Sunday 31 October 2010

Reading Outside the Comfort Zone

Once in a while I try to read something that falls outside my normal reading comfort zone. Sometimes I discover something that expands my comfort zone and sometimes I pick something that just falls way too far outside my comfort zone

To Serve and Submit by Susan Wright is one of those book that fall way outside of it.

Don't get me wrong: the book is well written, the story original, but the lead character is a submissive and a large part of the story is focused on that.

I couldn't deal with it!

Someone who submits totally to another person and doesn't stand up and fight for herself is not someone I can relate to. I wanted to kick both the lead character and the guy she submits to for acting like they did. I wasn't even able to finish the book as it all bothered me too much.

How about you?
What kind of book or theme is way out of your comfort zone?




8 comments:

Demented Wench said...

I might add this one to my "To Read" list just out of curiosity to see if I have the same reaction that you had.

Considering how long that "To Read" list is, it might be 10 years before I get around to reading this book. :|

Michelle Greathouse said...

I am the same way. I do not like to read anything with a submissive female (or male).

I have tried three times and had the same reaction - I got angry. LOL On two occasions I was reading about a submissive female and a dominant male - and I could not believe what he was making her do - and then was more shocked that she actually did it.

The third try was an M/M - and that was out of my comfort zone anyway - adding the dom/sub combo on top of that was just overwhelming for my vanilla self. LOL

M

M.A.D. said...

Hi McPig! That's a very good idea (one I'd never thought of doing) to deliberately read a book outside your comfort zone.

Usually though, I do it on accident ...

A few years back, I read 'The Story of O'.
Omg. By the end of the book I was emotionally drained and ready to smack both the men involved along with the woman who was so messed up she needed to be treated/handled that way. Couldn't imagine anyone subjecting themselves to that kind of thing.

Definitely not the type of book for moi LOL

Enbrethiliel said...

+JMJ+

Most Erotica is already definitely outside my comfort zone. I need the happy ending in Romance--and not just the idea of "release"--or else I get really depressed. But there are some Romances that really dip into kinky fantasies and thereby "ick" me out, too. I really don't like multiple partners, for instance, even if they're happy to be three-to-a-bed or four-to-a-bed or whatever to the end of their days.

As with your reaction, mine has nothing to do with the quality of the writing or the believablity of the characters/plot, and everything to do with my own emotional boundaries. I wouldn't be able to relate to someone in that kind of sexual relationship; and if I knew them in real life, I'd be advising them to get out of it.

Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

Its a really cool plan to try something new once in a while. But then, I get bored easily and seem to always be looking for something new!

I tried the "Story of O" too, and had a very negative reaction to it but made myself finish it. If you would like to read my review, Miranda

Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

Weird! for some reason blogger cut off half my post! Maybe it was the link. *hum*

Anyway, I did wish you all a Happy Halloween!

Sullivan McPig said...

Thanks for your input everyone!
@Rnbrethiliel: Oh, I'm a one on one kind of reader too. No menages for this piggy.
@M.A.D. & SVZ: I didn't read the book, but saw the movie. Wasn't too impressed by that, so I think they softened it a bit.

Unknown said...

I have a hard time getting into books that go into explicit detail about hard drugs, abusive relationships, harming children, etc. I have a particular dislike for romances involving infidelity. The darker side of life isn't something I enjoy reading about at all.

-J