I was reading a book last week and was amazed at the number of graphic sex scenes. Now I'm no prude. All my books have a couple of saucy scenes but I always wonder how much detail is too much to cross the line into the "ick factor." Some of my favorite authors close the bedroom door on the sex while others describe every grunt and groan, every part being touched, licked or otherwise engaged. For me, how the sex is handled really doesn't affect how much I enjoy the book.
I don't read much erotica because I often find the stories or the characters a little lacking because so much page space is devoted to the sex. The next one on my TBR pile is an erotica, however. Since some of my short stories are that genre, I thought I should brush up on what's out there.
So what about you? Do you prefer the door be open or shut on graphic scenes?
7 comments:
I love a really well written, smokin' sex scene. I do, however, draw the line at humiliation. I like to read some BDSM but there was one book in particular that I thought went a little too far in the Dominant trying to "break" the Submissive. It all worked out in the and there was the HEA but man, those first few encounters were rough.
I prefer it open, but I also prefer the hero and heroine WAIT until the latter part of the book. Boinkathons do nothing for me. I like to see character growth, sexual tension that crackles, and blossoming love.
But if the hero and heroine are constantly going at it like dogs from the beginning, I lose interest. I'm into characters and love stories...and THEN hot, sweaty sex! :-)
You know as a reviewer, I have read erotica and then books that just have a touch of it. I actually think it is based on the author and how they want to portray the characters. All sex all the time or love, excitment, and then a little bit of sex. I like the door cracked :) I like to know the characters have a physical connection and I like the fact that some sex scenes can give you ideas. I have to have that romance though...call me old fashioned.
But like I said I read a lot of different types and each author to me is different...I have to recommend Jasmine Hayne's book Somebody's Lover...it was an erotica but had the romance I craved.
I like the door open, but I don't have to have it open to enjoy a good well written romance. And if the writer gets too carried away with their sex scenes I can always skim so that doesn't bother me. I do agree with jen's comments regarding BDSM. I've read one or two BDSM stories that I really enjoyed but still don't understand that mindset at all.
I love the "door cracked" analogy. I guess that's how I like it as well. I want to know the characters have a smokin' good time, but I don't need a play by play or a thrust by thrust!
I love a hot love scene, but I don't need all the down and dirty details - sometimes TMI really kills the mood for me, especially when a scene comes across as something more a guy would go for. I agree that the book shouldn't be non-stop sex. Let the couple dance around each other a little, then let it happen. Too much of a good thing gets old.
Dear Author recently had an article on erotica that helped me with defining sex in an erotic romance. Most notably, that "in erotica the character development occurred and is communicated through sex".
The comments from the article are as interesting as the article itself. Sorry Karyna for going slightly off tangent!
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