What did you think of the erotic scenes?

Use this forum to discuss the September Book of the Month "Apollo's Raven" by Linnea Tanner.
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k2rugman
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Re: What did you think of the erotic scenes?

Post by k2rugman »

Yeah I'm not a fan of that kind of awkward, cringe-worthy erotic writing but I also don't love it when erotic scenes are overly graphic. I think it's unnecessary.
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Post by Helen_Combe »

To be honest, I never get along with erotica. It’s either embarrassingly euphemistic with ‘temples’, ‘petals’ and ‘tumesences’ or it’s horribly direct and mechanical.
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Post by bluegreenmarina »

I think it’s rare that a book’s plot actually benefits from explicit descriptions of sexual acts, and so much of the time euphemisms can be just as bad (especially when they are overly flowery and metaphoric)... it’s a tough line to walk.
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Post by P Reefer »

I think I am the opposite I love poetic language and the apt use of literary devices in conveying intimacy.
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Post by SammiArch »

I agree. Either go into full detail, using adult language, or skip it altogether. Hinting with phrases like "tight bud opening to his heat" is too juvenile.
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Post by Kelyn »

I actually appreciate intimate scenes in a romance if they are done well. Unfortunately, having actually tried my hand at writing them, I can say that they are definitely harder to do than it would seem and still keep it in good taste. Go too far and it becomes porn. Rein it in too much and it may become both boring for the reader and/or, as you said, "cringe-worthy." I think the author was trying too hard to "ride the fence" and ended up on the negative side.
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Post by AliceofX »

Kelyn wrote: 04 Oct 2018, 16:29 Unfortunately, having actually tried my hand at writing them, I can say that they are definitely harder to do than it would seem and still keep it in good taste. Go too far and it becomes porn. Rein it in too much and it may become both boring for the reader and/or, as you said, "cringe-worthy."
True. I think some people just have more of a talent when it comes to scenes like that. Every author can't write every type of fiction.
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Post by thebookaholic1 »

AliceofX wrote: 01 Sep 2018, 02:58 "She was a tight bud opening to his heat." Just use adult words for goodness sake.
I think the author is just shy.
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Post by Sumra Abbas »

On the strong grounds of ethics and morality, these scenes aren't really commendable. It was feasible to skip it or to symbolize or metamorphose the expression rather than directly stating.
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Post by rd7ht »

I don't care for books that do sex scenes in euphemism. I have trouble taking anything in the story seriously after reading that.
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Post by GabbiV »

I had to skip over those scenes, I was experiencing too much second hand embarrasment! I’m ok with adult content, but not when the author decides to make the prose flowery.
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Post by Mai Tran »

AliceofX wrote: 01 Sep 2018, 02:58 To me, that was the most cringe-inducing part of the book. I can't stand when writers try to be all literary and use phrases like, "openly displaying his manly attributes," and, "She was a tight bud opening to his heat." Just use adult words for goodness sake.

But maybe that's just me. Maybe that would have made the book too adult. What did you think?
I do appreciate erotic scenes when they are tasteful and meaningful to the plot. Since it's not an easy task, I feel like the author should have just skipped over those scenes. Poorly written erotic scenes really devalue a book in my opinion.
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Post by happynessc0 »

I don’t mind the author’s choice of words. I think the author just wrote the erotic scenes based on historical style.
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Post by Samisah »

I think books are a visualization of our everyday life. So as long as erotism is part of life, I see no reason why they shouldn't be part of books. However it is important to use moderation
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Post by teevic_o »

I usually don't mind erotic scenes, as long as it's well written. The example given above is cringe worthy and irky. A bit of a turn off really, historical story or not.
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