I bought a book couple weeks ago. It seemed interesting. The cover was cute. I started reading it. A shock. It was pure porn.
I had no idea I had bought an erotic novel. I put the book away. I'm not going to lie, I was tempted to read it, but a part of me felt that it was corrupting my views of sex. Sex is a beautiful thing but this book made it appear like a power struggle.
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| By Cas Cornelissen |
I started to think why women like erotic novels. A huge help was Dannah Gresh and Dr. Juli Slattery's brilliant book, Pulling Back the Shades: Erotica, Intimacy, and the Longings of a Woman's Heart.
I find it quite strange, that women get turned on by a male character who is controlling, abusive, moody and objectifying a woman. I know not all erotic novels have a male characters like that, but most popular erotic novels do. What does it say about women, who claim to be equal and demand equality in our societies? But still... it's sexy to have a man who says "You are mine" like he owns her. Strange.
Gresh and Slattery (17) suggest that successful erotica uses skillfully female longings: to escape reality, to be cherished by a man, to be protected by a strong man, to rescue a man and to be sexually alive. Erotic novels twist these (sometimes unconscious) longings. A strong man turns into a controlling alpha male. He controls a woman and she loves it. Though the reader would never want a relationship like that, she'll find the characters and the story very... well... sexy.
Why women love erotic novels? Because erotica exploits female longings.
About the book
I was asked to review Pulling Back the Shades. I honestly think every Christian woman should read it. Sexuality is such a big part of our lives, so it's important to talk about it. Sexuality is more than what Hollywood, books and the society is telling us. Pulling Back the Shades talks about it (and erotica) in a straightforward way. There's no need to hide in the shades of grey and feel ashamed. This book helps you to see things in a new light. I'm glad I read it!
If you'd like to win a copy, come back tomorrow!
