On Sex and Mystery Novels
Humph. Why do all the supernatural mystery authors have to ruin my concentration with sex? I mean, I don't care if the characters *have* sex, I'd just prefer not to read it in graphic details. When it comes to sex, the only time I really feel comfortable reading it is when it's pure, mostly plot less, unadulterated porn-in-written-form with the sole intension of turning someone on. When it's intermixed with an actual *plot*, I have a lot of trouble reading it - especially in novels. Once I get in to all out reading mode, my brain is totally focused on the story in front of me, to the point where it actually takes me a second or two become aware of my surroundings again. Any time I get really into a book, I guess you could use the metaphor of a long, empty expanse of highway - I'm cruising along at 70+ mph (don't laugh; I'm from small town Wisconsin - thats *fast* for me) without a care in the world. And then I get to the sex part, and it's like I hit this huge speed bump across the entire road. It totally jars me from the story and throws me quite suddenly back into reality, and then I have to stop and *not think* about it for a minute or two before I can dive back in for round two. I read a little more and, even though I know it's coming, *WHAM!* - another speed bump. And, while the first speed bump slows me down a little, I still hit the next one at 55/60 mph. Each consecutive one after that slows me down a little more, and I never get quite back up to speed until the sex scene is over.
Usually, this isn't a problem, because I happily skip those parts when I reread the books at a later date (which I do. A lot. I've gone through some series at least 10 times and still love them), but the first time I at least *try* to read all the way through because... like. I don't know, it's polite or something. Probably the "or something", but I don't know how to better explain it.
Anyway, that was the long of it. The short of it is Maren No Like Sex Scenes In Books. It just totally throws me off the story line, and it takes me quite awhile to wade through the smutty parts. (Yeah, I'm girly enough to buy perfume. Once. And it was too strong, so I gave it to a friend of mine. Okay, maybe not so girly after all. Guess I am my own separate gender... I am Marmale! Or, wait... That's fruit preserve.)
Otherwise, Kim Harrison is a very good author, managing to mix pixies and witches and elves and any matter of other fairy story creations with Modern Day quite well without making it seem... Well, like a fairy tale. And, from what little I managed to wade through, the sex scenes are pretty good, too. If you like that kinda thing.
Usually, this isn't a problem, because I happily skip those parts when I reread the books at a later date (which I do. A lot. I've gone through some series at least 10 times and still love them), but the first time I at least *try* to read all the way through because... like. I don't know, it's polite or something. Probably the "or something", but I don't know how to better explain it.
Anyway, that was the long of it. The short of it is Maren No Like Sex Scenes In Books. It just totally throws me off the story line, and it takes me quite awhile to wade through the smutty parts. (Yeah, I'm girly enough to buy perfume. Once. And it was too strong, so I gave it to a friend of mine. Okay, maybe not so girly after all. Guess I am my own separate gender... I am Marmale! Or, wait... That's fruit preserve.)
Otherwise, Kim Harrison is a very good author, managing to mix pixies and witches and elves and any matter of other fairy story creations with Modern Day quite well without making it seem... Well, like a fairy tale. And, from what little I managed to wade through, the sex scenes are pretty good, too. If you like that kinda thing.