Neurotica, by Elva Maxine Beach
Elva Maxine Beach’s Neurotica isn’t like anything I’ve ever read before. True, it features male-female dynamics as well as a thoughtful exploration of issues like power and control, but Beach explores these themes differently than most other authors do.
As indicated by the title, Neurotica blends both the psychological and the erotic. In fact, as Beach explains on her website, “My work isn’t necessarily erotica… It’s raw, yes, and there’s lots of fucking and sucking, but my work delves into the psyche. It’s psyche-sexual drama.”
Neurotica is not for the faint of heart, but for those who aren't scared off by the prospect of some "fucking and sucking," you'll find Neurotica to be a well-written, thought-provoking collection of poetry and short fiction. Beach, who currently “teaches writing, professes pleasure, and encourages mindful hedonism” (I am so down with this!) earned an MFA at Louisiana State University, where a friend advised her to write erotica.
The strongest pieces in Neurotica are the short stories (especially, "Can I Get a Hallelujah?" which you can read here), which chronicle the narrator's sexual progression, from awakening to liberation. No matter where one is along the narrator's path, her story is unsettling, disturbing, unconventional -- and utterly compelling. At times, my hand crept to my mouth (the Catholic school girl in me blushed a deep shade of red several times), but never could I look away, and I found my mind returning to Neurotica long after I had finished it.
In a nutshell: Erotica with a social conscience, Neurotica explores the power one person can have over another -- but it also explores the power found in powerlessness.
Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars
Special Announcement: A book release party will be held on June 28 in Austin, Texas. If you act soon, the hardcover version of the book will be shipped free to anywhere in North America, but this offer is good only through the 28th of June.
Elva Maxine Beach’s Neurotica isn’t like anything I’ve ever read before. True, it features male-female dynamics as well as a thoughtful exploration of issues like power and control, but Beach explores these themes differently than most other authors do.
As indicated by the title, Neurotica blends both the psychological and the erotic. In fact, as Beach explains on her website, “My work isn’t necessarily erotica… It’s raw, yes, and there’s lots of fucking and sucking, but my work delves into the psyche. It’s psyche-sexual drama.”
Neurotica is not for the faint of heart, but for those who aren't scared off by the prospect of some "fucking and sucking," you'll find Neurotica to be a well-written, thought-provoking collection of poetry and short fiction. Beach, who currently “teaches writing, professes pleasure, and encourages mindful hedonism” (I am so down with this!) earned an MFA at Louisiana State University, where a friend advised her to write erotica.
The strongest pieces in Neurotica are the short stories (especially, "Can I Get a Hallelujah?" which you can read here), which chronicle the narrator's sexual progression, from awakening to liberation. No matter where one is along the narrator's path, her story is unsettling, disturbing, unconventional -- and utterly compelling. At times, my hand crept to my mouth (the Catholic school girl in me blushed a deep shade of red several times), but never could I look away, and I found my mind returning to Neurotica long after I had finished it.
In a nutshell: Erotica with a social conscience, Neurotica explores the power one person can have over another -- but it also explores the power found in powerlessness.
Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars
Special Announcement: A book release party will be held on June 28 in Austin, Texas. If you act soon, the hardcover version of the book will be shipped free to anywhere in North America, but this offer is good only through the 28th of June.
1 comment:
cannot wait to read this book!
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