The erotica I recently read just wasn't very good. It failed to meet my expectations in many aspects. I firmly believe that there must be better erotica out there waiting to be discovered. Additionally, there were a significant number of issues that couldn't be ignored. The concept of consent seemed to be rather模糊 and not clearly addressed. It made me uncomfortable to see how some of the situations were presented without a proper understanding or respect for the importance of consent. Moreover, there was a noticeable presence of the white/male gaze. The story seemed to be told from a very narrow perspective, focusing mainly on the desires and experiences of white males, while neglecting the diverse range of perspectives and experiences that exist within the realm of sexuality. This limited viewpoint made the erotica feel one-sided and exclusionary.
Honestly, I have to say that I really didn't have much affection for 'Quiver'. It took me a whopping several weeks to finally get through it. The reason being that I constantly had to force myself to keep going and finish it. I had actually won this book through a giveaway right here on Goodreads. And if it wasn't for the fact that I felt an obligation to finish it and then write a review, I might very well not have completed it at all. I was initially quite excited to start reading it. But as I made my way through the first few stories, I quickly found myself feeling disappointed. A large number of the stories simply didn't manage to capture my interest. In fact, I found one particular story to be extremely boring. And, of course, like most books of an erotic nature, I couldn't help but find some of the more elicit scenes rather cheesy.
However, there were one or two stories that I did really enjoy. In fact, I enjoyed them almost enough to give the book an additional star. But since I hadn't really liked the book as a whole, I just couldn't bring myself to do it based on just one story. The book did have one redeeming factor, though. The author, Learner, did have quite a few original ideas. And there were many different themes that were used throughout the book. Also, while all the short stories are connected and do come together at the end, they can also stand independently on their own. Maybe the book would be better appreciated if the stories were read separately rather than as a whole from cover to cover, as I did.
2.5 stars.
What I truly appreciated the most about this compilation of tales was the remarkable quality of its writing. This was a pleasant surprise considering that erotica isn't always renowned for its literary finesse. At times, the writing did verge on becoming a bit formulaic and clinical, with phrases like "she did this, he did that, he put this there, she put that there" being repeated. However, this is understandable as a significant portion of the book is dedicated to describing the actions of the characters. When it comes to the stories themselves, there was a diverse range. Some were truly excellent, captivating the reader's attention and imagination. Others were not quite as engaging, perhaps lacking in depth or originality. And then there were those that were just downright strange, leaving the reader with a sense of bewilderment. Overall, 'Quiver' was an interesting read. Although it's not the genre that I would typically gravitate towards, it still managed to earn a solid middle-ground rating from me. It's important to note that if you are easily offended by various 'c' words, then this book may not be suitable for you.