Uh-huh, got your attention, didn't I? (smile). Shame on you. You know good and well it's NOT that kind of party up in here (LOL). Okay, I do want to talk about sex in literature and more specifically, your preferences as far as what you might consider too much or too little; too explicit or not explicit enough.
I've been amused by some of the comments folks have been making about After The Dance as far as the love scenes are considered. (What?! Your book contains love scenes?!) Ah, yeah, it is a love story and one called AFTER The Dance, no less . . . Anyway, folks appear to be falling into one of two camps when it comes to their thoughts on the matter--either the book wasn't quite steamy enough for them OR they found it a bit too steamy.
Personally, I don't think the book is steamy at all. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the hottest, I'd rate it about a 4-5. Really. But then, I've read a lot, seen a lot, done a . . . (LOL). Okay, let me stop. After The Dance is a humorous look at love, and do note the emphasis on humor, as opposed to anything hot and/or heavy. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the novel contains a total of two make-out scenes and two love scenes, none of which, in my view, are terribly explicit or contain details of a graphic nature.
Yet and still, I've informed my own young'n that he's to go nowhere near this particular novel until he's at least sixteen. Of course, if he's anything like me, I'm sure by age sixteen he will have snuck and read all of the so-called juicy parts and, if he's so inclined, moved onto trashier and nastier things (LOL). Forgive me y'all, I'm just a realist when it comes to certain things.
I'm sure I'll get plenty of flack for saying this, but IMHO, a lot of today's so-called urban-lit and/or erotica is really porn with a loose plot thrown in for good measure. Hey, the market is what it is and I, for one, believe GROWN FOLKS have a right to read whatever it is they enjoy, be it porn or poetry and without a whole lot of snide commentary from the ivory-tower thriving, self-appointed book police. But the other truth is, I'm not interested in writing porn, poetry, urban-lit, street-lit, chick-lit or romance. (What?! I thought After The Dance was a romance novel?!) Ah, NO, even though I often describe it as a "romantic comedy," I view it as a love story, NOT a romance, in the traditional sense. There is a difference.
So what say you? Do you think today's literature contains too much sex? If you do, what, in your opinion, is too much sex? (too much emphasis? too many scenes? too many details? way too graphic?) Are you satisfied (no pun intended *smile*) with the amount of sex in the books you read?
If you've had a chance to read After The Dance, what did you think about the love scenes? Did you find them too steamy? Not steamy enough? Did you think there were too many scenes of the "hot & bothered" variety? Would you have liked to have seen more?
The floor is now open. Feel free to discuss . . .
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10 comments:
Okay, I'll jump in:
I've just gotten to the first steamy scene, and I have to say I enjoyed it immensely, on both the humor and 'let's talk about sex' levels. Specifically, I thought your treatment of Carl's doubts about his performance was both funny and real (or so I've heard, not being of the male persuasion LOL). I can't speak on more...but will, once I get there.
'Still hoping you might have a chance to drop by A&S this weekend...
Hey Michelle, old brave one (smile). Thanks for weighing in on the topic and the feedback on one of the "steamy" scenes in my novel. I'm glad you're enjoying it and can appreciate the humor.
We'll probably have to catch A & S next year. But maybe we'll see you at another festivial in Charlotte, this summer or fall . . .
Lori, some books in the romance genre have gotten steamy but I love a good sex scene between characters who love each other. I have your book but haven't read it yet so I can't comment on whether or not it's too steamy, but I can't wait to get to those scenes...smile
Hey Shelia,
Thanks for commenting on the topic. I guess the issue becomes one of what makes for a "good" sex scene? Of course, that will mean different things to different people.
Personally, I'd rather not read every little detail. When it comes to literature, I'd like to see a lot more creativity and a bit more left to the imagination.
Now, when it comes to the big screen, I'd actually like to see more "romance" and even more "love scenes" between African American couples.
I think, by and large, female, African American movie-goers, like myself are currently being short-changed when it comes to seeing ourselves portrayed as "love interests" or even sexually active in a healthy, romantic kind of way on the big screen.
The sex was not gratuitous and it was appropriate in the context of the storyline. I did not find it to steamy at all. I thought the love scenes were quite balanced actually.
Pjazzy,
Thanks for voicing your opinion. Glad you thought the love scenes fit within the context of the storyline. I wouldn't have included them at all had they not added movement and depth to the story (aah, again, no pun intended) LOL
Hey, hey, hey! Why does Urban Lit have to take a hit over the head in this post. LOL. I understand what you are saying in terms of some of the Urban Lit that's out there.
But the gratuitous sex doesn't just fill that genre, I've read some romance books that made me look over my shoulder to make sure nobody else was in the room for fear they might hear what I'm reading in my head. You know it's bad when you feel guilty about what's going on in the book!
Not to change the subject, but to change the subject... So you were born and raised in Memphis, too? Okay, what part. I'm from North Memphis, Frayser. I now live in Garner, NC, right outside of Raleigh. Small world...
Great post Lori. I'd like to check out your book. Sounds different.
Hi Joey,
Welcome to the MIX. Actually, I will agree that a lot of so-called "romance" falls under the same banner (porn, with a loose plot). LOL. But like I also said, when it comes to GROWNFOLKS, to each, his or her own.
North Memphis in Da House! (smile). I have some North Memphis ties. I attended Springdale, Vollintine and Snowden Elem. Schools and Cypress Junior High. But only for brief periods of time, due to my Dad's military career. Most of my family still lives in Memphis, so I do very much consider it home.
Glad you're interested in the book. If you do get a chance to read it, please feel free to share your comments. Thanks!
I really enjoyed the book! It wasn't the typically trashy sex scenes that I've read about, but I enjoyed it none the less. Sometimes I wanted to strangle Carl and Faye for him being so needy and her being some stubborn. I'm glad it ended the way it did though. Great Book!
Any Given Day,
I'm glad you enjoyed the book. Thanks for taking the time to share your point of view.
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