Comments on: How Come Good Literature Has to be Ruined by Bad Sex? http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/ Maw Books - book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more! Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:28:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: EJ http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/#comment-51034 EJ Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:34:06 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/water-for-elephants/#comment-51034 I have to respectfully disagree here. I think the way the various sex scenes played out in this book reflect the realities of Jacob's relationships very well. With Barbra, you felt dirty and seedy just reading it, the way Jacob felt, but with Marlena it was handled gently and gracefully - a sign of the difference in that relationship. I think it was a very effective writing mechanism, actually! I have to respectfully disagree here. I think the way the various sex scenes played out in this book reflect the realities of Jacob’s relationships very well. With Barbra, you felt dirty and seedy just reading it, the way Jacob felt, but with Marlena it was handled gently and gracefully – a sign of the difference in that relationship. I think it was a very effective writing mechanism, actually!

]]> By: Angela http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/#comment-35501 Angela Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:23:28 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/water-for-elephants/#comment-35501 I read Water for Elephants a few months ago and I found it bothersome, too. Maybe it's because I read so much Christian lit anymore. A sign of a really good book is when I want to read more by that author once I am finished. I haven't found myself searching out anything else by Sara Gruen. I read Water for Elephants a few months ago and I found it bothersome, too. Maybe it’s because I read so much Christian lit anymore. A sign of a really good book is when I want to read more by that author once I am finished. I haven’t found myself searching out anything else by Sara Gruen.

]]> By: Word Lily http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/#comment-33545 Word Lily Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:46:07 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/water-for-elephants/#comment-33545 FWIW, I'm with you, Natasha, on this one. I keep asking myself the same question. FWIW, I’m with you, Natasha, on this one. I keep asking myself the same question.

]]> By: Dawn http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/#comment-33533 Dawn Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:09:56 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/water-for-elephants/#comment-33533 Natasha - what a lively discussion! I wondered how I missed it the first time around, then finally saw the original time was Jan 2008 (not 2009!) I have seen a few book bloggers who annotate for tolerance of sex, violence, language, etc. I'm not one, but I can see that it's a useful tool when deciding whether or not a book is "for" you. One of the book groups I belong to has a rule about the recommending member having to have read the book before suggesting it to the group. I thought this was an un-needed extra step, but now that you bring it up, I see the value. This is a church-based group, and, although everyone is open-minded, I'd be horrified to recommend an explicit book unaware! As for WFE, I didn't remember the scenes until you pointed them out. I think I tend to skim anything I deem too graphic, unless it detracts too much, in which case I close the book forever :) Natasha – what a lively discussion! I wondered how I missed it the first time around, then finally saw the original time was Jan 2008 (not 2009!)

I have seen a few book bloggers who annotate for tolerance of sex, violence, language, etc. I’m not one, but I can see that it’s a useful tool when deciding whether or not a book is “for” you.

One of the book groups I belong to has a rule about the recommending member having to have read the book before suggesting it to the group. I thought this was an un-needed extra step, but now that you bring it up, I see the value. This is a church-based group, and, although everyone is open-minded, I’d be horrified to recommend an explicit book unaware!

As for WFE, I didn’t remember the scenes until you pointed them out. I think I tend to skim anything I deem too graphic, unless it detracts too much, in which case I close the book forever :)

]]> By: Laura http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/#comment-25001 Laura Mon, 02 Feb 2009 02:37:54 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/water-for-elephants/#comment-25001 No problem whatsoever with the description of a head splitting open from the force of a stake being driven through it? But breasts are appalling? Also it basically mentioned the dwarf was masturbating and described the scene. But obscene? Obscene to me would have been describing the way he was stroking it, at what speed, how tightly he was holding it, and what sounds he was making (both orally and with his hand motion). Sex is a part of life (not everyone's of course) and of all the things that ruin books and stories these days, a little sex should be the least of our worries. Sex has the ability to add comedy to life, as well as tragedy and sometimes, if we're lucky, romance and beauty. I see nothing wrong with using that. For instance, the description of rape in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye was necessary. Sure it may have made someone squirm, but glossing over it with innuendos would have been the most disgusting thing she could have done. I agree with leaving the sex out only when it's uninteresting, adds nothing to the story or used as a ploy to turn the book in question into porn. Such (in my opinion) was not the case in this book. Not trying to sound angry...just have a strong opinion about this (it's been brought up in a recent book club). No problem whatsoever with the description of a head splitting open from the force of a stake being driven through it? But breasts are appalling? Also it basically mentioned the dwarf was masturbating and described the scene. But obscene? Obscene to me would have been describing the way he was stroking it, at what speed, how tightly he was holding it, and what sounds he was making (both orally and with his hand motion).

Sex is a part of life (not everyone’s of course) and of all the things that ruin books and stories these days, a little sex should be the least of our worries. Sex has the ability to add comedy to life, as well as tragedy and sometimes, if we’re lucky, romance and beauty. I see nothing wrong with using that.

For instance, the description of rape in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye was necessary. Sure it may have made someone squirm, but glossing over it with innuendos would have been the most disgusting thing she could have done.

I agree with leaving the sex out only when it’s uninteresting, adds nothing to the story or used as a ploy to turn the book in question into porn. Such (in my opinion) was not the case in this book.

Not trying to sound angry…just have a strong opinion about this (it’s been brought up in a recent book club).

]]> By: Natasha Maw http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/#comment-23772 Natasha Maw Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:27:36 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/water-for-elephants/#comment-23772 Alyssa - I agree YA isn't very clean anymore either. Alison - It has generated a lot of discussion. I appreciate you mentioning the same thing in your review as well. Alyssa – I agree YA isn’t very clean anymore either.

Alison – It has generated a lot of discussion. I appreciate you mentioning the same thing in your review as well.

]]> By: alisonwonderland http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/#comment-23581 alisonwonderland Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:00:27 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/water-for-elephants/#comment-23581 i've just posted my review. i loved the book but also had a difficult time with the graphic scenes of sexualality. i appreciate you taking a stand on that - and it sure generated some discussion here! i’ve just posted my review. i loved the book but also had a difficult time with the graphic scenes of sexualality. i appreciate you taking a stand on that – and it sure generated some discussion here!

]]> By: Alyssa http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/#comment-10535 Alyssa Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:09:23 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/water-for-elephants/#comment-10535 Natasha, I know this is a little late to the party, but I wanted to let you know that I also will join you up on that soapbox. The issue of sex in books is originally what drove me to YA books--the romance and relationships without all the sex scenes. But now that isn't even the case anymore. It seems so much harder to find "clean" books in the YA genre as well it seems. Natasha,

I know this is a little late to the party, but I wanted to let you know that I also will join you up on that soapbox. The issue of sex in books is originally what drove me to YA books–the romance and relationships without all the sex scenes. But now that isn’t even the case anymore. It seems so much harder to find “clean” books in the YA genre as well it seems.

]]> By: Lucy Borik http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/#comment-8482 Lucy Borik Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:36:42 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/water-for-elephants/#comment-8482 Water for Elephants was not over done with sex. Ir had just the right amount, not too explicit, no really hot scenes - tasteful, but not vulgar. Worse than too much sex is too many four letter words. Try reading The Jewish Policeman's Union. Water for Elephants was not over done with sex. Ir had just the right amount, not too explicit, no really hot scenes – tasteful, but not vulgar. Worse than too much sex is too many four letter words. Try reading The Jewish Policeman’s Union.

]]> By: Natasha Maw http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/good-literature-bad-sex/#comment-8454 Natasha Maw Sun, 10 Aug 2008 05:31:49 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/12/water-for-elephants/#comment-8454 Marla - Thanks for your perspective! That's why I love to get readers interacting. I agree with your freedom of speech bit and am not saying that these types of books should be censored. I'm not one to tell others what they can or can not read. I just wish that there was some way that we could tell what was in a book before starting to read it. We each have our own reading preferences and I'm one that doesn't like to squirm. Diane - With the exception of the sex, I loved this book! I would probably love it more if the sex bits weren't there. I have a difficult time recommending this one because of it. Marla – Thanks for your perspective! That’s why I love to get readers interacting. I agree with your freedom of speech bit and am not saying that these types of books should be censored. I’m not one to tell others what they can or can not read. I just wish that there was some way that we could tell what was in a book before starting to read it. We each have our own reading preferences and I’m one that doesn’t like to squirm.

Diane – With the exception of the sex, I loved this book! I would probably love it more if the sex bits weren’t there. I have a difficult time recommending this one because of it.

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