The Road to Depravity - Book Review

Rarely do I have the misfortune of reading horrible books like The Road to Depravity by Ray Gordon. While the plot is bearable, if not ridiculous and highly contrived, the writing is so awful that it made reading this book a nightmare. Every idea is repeated ad nausea making it seem as if you've reread each page many times. Maybe he was told to expand the story because it was too short and instead of adding he just repeated sections.

Helen's husband Alan is psychologically abusing her. When he walks out, expecting her to beg his return, she instead embarks on sexual exploration with the neighbors involving prostitution, group sex and exhibitionism. Her desperation allows them to exploit and abuse her and in the end, forces her to open her own private whore house. All this while her husband, hiding outside, pathetically watches through the window. The sex, while plentiful, is neither sensuous nor erotic.

My advice is that you avoid this book at all costs.

Read my full review of The Road to Depravity

Secretary's Punishment - Book Review

Unlike the movie Secretary, that this book is suppose to be a homage to, the book Secretary's punishment by J. W. McKenna sucks. The movie was about a relationship - A strange man and a damaged girl helping each other and falling in love: It's quirky and interesting. The book is about a perverted salesman taking advantage of a desperate girl: It's twisted and pathetic. Everything about the book is wrong: from the preposterous premise to the unbelievable situation to the ridiculous characters. I liked the movie but hate this book. J. W. McKenna should be ashamed of what he did to Mary Gaitskill's idea.

Read my full review of Secretary's punishment

Violet Blue's best isn't great - Book Review

Best Women's Erotica 2008 is a fair collection of short stories, some are good but many are not. Most of the stories weren't very exciting and several were just plain bad. I know that they are written for women and, as a man, maybe I just get don't get it, but several like: Lost at Sea were total gibberish and I have no idea how they could be included in a book of erotica.

Several stories were male-male and I know that this image appeals to many women. So I can understand why a story like Rear Window about a woman watching voyeuristically as two gay men have sex was in this book. It didn't do anything for me but at least it was well written.

There were also several lesbian stories included which is common for collections of this nature. Usually I like these stories but most of these were just not well written. Getting Sorted and Blowjobs were notably exceptions and stand-out as very good stories.

Overall, I can't really recommend buying this book but it is worth reading for the variety of the topics introduced.

Read my full review of Best Women's Erotica 2008