Back to the Classics: Carrie's Story by Molly Weatherfield Revisited

Back to the Classics features one book (or series) that you consider classic. It doesn't have to be a Greek classic or a Victorian novel... contemporary classics are always welcome!

This is a free meme, meaning there's no scheduled post dates, no requirements, no prompts—it's completely up to YOU what you decide to post. You're welcome to write a review, ramble in anticipation, make historical rundowns, or provide any other interesting content pertaining to the book you choose. This is supposed to be a fun way to fawn over your favorite books while sharing with your readers your preferences as well! If you're participating, be sure to link up!

Before there was Anastasia, there was Carrie...

Molly Weatherfield's infamous, haunting, and time-revered S/m novel has recently received a makeover! This new Cleis Press reissue has a fabulous foreword by Tristan Taormino, as well as a gorgeous public transportation-friendly cover:

Carrie's Story
Molly Weatherfield

Release Date: 12 February 2013 (reissue)

Publisher: Cleis Press

Page Count: 198

Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)

Brilliant, bold, and exquisitely kinky, Carrie's Story is an American Story of O that goes to the head of the class. Told in the whip-smart voice of a wickedly perceptive English major, this fully imagined and elegantly expressed erotic tale may well be the finest BDSM novel ever written. As Carrie's passions for irony, self-scrutiny, and obedience to her master Jonathan take her from San Francisco to the rough rural byways of Central Valley and posh enclaves of an overcivilized Europe, her story will sweep you into a world of secret, high-concept sensuality. In Carrie's Story, Molly Weatherfield (the alter ego of award-winning romance writer, Pam Rosenthal) has created created an indelible "thinking readers' submissive."

Desire runs rampant in this story of uncompromising mastery and irrevocable submission.

You think Fifty Shades kickstarted the contemporary scene's BDSM obsession? Think again; Carrie's Story came first.

It's been nearly two years since I first read and reviewed Weatherfield's 1995 classic, so it was rather sinfully nostalgic coming back. Carrie's Story is the first BDSM novel I ever read—my initiator, you could say—and it was probably the best-written, most tragic breaking-into I could have possibly asked for. Since then, I guess my taste in erotica has been de-virginized (...deflowered? ...done in the ass?). I remember when just looking at the old cover made me queasy, and the concept of whipping and caning itself made me sick to the stomach. Since then, I've made progress, so rereading this neo-Victorian love story was interesting, to say the least.

When it comes to erotica, especially when it's as hardcore as this, the mainstream is too scared—too polite—to really give it a chance. The seediness, the raunch, the explosive, completely intentional sex—it certainly can be a little daunting. But I think Carrie's Story is exactly the type of book that could quell those fears, bridging the vanilla to the... rocky road, shall we call it?

Aside from containing some of stormiest sex scenes I've read in literature (there's no steamy or sizzling here; it's all temper, passion, and of course, pain—both physical and emotional), books like Carrie's Story are so valuable because of the emotional resonance they convey. The helplessness of a love so strong, it will slowly disintegrate if left alone, is perfectly woven through shameless romps of wicked sex. Weatherfield's compelling, absorbing prose wraps readers up into a chilling, powerful narrative that reads like the wisps of a sensual dream, and the plot, in the end, leaves readers aching. At once an emotional ride and an undisciplined frolic in the dark and complex world of BDSM, Carrie's Story combines all the naughty bits—all the chocolate, marshmallow, and of course, nuts—into a relatable, tender love story.

And just to assuage you vanilla folk, I'll end with this: Carrie's Story is like designer-brand erotica; you won't find anything better-written or more intelligent in the genre. It's lyrical, and even its most explicit of passages are tasteful... well, as tasteful as human ponies and sex slaves get. But let's give credit where it's due: there's only so much dignity that one can carry while bound and gagged 

Ten Beach Road Revisited and Giveaway!

Ten Beach Road
Wendy Wax

Release Date: May 3rd, 2011 (April 2012 mass market paperback release!)

Publisher: Berkley (Penguin)

Page Count: 432

Source: Deb Tobias at Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)

On the brink of ruin, three very different women discover themselves where they least expect... at Ten Beach Road.

Madeline, Avery, and Nikki are strangers to one another, but they have one thing in common. They each wake up one morning to discover their life savings have vanished, along with their trusted financial manager... leaving them with nothing but co-ownership of a ramshackle beachfront house.

Madeline Singer is a homemaker coping with empty-nest syndrome and an unemployed husband. Avery Lawford is an architect—or was, until she somehow became the sidekick on her ex-husband's TV show. And professional matchmaker Nikki Grant is trying to recover from her biggest mistake...

No one is going to save them but themselves. Determined to fight back, they throw their lots together and take on the challenge of restoring the historic beach house to its former glory. But just as they begin to reinvent themselves and discover the power of friendship, their secrets threaten to tear down their trust, and destroy their lives a second time.

Last year, I had the opportunity to review Ten Beach Road at Romancing the Book (you can find my first-read thoughts here!), so I was thrilled when its publicist contacted me about the new mass market paperback release and word of a sequel, Ocean Beach, which came out last week, and whose review was posted at Books à la Mode yesterday (you can check that out here).

I was surprised that even after a year, Ten Beach Road's characters flowed back to me as smoothly and wonderfully as they did the first time around. I guess that's the magic of such lovable characters—no matter how, when, or where you read them, they'll always feel like family. Coming back to this book was both nostalgic and illuminating. Picking up its pages once again made me feel like I was home, as strange and delightful of an experience that is, and I noticed small sentiments I hadn't before.

Wendy Wax's writing is vivid and brimming with sensory images. I absolutely love her style and found it to be one of the best aspects of this book. That, and her true-to-life characters.

Maybe I just noticed this because I also read Ocean Beach, but Ten Beach Road is heavy on the emotional pain and physical labor of Bella Flora's reconstruction—the grueling efforts and teeth-gritting vexations are what fuel the plot and heal the hearts of each of the involved characters. Ocean Beach, on the other hand, focuses mainly on the emotional dilemmas and situational complications. Both techniques appeal to me in different ways, which made my reading of the two books dynamic and varietal, rather than boring. The two books are similar in mood, but individual in flesh, and that's what I love about the saga as a whole. 

Check out these links!

My original review of Ten Beach Road.

Ocean Beach review and giveaway.

Giveaway!

Because I love these books so much, I've opportunities for you to try BOTH books with fantastic giveaways!!!  Thanks to the publicist, Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting, today, there is ONE print copy of Ten Beach Road up for grabs! Be sure to enter my giveaway which was posted yesterday for Ocean Beach, its dazzling sequel, as well. To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway runs through July 18th, 2012 at 11.59 pm (EST).

Open to US and CAN readers only!

Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize once they are chosen, or else their winnings will be forfeited.

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤

Good luck!