Book Reviews
Sex
Tips from a Dominatrix
by (Mistress) Patricia Payne, illustrated by Maurice Vellekoop (c)1999 (reviewed by [wendy])This is a clever, witty book that nervous novices and relative newcomers to the scene will enjoy. People who've been living this lifestyle for a while won't get as much instruction out of it, but perhaps they'll enjoy reading Payne's wit and Vellekoop's illustrations anyway.
There's a chapter called "On Being Knotty" about rope work, "Taking Your Show on the Road" about traveling with your stuff and "s&m-acgyver"isms. There's even a section on Kinky Yoga! The appendix has numerous links online for searching out info on diverse subjects such as corsets, metal clothing, and spanking.
It's really a fun little book, and a quick read. The price is right, too; only $19 for a hardcover. If you're new to BDSM, and are looking for a good book that'll walk you through the basics with humor and panache, this is the book for you.
La Laisse
By Soduire (Reviewed by William)
A book I found most interesting is just out, and pointed to assisting the Novice to the lifestyle. A first edition and effort it covers much information that is helpful to the novice and gives good, straightforward and honest advice. Check it out.
Titled "La Laisse", you can find it at BDSMCentral.comLaLaisse. http://www.bdsmcentral.com/lamaison/Page2.html
Written by Soduire and I got my copy through the publisher, La Maison du Raison, In Orange, CA. Worth taking a look at.
The Correct Sadist
By Terence Sellers (Reviewed byAriel)
Human Scientist, Priest and Goddess Terence Sellers (aka New York Domina "Angel Stern") writes in her elegant, refined and startling style, tales born of harsh experience and glimpses into the worst and the best of the human soul within the context of Dominance and submission. It is a book that requires reading and re-reading; the deliberately rarefied language impresses one that the author is someone whose sensibilities are quite injured and impressed by the wounds and rituals she is indeed enjoined to inflict upon her willing slaves. Indeed, the end of this book is one of the most harrowing and empathetically written accounts of the effects of ongoing Dominance upon the Dominant Who is not nurtured in return; I was quite surprised to see the appearance of new works signaling Her re-entry into the world of Professional Dominance.
Correct Sadist 2: Dungeon Evidence (Reviewed by Ariel)
By Terence Sellers
The Displaced Aristocrat
The brilliant and incisive style of Terence Sellers (aka Angel Stern) carries forward again in this 'sequel' to The Correct Sadist. It is a work that can stand alone, however, for its biting commentary on the 'cases' of the clientele of Ms. Stern's professional studio of Dominance. A forensic psychologist by training and a professional Domina as well, Ms. Stern comments with the linguistic precision of a displaced Victorian aristocrat the steady parade of lost wraiths, impassioned saints, and dangerous dreamers who pass through Her doors and beneath Her discipline. Written with an eye to presenting the novice Master/Mistress with 'case studies' of the typical varieties of Slave and the task of mastering such creatures, Ms. Stern yet again describes with wit, sobriety and intermittent solemnity both the horrific and the exalted within the human metaphors of Slavery and Mastery. Sometimes ominous and always riveting, Ms. Stern captures the reader's attention in such a compassionate, yet detached way that all reading may look within themselves and see common grains of character congruent with all described within.Several full texts of letters from applying Slaves and descriptions of various scenes with Ms. Stern are also included, providing a fascinating glimpse into the extremes of desire and their consequences and impacts, upon both Master and slave.
TO LOVE, TO OBEY, TO SERVE
Diary of an Old Guard Slave
By V. M. Johnson
(Mystic Rose Books, $17.95) (Reviewed by timothy{V}Actual experiences of those who have lived the life of a voluntary slave in a sexual power relationship (ok, BDSM to get technical) used to be quite rare. Most "old guard" slaves (usually defined as before 1980) usually didn't have the time or inclination to write about their experiences. What was passed off as a real account usually turned out to be just another cheap fantasy that had no basis in reality. Which is why Vi Johnson's new book is such a valuable document. Here is a record, albeit difficult to follow, of one who voluntarily gave herself into submission to the will of another. Draw whatever conclusions you will from it.
The book covers the years 1980 to 1995 and Ms. Johnson's relationships with three different Mistresses. What makes the journal so compelling is that she lived the dream in no exotic islands or castles, but in such faraway lands as New York and Oklahoma. And her Owners were not superhuman male-generated bitch goddesses, but real people with faults aplenty. Her first Owner, a professional Domme, we get to watch slowly sinking into a pot-induced stupor and the second's treatment of her boarders on abuse. Through it all, the only constant in the equation is her real-life partner Jill, whom we see very little.
A college-educated woman it's a little hard to understand why she put up with the treatment she received. Constant hours of hard labor on Madam's new dungeon doesn't even warrant a simple thank-you? At one point she reminisces that she's had many acquaintances over the years, but few friends. At another point she describes a scene that nearly killed her because the Mistress was too busy playing with another slave to answer a call for help.
The afterward by the publisher cautions us not to judge what she endured by today's standards. Well, abuse is wrong no matter what century your morality originates. BDSM has had a reputation over the years as being the play toy of jaded rich Hollywood types and the actions of "Mistress Jean" (as she describes them) do little to counter that. However, we have only one side of the story, as this is a diary. At the least the book concludes with the author in a loving relationship.
I have two main criticisms of the book. One, it shouldn't be too difficult to figure out who some of the people in this book are, even if the names have been changed to protect the guilty. Why change names if any fool with access to the Internet and prime source material can identify them? The other would be the annoying tendency of characters who pop-up in the text and leave without much in the way of introduction. A play list would've been helpful.
But as a document of an actual voyage to the BDSM nether regions, this book is priceless.
-timothy {V}timothy{V} is the property of his Domme. All views are his own, but written under Her supervision.
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