BOOK DESCRIPTION: Emily Vargas has been taken captive. As part of his conditioning methods, her captor refuses to speak to her, knowing how much she craves human contact. He's far too beautiful to be a monster. Combined with his lack of violence toward her, this has her walking a fine line at the edge of sanity. Told in the first person from Emily's perspective, Comfort Food explores what happens when all expectations of pleasure and pain are turned upside down, as whips become comfort and chicken soup becomes punishment.
DISCLAIMER: This is not a story about consensual BDSM. This is a story about "actual" slavery. If reading an erotic story without safewords makes you uncomfortable, this is not the book for you. This is a work of fiction, and the author does not endorse or condone any behavior done to another human being without their consent.
I first heard about this book last June, at the Lori Foster get-together. An author was talking about it in great detail, and I was so disgusted by the description of the story I just knew I would never read it. It made me so angry to think of a man treating a woman like a trophy, uncaring of anything other than his pleasure. I quickly dismissed the notion of going anywhere near it.
Flash-forward to October, when I actually bought the book. Again, Twitter has had quite an impact on me as I'd noticed several readers who really enjoyed it, or at least were more accepting of the idea than I had originally been. Some even fantasized about a Master of their own. While I wouldn't take it quite that far, I did get some insight into the Master, saw that he believed he could break someone and own them, and with her obedience came great care from him.
When we first meet Emily, she's already been captured, and wakes up in a prison cell. She's terrified, convinced she's going to die or at the very least be raped. At this point, her fear is such that she really has no thought to go against him, to fight him. She will comply if it means her survival.
The Master is silent in his approach to her, communicating by action and by expression. Emily has to try to figure out what he wants, and she quickly does. The more she obeys, the more accommodating he is with her. But if she refuses him, he will leave her in the cell, naked, alone. Without human contact. And Emily cannot handle that. She craves, no, requires human touch. She cannot survive without it, and it's her great fear to be deprived of it. So she let's him do what she wants to her, even enjoys it, as long as she's not alone in that cell anymore....
My thoughts:
My thoughts:
This was a challenging read for me but also could have been much worse because of my personal feelings about sexual slavery. Ms. Thomas isn't overtly explicit in her descriptions, so while we understand the Master's goal is to have Emily be his slave, and that most definitely includes owning a sex slave, it's not portrayed as extremely violent or abusive, and soon Emily is conditioned over time to crave his firmer touch, to long for any sexual punishment he sees fit to give her. To me, I feel that a relationship of this magnitude tends to be out of balance. Though Master always silently offers Emily a choice, he knows what her weaknesses are, so he sets it up in such a way that she's going to choose what he wishes her to choose. It's all done with the belief that he is choosing what is best for her when it really means he is manipulating her to get what he wants in end.
Now Emily is so different from me. I am an introvert, so being around crowds drains me. I crave touch as much as the next person, but not to the same critical level Emily does. Despite the fear, I think I would have fought more. Or at least I hope I would have. But when you are kidnapped, and you're terrified, who knows what desperate measures you would take to stay alive. Emily received a lot of pleasure from the Master, so while I wasn't totally consensual, she did enjoy it.
And it certainly doesn't hurt that the Master is extremely good-looking and ungodly rich. I kept having to remind myself that it was just fiction, so it was going to be written in a more appealing fashion than it most likely would have been in real life. Even myself, who has no desire to be anyone's slave, found him to be attractive, and perhaps I wouldn't have minded my captivity with such a Master. Much.
And it certainly doesn't hurt that the Master is extremely good-looking and ungodly rich. I kept having to remind myself that it was just fiction, so it was going to be written in a more appealing fashion than it most likely would have been in real life. Even myself, who has no desire to be anyone's slave, found him to be attractive, and perhaps I wouldn't have minded my captivity with such a Master. Much.
But I am me, and though he was attentive to her needs, I also found him to be too cold and calculating. He treated her like a pet, not a human. His goal was to break her. His plan was to have someone to control, to do his every desire, and in doing so, that was to be her pleasure. I think that's a turn-on to a point. You want to pleasure your partner, but at the same time, you have your own fantasies, and the idea of someone else controlling what you enjoy so completely bothers me.
But that was the point. It wasn't a game, it was a real case of slavery. This man methodically planned to kidnap this woman. He watched her, planned out her abduction, built a cell to keep her like a favored pet. Relinguishing control over to another sounds appealing on a lot of days, but not complete control. I like to cook my own food, wear my own clothes, and don't wish to subject myself to another's wishes to such as extreme consent. But for A LOT of women (and men too), this is a very hot fantasy. It's much more common than one would believe. In fact it's not far-fetched to imagine it being more mainstream in the not too distant future.
So while I didn't warm up to the Master and eny Emily (much), I still found it to be an absorbing read, one that surprised me with how much I lied in the story. I think Ms. Thomas writes a compelling story, and knows how to capture the reader's attention. I would definitely read more by her.
Rating: **** out of *****
Labels: Kitty Thomas, quickie reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 11/26/2010 07:33:00 AM
I was like you about reading CF at first. I convinced myself that I would not read such a book! Extreme slavery in BDSM is a big turn-off for me, and when people think of others as "toys" (non-humans), I simply cringe.
byHowever, curiosity got the better of me, and I read it. It had a huge impact on me. I thought about it everyday for weeks. Watching Emily's journey into submission was facinating.
CF also made me more willing to read other books outside my comfort zone. I'm so glad you gave it a try!
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byI don't think I could read this story. Abuse toward a woman such as what occurs here from what I've heard is something that just isn't just for me.
byCan we assume that the heroine ends up falling in love with her captor after she is transformed into his perfect slave who will do whatever he wants to her?
I read and enjoyed this book.
byI bought this one, because the reviews I've read and the talk on twitter have made me really curious about it, but still haven't read it yet. The subject matter makes me hesitant to open it though. We have similar tastes though, so your review of it makes me think I'll be able to get through it.
byThanks for the awesome review, Stacy! And yeah, it's definitely fantasy material on one level. I think what is challenging about it for many is the fact that it "is" erotica. And what makes many uncomfortable is the eroticizing of elements like this. That's part of why I include the disclaimer. In NO way am I endorsing anything like this beyond fantasy.
byThe book can also be read as a metaphor for surrender or "submissive's anthem" (especially with the epilogue.)
I wouldn't have made him ugly or poor, because then it's not erotica. LOL.
@Katiebabs
Can we assume that the heroine ends up falling in love with her captor after she is transformed into his perfect slave who will do whatever he wants to her?
It's really not so cut and dried as that. I think it's one of those things you really have to just read and make your own judgment on. Though I absolutely understand and respect if it's not a book you want to delve into.
Still not sure I would like it but it's sounds like an intriguing story. Perhaps I'm just a chicken. ;)
byI agree Kitty. I have to decide if I'm brave enough to read Comfort Food because of the subject matter :)
byWonderful review - you brought up all the reasons why I was hesitant to read this book. As it turns out, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.
byDiana, it was enlightening. I am very new to exploring some of the darker elements of sexuality, mostly because I wanted to believe I was over "here" where the normal people were. But we're all scattered across the board, so if doggie style is hardcore to some, it's light to others; if being tied up is kinky to some, it's normal for others. Now the definition of normal differs for all. Thank you for your comments :)
byKate, I see Kitty responded. And yes, I was TOTALLY where you were back in June. I was appalled. But then it turned out a lot of readers I know read it, and some of them liked it. I started thinking about it, talking about it, and learning that some of these elements are HUGE turn-ons for people, normal, well-adjusted, happy people who just like their kink to the extreme. And I'm working hard to accept that. Doesn't mean it doesn't freak me out at times, or disgust me, but it's teaching me something, and that's worthwhile. :)
Good for you Estella. It's refreshing to me. Hope it was for you as well.
C, yeah, I am a total middle-class, 'burb-living, vanilla woman who discovered that it's okay to explore other neighborhoods, and still go back home :)
Kitty, thank you for commenting. I think some people get freaked out, too, when they realize that some of these previously unacceptable fantasies end up arousing them. It's scary. But NORMAL. Doesn't mean we are suddenly going to beg to become a slave, it just means we can be more honest with ourselves. That's what it's done for me.
Susi, no worries if you decide it's not for you. You're not a chicken. I'm sure you like books that don't appeal to me in any way at all, so that's all this is, to an extent. If you do read it, be honest. If you don't like it, that's normal too. Whatever you decide to do is okay :)
Good for you Patti! I had to get to a place to feel like I could read it. I did, and I don't regret it a bit. Quite illuminating, isn't it? :)
Diana, it was enlightening. I am very new to exploring some of the darker elements of sexuality, mostly because I wanted to believe I was over "here" where the normal people were. But we're all scattered across the board, so if doggie style is hardcore to some, it's light to others; if being tied up is kinky to some, it's normal for others. Now the definition of normal differs for all. Thank you for your comments :)
byKate, I see Kitty responded. And yes, I was TOTALLY where you were back in June. I was appalled. But then it turned out a lot of readers I know read it, and some of them liked it. I started thinking about it, talking about it, and learning that some of these elements are HUGE turn-ons for people, normal, well-adjusted, happy people who just like their kink to the extreme. And I'm working hard to accept that. Doesn't mean it doesn't freak me out at times, or disgust me, but it's teaching me something, and that's worthwhile. :)
Good for you Estella. It's refreshing to me. Hope it was for you as well.
C, yeah, I am a total middle-class, 'burb-living, vanilla woman who discovered that it's okay to explore other neighborhoods, and still go back home :)
Kitty, thank you for commenting. I think some people get freaked out, too, when they realize that some of these previously unacceptable fantasies end up arousing them. It's scary. But NORMAL. Doesn't mean we are suddenly going to beg to become a slave, it just means we can be more honest with ourselves. That's what it's done for me.
Susi, no worries if you decide it's not for you. You're not a chicken. I'm sure you like books that don't appeal to me in any way at all, so that's all this is, to an extent. If you do read it, be honest. If you don't like it, that's normal too. Whatever you decide to do is okay :)
Good for you Patti! I had to get to a place to feel like I could read it. I did, and I don't regret it a bit. Quite illuminating, isn't it? :)
Diana, it was enlightening. I am very new to exploring some of the darker elements of sexuality, mostly because I wanted to believe I was over "here" where the normal people were. But we're all scattered across the board, so if doggie style is hardcore to some, it's light to others; if being tied up is kinky to some, it's normal for others. Now the definition of normal differs for all. Thank you for your comments :)
byKate, I see Kitty responded. And yes, I was TOTALLY where you were back in June. I was appalled. But then it turned out a lot of readers I know read it, and some of them liked it. I started thinking about it, talking about it, and learning that some of these elements are HUGE turn-ons for people, normal, well-adjusted, happy people who just like their kink to the extreme. And I'm working hard to accept that. Doesn't mean it doesn't freak me out at times, or disgust me, but it's teaching me something, and that's worthwhile. :)
Good for you Estella. It's refreshing to me. Hope it was for you as well.
C, yeah, I am a total middle-class, 'burb-living, vanilla woman who discovered that it's okay to explore other neighborhoods, and still go back home :)
Kitty, thank you for commenting. I think some people get freaked out, too, when they realize that some of these previously unacceptable fantasies end up arousing them. It's scary. But NORMAL. Doesn't mean we are suddenly going to beg to become a slave, it just means we can be more honest with ourselves. That's what it's done for me.
Susi, no worries if you decide it's not for you. You're not a chicken. I'm sure you like books that don't appeal to me in any way at all, so that's all this is, to an extent. If you do read it, be honest. If you don't like it, that's normal too. Whatever you decide to do is okay :)
Good for you Patti! I had to get to a place to feel like I could read it. I did, and I don't regret it a bit. Quite illuminating, isn't it? :)
I don't think I could ever read this book- the subject matter is just too dark and emotionally intense for me. But I'm still fascinated by an author who can take that subject matter and make it compelling. I'll likely be trying Kitty Thomas' works in the future.
by