Official Review: Out of the Shadows and into the Darkness
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LSWS07
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- Latest Review: "Out of the Shadows and into the Darkness" by Senta Holland
Official Review: Out of the Shadows and into the Darkness
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Out of the Shadows and into the Darkness" by Senta Holland.]
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Out of the Shadows and Into the Darkness by Senta Holland is an erotic BDSM (Bondage/Discipline/Domination/Submission/Sadism/Masochism) novel. The narrator and protagonist, Senta, recounts her experiences in this lifestyle with particular focus on her most significant BDSM relationship.
Senta, a Londoner, travels to Thailand in search of a lover who can satiate her “abnormal” desires. She knows what she wants and she is not ashamed, but has learned that finding a suitable partner, one who does not view their penchants as a scourge, is difficult. In the past, when she has shown her true self she is labeled as a deviant, even by her BDSM partners. She arrives in Thailand with few expectations and meets with an elite, relocated American who pleasantly surprises her. She refers to him as her Nai, a person who holds a position of influence in Thai society, and chronicles their relationship.
The book is divided into chapters and subdivided into small sections that read like journal entries written in stream of consciousness format. While this technique enables the reader to understand Senta better, the result is not always positive. Senta often comes across as whiny and repetitive, and several ideas that are meant to impress the importance of the subject upon the reader come off as ponderous nonsense. In addition, the object of Senta’s affection, her Nai, is wholly underdeveloped. Holland may have done this intentionally, either to keep the story focused on Senta or to demonstrate that Nai, because of his desire for complete dominance, is unreachable. Senta does say that there are parts of him that he keeps from her, that although he is never as open in his “real” life as he is within the constraints of their relationship, he can never fully let go. Whatever the reason, one does not become attached to Nai and consequently does not invest too much in their liaison.
Senta notes that many people would find her account “difficult to read” because they would not be open-minded enough to appreciate BDSM inclinations. That may very well be true, but it would be because the relationship portrayed in the book is one that lacks respect and where what is given and what is gained is not exchanged in equal measure. Senta wants the reader to believe that Nai’s bedroom proclivities are dependent on her consent, and while she gives it because she loves him, his treatment towards her is frequently cruel and selfish. Her understanding of their relationship is a fantasy. Readers will have a hard time digesting many of these scenes not because they are opposed to BDSM, but because they are opposed to people who delight in torture or who are delusional about their relationships.
Senta argues that people who engage in BDSM behaviors or embrace the lifestyle are shunned. She posits that its adherents have to live closeted because to reveal their sexual needs would provoke disastrous consequences in their public lives. However, the upsurge in production and popularity of BDSM literature in recent years defies the central theory of the book. While still somewhat taboo, the negativity Senta attaches to its reception seems overblown.
Many issues concerning BDSM are poignantly and intelligently addressed, and it is hard not to sympathize with Senta at times. Her longings for a relationship and a culture that are welcoming to people like her are understandable and affecting. However, the narrative is preachy and weighed down by self-pity and self-delusion. It may appeal to some BDSM aficionados, people who are unfamiliar with it and those who would like to learn about it, but overall it is too uncomfortable for a reader not into BDSM, and too frustrating for many others. For these reasons, I rate the book two out of four.
***
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Senta, a Londoner, travels to Thailand in search of a lover who can satiate her “abnormal” desires. She knows what she wants and she is not ashamed, but has learned that finding a suitable partner, one who does not view their penchants as a scourge, is difficult. In the past, when she has shown her true self she is labeled as a deviant, even by her BDSM partners. She arrives in Thailand with few expectations and meets with an elite, relocated American who pleasantly surprises her. She refers to him as her Nai, a person who holds a position of influence in Thai society, and chronicles their relationship.
The book is divided into chapters and subdivided into small sections that read like journal entries written in stream of consciousness format. While this technique enables the reader to understand Senta better, the result is not always positive. Senta often comes across as whiny and repetitive, and several ideas that are meant to impress the importance of the subject upon the reader come off as ponderous nonsense. In addition, the object of Senta’s affection, her Nai, is wholly underdeveloped. Holland may have done this intentionally, either to keep the story focused on Senta or to demonstrate that Nai, because of his desire for complete dominance, is unreachable. Senta does say that there are parts of him that he keeps from her, that although he is never as open in his “real” life as he is within the constraints of their relationship, he can never fully let go. Whatever the reason, one does not become attached to Nai and consequently does not invest too much in their liaison.
Senta notes that many people would find her account “difficult to read” because they would not be open-minded enough to appreciate BDSM inclinations. That may very well be true, but it would be because the relationship portrayed in the book is one that lacks respect and where what is given and what is gained is not exchanged in equal measure. Senta wants the reader to believe that Nai’s bedroom proclivities are dependent on her consent, and while she gives it because she loves him, his treatment towards her is frequently cruel and selfish. Her understanding of their relationship is a fantasy. Readers will have a hard time digesting many of these scenes not because they are opposed to BDSM, but because they are opposed to people who delight in torture or who are delusional about their relationships.
Senta argues that people who engage in BDSM behaviors or embrace the lifestyle are shunned. She posits that its adherents have to live closeted because to reveal their sexual needs would provoke disastrous consequences in their public lives. However, the upsurge in production and popularity of BDSM literature in recent years defies the central theory of the book. While still somewhat taboo, the negativity Senta attaches to its reception seems overblown.
Many issues concerning BDSM are poignantly and intelligently addressed, and it is hard not to sympathize with Senta at times. Her longings for a relationship and a culture that are welcoming to people like her are understandable and affecting. However, the narrative is preachy and weighed down by self-pity and self-delusion. It may appeal to some BDSM aficionados, people who are unfamiliar with it and those who would like to learn about it, but overall it is too uncomfortable for a reader not into BDSM, and too frustrating for many others. For these reasons, I rate the book two out of four.
***
Buy "Out of the Shadows and into the Darkness" on Amazon
Buy "Out of the Shadows and into the Darkness" on Barnes and Noble
Latest Review: "Out of the Shadows and into the Darkness" by Senta Holland
