Book Review: Diary of a Submissive

Sophie Morgan uses the word vanilla multiple times in Diary of a Submissive.  She describes potential dates, her job, and her youth in this term.  I use this term to describe the plot of this book.  After an attempt to read another popular erotica novel, I looked forward to this tome from an experienced writer.  Couple that with a TV habit that consist of Law & Order repeats, I have heard the term BSDM many times.  The tease for this book seemed to be an exploration of this lifestyle.

Alas, this is not so.  This book goes into detail about the actual times Sophie is humiliated in her role of the submissive, but not the WHY.  It isn’t until the end of the book that Sophie gives readers a possible hint about why she continues in this role.  My take away was that Sophie has to have so much control and responsibility in her ‘public’ life that giving up control as a submissive gives her freedom.

My question as I read was why continue along this path?  I believe that what consenting adults do in the privacy of their home is their business.  It isn’t my place to pass judgement or condemn some for what they consider erotic.  This book did nothing to answer any of my question about the mind behind a submissive.   Sophie claims to find pleasure in the painful couplings, but each time she is to meet her Dom, she is apprehensive and afraid.  I just couldn’t wrap my mind around this contradiction.  Why would Sophie continue to engage in this role when she seemed to dread the time spent with her partner?

With the exception of some of the terms used, this book didn’t answer my any questions about the BSDM lifestyle.  It read like a vanity project for some one who wanted to be clever, but could quite master that role.

Disclosure:

“I have received compensation from the BlogHer Book Club to review this piece.  The opinions expressed are my own.”