Rating: 
Summary: Sexual abuse and brainwashing
Review: I know very little about BDSM, but I'm far from sexually conservative and enjoy reading many kinds of erotica. While I enjoyed the writing and careful attention to character development in this novel, I found myself turned off by the pervasive themes of coercion. My acquaintances who enjoy BDSM have always told me that an important element of that kind of sexual play is that all parties enter into it of their own free will, even if the play itself involves coercion. The fact that Beauty and the other slaves are taken into service against their will, and then undergo sexual practices that in our culture easily qualify as sexual abuse, was not appealing to me. Though the novel advertises itself as one "of cruelty and tenderness," for me it was a novel of sexual abuse and brainwashing. I also couldn't really banish my psychological knowledge from my mind as I read -- it's one thing to engage in BDSM play willingly, and hand over your will, but in real life when people are tortured and broken the way these characters are, it does not generally produce a strange form of enlightenment (as in the novel), but rather neurosis, tremendous self-esteem problems, and afterwards, post-traumatic stress disorder.I won't condemn this book completely. It -is- a fantasy, and that's emphasized by the fairy-tale setting. But for me, the suspension of disbelief required to enjoy the novel was just too great.
Rating: 
Summary: Enchanting twist
Review: Wow.. when I first started reading this book, I could have sworn I was reading "Letters To Penthouse". This is a very, very erotic book based on the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. Upon reading the first chapter you are thrust into a world of beauty and elegance. This book is not just about sex; it is a truly beautiful and moving story. It's not long before you feel an intimacy with the characters which makes the book so hard to put down.
Rating: 
Summary: Takes the cake on SICKNESS and Perversion!
Review: This story leaves one feeling dirty and unexplainably turned on. As soon as you think you've read something that has shocked you, Anne rice throws in something else that leaves you in awe. I thought the bok was very interesting. I do not plan to read the next of the trilogy,I dont think I can handle all of that torture again, but that does not alter my decision to give this book 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Very interesting novel
Review: I found this book very interesting. I have never read anything like it before, it was my first erotic book. I really never considered reading erotica before, I usually stick to murder mystery and suspense, but I was looking for something to read and just happened to come across this. I have never read Anne Rice before, and just out of curiosity I picked it up and started reading. It had me from the begining, I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy. To be honest, it scared me a little bit, seeing as I have a reputation as a prude, and for good reason. The situations and punishments in this book were crazy to me, but I loved the book. A definate page turner, I would recomend this book to anyone looking for a good read, even if your not into the whole spanking and punishemt thing, there is lots of other interesting reading to go with all that.
Rating:
Summary: a lot of spanking
Review: If spanking and paddling are your thing, then this is the book for you. I'm all for erotica, but for me, boot-kissing, whipping, spanking, pinching, slapping, etc has limited appeal. So, when they say it isn't for the inhibited, that is true. But to enjoy this, you must be seeking both an adventurous read, and S&M. There is little else in the way of interesting erotic activity in the story.
Rating:
Summary: Bought it for the wife and I'm happier!
Review: Heard about the book from a friend and bought it for my wife and I'm a much happier for it. That is about the best recommendation a guy like me can give. She's a happy lady reading it and doing a good job of making me happy in the process. Oh, and yes I have read it. Not to my taste. A bit flowery, a bit too nice and way to much talking about thoughts and feelings. But then again I'm not the main audience. So my advice to all you guys is buy this for your special lady when she has some alone/down time. Give the book to her (nicely wrapped) with a bottle of wine, some bath goodies and come home to a very happy lady.
Rating:
Summary: The Beginning of Anne Rice's Erotic Epic
Review: The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty is the beginning of Anne Rice's erotic three-part epic. While it's not as hardcore as some of the S&M literature out there, it's still quite engaging. Whether you are dominant or submissive, male or female, strait or gay, there's something in here for everyone. One thing to keep in mind is that this is the first part of a three-part epic and some of the story is devoted more to character development than sex. Also, because this is the first part of a series and it's not very hard core, it's a good place to begin your S&M education. Fans of Anne Rice's Vampire series may or may not like this series. It features none of the characters from her vampire series and very few of the same themes.
Rating: 
Summary: STOP!!!
Review: Seriously, don't dare click the buy button! I love to read good, well-written eroctica and this was not it. As the other reviewers say, it's just boring. The writing is so non-descriptive ( other than the many colors a rear end can turn). This is an excellent premise gone terribly wrong. It's just a rehash from chapter to chapter of one long spanking. I guess that if you only want that in your erotic collection then this might be of interest. I prefer to mix mine up a little...
Rating:
Summary: The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty- neither shocking or erotic.
Review: This is one of the least erotic books I have ever read. It is basicly non stop sex which is neither particularly inspired or, at times particularly realistic. The sex is also neither shocking or all that unusual within this genre. The writing is fairly awfull and struggles to keep the readers intrest. It's only defense is that it is neither flowery or over done. There's no purple prose here!
Rating:
Summary: Not a work of art, but pretty entertaining.
Review: All right, this is no literary masterpiece, but i guiltily admit to enjoying it. Though it is only the first book of a trilogy, i think it is enjoyable by itself and left me feeling fulfilled, meaning there was closure, and you don't really have to read the others (which i started and got bored with). This book is completely erotic and enjoyable basically just for the hot sex scenes. Make sure you have a man/woman near you when you read because, trust me, you'll need some contact after reading some of these pages. I lent it to my brother in law who took it with him when he was shipped overseas and he said it has circulated throughout the entire unit....
|
