Thursday, October 18, 2012

book review: diary of a submissive

The following is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club, but the opinions expressed are my own.

When I signed up to be chosen to read and review Diary of a Submissive for BlogHer, I didn't really expect that I would be chosen.  I'd tried several times to be chosen as a reviewer, and was always just a smidgen too late tossing my name in the hat to be a reviewer.  I saw the announcement, and decided to jump in.  My family and I were headed for a two week road trip to the west coast, and in the back of my mind I figured I would be too late signing up to be chosen as a reviewer.

Wrong.  I got the email, and was thrilled, then realized that the book would be delivered while I was GONE.  I had my daughter in law checking the mail every day, and was going to get her to overnight it to me.  But it didn't arrive in the time frame I needed it to, and so I knew when I got home I would have just three days to read it and write the review.  I hate pressure when reading, but I had committed, and steeled myself to do it.

We got home at midnight on Saturday night.  I decided I would just peek in the book at the first few pages then go to bed.  At five in the morning I was still reading...

And reading.  I was mesmerized, fascinated and could not put the book down.  The book is sexually explicit, but that didn't put me off.  What I found fascinating was the psychological aspect of it.  Sophie Morgan, the author (writing under a pseudonym since this is a true story) takes the reader inside the mind of a submissive, someone who has had an unremarkable, stable upbringing.  Sophie discovers her submissive nature in college, and her book chronicles her journey into the world of domination and submission, of pleasure and pain, a world not for the faint of heart.  It lays out in detail how relationships unfold, change and grow when there is a darker side to the relationship.  Outwardly, Sophie leads a "normal" successful life.  In her private life, she reveals a side of her personality that is anything but a woman in control.

For me personally, I found the book fascinating.  It was impossible to put down until I finished it, and that was in one sitting.  For anyone with a curiosity about alternative lifestyles, and sexual proclivities, who is comfortable with graphic descriptions of sadism and masochism, this book can open your eyes.  Sophie Morgan does an excellent job of making you understand what makes her tick, in an unrepentant way.  Diary of a Submissive is not the first book of this genre to be written, but the fact that it is a true story, written in an insightful way makes it a compelling, interesting read.  I recommend it.

For more information about the launch of Diary of a Submissive, and to follow the discussion, please click here to go to the BlogHer Book Club Page, and join the discussion!


...life is good. ~cath
find me @jonesbabie on Twitter

4 comments:

  1. Congrats on being selected AND getting it done on time! It certainly sounds like a book that would never be boring, especially since it is a true story.

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    1. It sure wasn't Shelly! It kept me reading after a 15 hour day and almost 900 miles of driving.

      I've always enjoyed memoirs and biographies since I was a child, and this was definitely different. This was my first review for the BlogHer Book Club and it was a lot of fun.

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  2. I love your review.

    I found this book just riveting. I'm still thinking about it, weeks later. I'm impressed that it's affected me so deeply.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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    1. I agree with you Suni! It definitely peaked my interest. I've always been the curious sort, and enjoy reading a wide variety of things. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Your blog is awesome, by the way. :D

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