The Sensual Scholar: Randy Reading #5: Carrie's Story

And we're back, after a rather crazy few weeks. It has been a while since I wrote about an erotic book, and this is one I found really enjoyable. From the intelligent-sexy people at Cleiss Press, Carrie's Story is a modern take on the classic Story of O written by Molly Weatherfield. She writes herself about how she struggled to harmonise her love of the de Sade style pornography she'd enjoyed in her youth with the Sex Wars era feminism developing around her. I've seen it a lot myself in people new to the fetish scene, women especially, feeling guilty for a presumed betrayal of their gender by letting a man control them, and while I find it quite easy to resolve such inner conflict thanks to way too much time spent reading philosophical texts dealing with the master and slave dynamic - in a non-sexual context, but it frequently applies - it's something that does rear its head often, and I'm glad to have been able to read something dealing with this in such a positive light, as well as providing a believable modern portrayal of the 25-7 lifestyle.

Carrie is a strong, independent, educated young woman, and her owner, Jonathan, is caring and appreciative. I get incredibly antsy when BDSM stories fall back on the old "subs have unresolved abuse issues and doms are abusers looking for an excuse" style, because while that can be true, more people involved in the lifestyle do so without it being so twisted. Having a strong female submissive as the narrator is a fantastic touch, she's very accessible and likeable, the kind of chick I could imagine being, or even just being friends with. Carrie's real, she's empowered, and she's enthusiastic about finding her way into this dynamic. I love the conversations she has with her friend, Stuart, where they try to 'logic' out how it all works, citing different books and writers that have dealt with the subject.

"Well, I think we want an object relations theory that's at least got a little more philosophical

oomph to it. I'd add in all that Hegelian master/slave stuff. Self knowing itself by dominating the

other, but not devouring the other completely because that blows the game."

Even when dealing with Jonathan and the others he introduces her to, she's constantly critically analysing their relationship and their play, even over-thinking it to the point that the stricter owners she's shown to can sense her reluctance to become completely under the power of any one individual.

The story bounces back and forth, beginning with the almost fully trained Carrie being informed that she would be sold at auction, tracing back to the chance meeting that began it all, and then onward to how she's prepared for the sale. There's no mystery about how it will end; much like her set-up with Jonathan, everything's up front.

Pony clubs and slave auctions might be rather surreal, with very few people able to think of one that happens just down the road, but these more extreme aspects are counter-balanced by a touch of the banal, discussing how slave ownership and contracts work in a realistic manner, making Sir Harold's Custom Ponies seem like the kind of place that just might exist. And, as with a standard romance, the path is not flawless: business gets in the way, interrupting their training, and breaking the spell, with Carrie experimenting on her own and how this changes her relationship with Jonathan.

My only complaint is that it ends right with me screaming "but what happens next?!?". Luckily, there is a sequel, Safe World, which I shall definitely be picking up.

Themes

BDSM, Pony play, Anal training, Slave ownership/auctions, Group sex, Public humiliation, BDSM theory.

Rating