Bodice Ripper and Democratic Role Playing?

At our January and February meetings, several V-Town members said that they are chomping at the bit for a "bodice ripper", a good story with a strong erotic undercurrent. In order to quell the requests we thought a clever segue from our Sookie vampire series would be to explore Mistress Roquelaure’s erotica, aka Miss Anne Rice, famously known as the author of The Vampire Chronicles. Subtly paying tribute to the sexy vampire theme that started Book Club, we assigned “The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty”, by A.N. Roquelaure*. However, we discovered by choosing the “Claiming of Sleeping Beauty” V-Town crossed the line from bodice ripper to straight up BDSM. We understand that this book may prove too strong a subject for some members, and that’s okay if you did not like it, the month is almost over, April and May will bring new book topics, probably not as shocking or controversial but hopefully intriguing.

Now let’s bring out our silken ropes or leather straps (or chains, you sicko’s) and tie up this review, we will start with the relentless questioning. Why does Anne Rice use a classic Fairytale inspired title for her book? Do you think Anne Rice named her character “Beauty” as a euphemism (for?) or to demonstrate how we may be trapped by beauty? We may desire beauty but it comes with consequences? Does Anne Rice use her character Beauty to demonstrate the conflict of mind, heart and desire we may encounter when first exposed to BDSM? What Beauty experiences at the hands of her Prince may mirror some of our deepest desires, to be the object of someone’s vehement passion, to be admired, to be possessed by someone’s fierce affections. Or do you have a more democratic perspective of her situation wanting her to be freed from her humiliating subjugation long enough to switch roles with the Prince? Do you find yourself thinking about the miserable existence she has been forced to lead and about how nobody should have that kind of oppressive authority over another without back and forth role playing?

We found this review on AMAZON: “the early scenes with the Prince and Beauty were sexy and romantic. But as soon as they arrived at the castle, the Prince just sort of left the picture. And that was pretty much the end of any semblance of a male dom/female sub focus.” What happened to the Prince? Did he eventually protect Beauty? Were you disappointed by his departure? The rulers of the kingdom assert that it is the highest tribute to be chosen for service, for enslavement, but Beauty shows us that wholly embracing this type of objectification is as varying as there are moments and experiences in the day.

In pure V-Town dominatrix style we leave you with more relentless questions and nobody to discuss them with until this Saturday night, March 19th 6pm at Maguire’s Pub in Petaluma, we call this “delayed gratification”:

• What feelings does Beauty’s supplication invoke? Are you just as conflicted as Beauty? In what way? Does the conflict get in the way of the lust invoked by the scene?
• Were you willing to surrender yourself completely to the story (willful suspension of disbelief)? Did you get too caught up in the costuming, the landscape or the beauty to completely suspend disbelief?
• Did you like the book?
• Did the theme get tiresome or did Mistress Roquelaure keep you going back for more?
• How did this book rate compared to other erotica you have read?
• Do you prefer short story erotica or did you like having it available to you in a three part book series?
 See you this Saturday March 19th, leatherwear and stiletto’s encouraged but optional


*Roquelaure was the pen name Anne Rice adopted to write this book, the first in the erotic trilogy comprised of “The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty” (1983), “Beauty's Release” (1984), and “Beauty's Punishment” (1985) . The word Roquelaure is a French word referring to a cloak men wore in the 18th century, and Anne Rice continued to hide beneath the cloak of her pen name until the 1990’s when she finally publicly disclosed that she was author of this sensual series.

Post whipped by Dalila and Angela