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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Venus in Furs is perhaps better known as a classic Velvet Underground song than an erotic novel, and that's perhaps because Sacher-Masoch's conception of eroticism strays quite dramatically to the fringe. In this short but shocking 1870 opus, Severin von Kusiemski relays his experience as a voluntary sexual slave of Wanda von Dunajew, a powerful and intimidating woman who swiftly falls to the seduction of torture and cruelty. As the surreal tale of pain and jealousy carries on, Severin grows more and more desperate to be abused, and Wanda transforms into a monstrous dominatrix.
This all sounds very sexy, but it can get a little...dull. At first, I was surprised and a little disappointed at the lack of, well, sex in this very sexual work. After all, Venus in Furs is where the term "masochism" is derived. There is a lot of kissing, and a lot of heated, passionate debate over love, desire, and infatuation, but no physical description of sex. As many reviewers here have noted, if you're looking to read a saucy, scandalous 19th-century erotic novel, this is perhaps not the steamiest read. Venus in Furs is a carousel of lust, then regret, then jealously, then desire, then self-hate. Characters regularly deceive each other and contradict themselves, and by the end even the narrator conversing with Severin struggles to understand what the point of his whole excursion was.
But if you read Venus in Furs as a psychological exploration of dominance and submission, both sexual and social, the book becomes far more intoxicating. The English translation of the original German exudes a heady, sensuous tone--fingers emerge and submerge in fur, blood flows from lashes, clothes slip and envelop heaving breasts and marble arms. It is, to borrow a term, a "supersenusal" book, which is perhaps what makes it such a strange and repulsive read at times.
Why is it that Severin desires to be tortured so terribly? It's the question at the very center of the book. He argues that it is human nature to take a dominant or submissive role (to be a hammer or an anvil, as he says) and only through pleasure can we fully embrace our standing in society and life. I don't know about all that, but I feel as though Severin's theories of power may have spoken more to his world than mine.
This all sounds very sexy, but it can get a little...dull. At first, I was surprised and a little disappointed at the lack of, well, sex in this very sexual work. After all, Venus in Furs is where the term "masochism" is derived. There is a lot of kissing, and a lot of heated, passionate debate over love, desire, and infatuation, but no physical description of sex. As many reviewers here have noted, if you're looking to read a saucy, scandalous 19th-century erotic novel, this is perhaps not the steamiest read. Venus in Furs is a carousel of lust, then regret, then jealously, then desire, then self-hate. Characters regularly deceive each other and contradict themselves, and by the end even the narrator conversing with Severin struggles to understand what the point of his whole excursion was.
But if you read Venus in Furs as a psychological exploration of dominance and submission, both sexual and social, the book becomes far more intoxicating. The English translation of the original German exudes a heady, sensuous tone--fingers emerge and submerge in fur, blood flows from lashes, clothes slip and envelop heaving breasts and marble arms. It is, to borrow a term, a "supersenusal" book, which is perhaps what makes it such a strange and repulsive read at times.
Why is it that Severin desires to be tortured so terribly? It's the question at the very center of the book. He argues that it is human nature to take a dominant or submissive role (to be a hammer or an anvil, as he says) and only through pleasure can we fully embrace our standing in society and life. I don't know about all that, but I feel as though Severin's theories of power may have spoken more to his world than mine.
I cannot say I enjoyed Venus in Furs as much as I was curiously entertained by it. Not what was intended, but hey.
It is well written, easy to read, and it asks questions which, while antiquated, remain unanswered. They are, after all, about the nature of woman, and the relationship of the (opposite) sexes.
I had fun, but I’m not gooing to lose any sleep because of it, and it’ll probably soon fade away as three-star books often do. It’s the five and one stars that stick with us.
It is well written, easy to read, and it asks questions which, while antiquated, remain unanswered. They are, after all, about the nature of woman, and the relationship of the (opposite) sexes.
I had fun, but I’m not gooing to lose any sleep because of it, and it’ll probably soon fade away as three-star books often do. It’s the five and one stars that stick with us.
"Today I visited the Venus of Medici. It was still early, and the little octagonal room in the Tribuna was filled with half-lights like a sanctuary; I stood with folded hands in deep adoration before the silent image of the divinity. But I did not stand for long. Not a human soul was in the gallery, not even an English man, and I fell down on my knees. I looked up at the lovely slender body, the budding breasts, the virginal and yet voluptuous face, the fragrant curls which seemed to conceal tiny horns on each side of the forehead."
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
very interesting, a shocking concept but definitely not as vulgar as many would think.
What kind of comment can I make to this book that hasn't already been made before? This is a piece of work that has been analysed in any way possible, good and bad.
I personally enjoyed it a great deal. in its context was a great book about the human mind, what drives us, and what sacrifices are we able to endure to get what we think we want. And what we sometimes suffer when we finally get it.
I recommend it to anyone who likes good books, taking in consideration it is not a book for the faint of heart.
I personally enjoyed it a great deal. in its context was a great book about the human mind, what drives us, and what sacrifices are we able to endure to get what we think we want. And what we sometimes suffer when we finally get it.
I recommend it to anyone who likes good books, taking in consideration it is not a book for the faint of heart.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
so well written - beautiful prose. amazing description - but managed to make it over bearing. the fact a man wrote this book is honestly quite funny. definitely a reread !