Elizabeth McNeill (2) (1940–2011)

Curious as to the BDSM trend in recent years and the popularity of these titles, I decided to read this book (after being disappointed with 50 shades). Keep in mind that this a true story (memoir).

What I found remarkable overall was the candid voice of the narrator, her honest, at times quite rational, explanation of her experiences, without regard to the shock and condemnation she risks eliciting in the reader. The fact that this was written in the mid seventies makes her 'I don't care how show more you perceive me' attitude all the more admirable. Her prose, although at times erratic, is for the most part poetic and impassioned. One cannot escape the feeling that she is writing this for herself, searching for whatever is inside her to have made her submissive love affair so all consuming.

I also was intrigued with the way she presented her lover, whose name we never learn, and who is only exposed through his habits and his short dialogues. An in-depth profile of him is also cleverly presented when she rummages through his doors and describes his clothes and possessions, a potent method of giving a stark picture of him and adding depth to his persona.

During the course of their relationship, she comes to a personal revelation that her submission is liberating, resulting in an unmatched satisfaction and euphoria. Her emotional breakdown at the end is not surprising given that the author has had previous bouts of depression, and the trigger could have been the realization that she will never experience something so intense again. show less

A memoir of a love affair, is the subtitle. Highly recommended as such.
This was well written. The author manages to convey the emotional heights and depths of falling in love and consuming passion with the cool detached voice of looking back on events that gives meaning to and evaluates those events.
One thing is for sure, this girl is a tough cookie, I cringed at some points when the implication of a casually written sentence sunk in.
At the last paragraphs, all I could think was, Ooooow, show more that's so sad, you poor thing...

Because there's a film with the same title as this novel, and its contents may lead you to have expectations about this novel, I would recommend that you forget about the film before starting this novel. "Loosely based on" is already an exaggeration. show less

Great book if you're into obsession and sexual addiction. This woman was so caught up in this man that she didn't mind the abuse he was giving her. Again, a book where the movie showed it no justice (this coming from a fan of the movie). I kinda felt sorry for her in the end of the book, but then again, she brought it all on herself. Read it.

This is a short erotic memoir that chronicles the downfall of a woman who falls in love with a man who wins her over with his elaborate love making techniques that became more violent as the relationship continued. Eventually his betrayal of her love puts her in an institution.