offer to anyone who is not at the basic beginner level and due to some of the oversights I would only recommend this book to a beginner as a supplement to other literature.

[kates · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a read that explored the dynamism of female sexuality through the lens of dom/sub relations (emphasis on the sub, of course).

I started the read curious, but have hit a wall with this one. I'm not sure I'll be able to finish it, and I really hate to leave books unfinished. EDIT: i finished it. thank god.

I feel like the author is defensive at points (I can't provide examples, as I haven't picked it up in 3 weeks!). Quite frankly, I find defensiveness in a narrator a total bore. It's a book about female sexuality -- I shouldn't have to read bullshit disclaimers or weird, quasi-desperate ramblings (aimed at misogynists or conservative readers?) because the author has a fear of being judged unfairly.

I just have a hard time relating to the subject matter seriously -- but maybe I'm taking too hard a feminist line with this one.

Things I like: it appears fairly comprehensive, though I'm always curious to read more about age play. I think some of the "exercises" are interesting, and the references included (think: list of phrases, dom/sub pairings, sexual games, etc.) are pretty rad. The author's personal examples are relevant and illustrate the "section" well.

[Melissa Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book for beginner subbies

[Erica Ramsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was like a documentary. interesting, but I couldn't read a lot at one time. it was definetly food for thought.