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A review by elbell1012
Docile by K.M. Szpara
1.0
(CW sexual assault)
-I’ll begin by saying that this was genuinely an interesting book. I will follow that by saying that this is also one of the worst books I’ve ever read. To people who are picking up this book and hoping for a true critique on capitalism and consumerism, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for an lgbt erotic bdsm fan fiction however, this might be one you might want to pick up, but I would also suggest you save your money and head to Wattpad.
Several aspects of this books were problematic (uh- one of the few black characters being named Onyx and the entire premise of the book being slavery while the history of slavery in the United States was never addressed). There’s also this strange feeling that the author truly believes that Alex (and his company) can essentially enslave people, abuse and brainwash them, and proceed to come out the other side as better people. While it’s true that Alex does experience growth in his character, it almost feels as if the effect of his previous actions are erased completely. (Major spoiler warning here) this is very evident at the end of the novel when Elisha, even after realizing he had been raped and brainwashed by this man, sought him out to not only forgive him him but to also suggest that they eventually have a relationship together again. Despite Alex leaving the company and Elisha no longer being a docile- the power imbalance in the history of these two and also their societal status poses the question of whether or not Elisha is truly consenting now or in the future. He admits himself he is still figuring out what is him or what is Alex within his head.
- one thing I did enjoy about this book was the dual perspectives from both Alex and Elisha. This did lead to confusion during the first few moments where Elisha is SA’d. How could he in his first few sexual encounters with Alex be so accepting already of his situation. There are no internal negative thoughts really about Alex and this book reads more as a BDSM fan fiction than a novel of substance critiquing capitalism. So much time is spent on these encounters that it is distracting from any point trying to be made about wealth inequality in the United States.
-I’ll begin by saying that this was genuinely an interesting book. I will follow that by saying that this is also one of the worst books I’ve ever read. To people who are picking up this book and hoping for a true critique on capitalism and consumerism, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for an lgbt erotic bdsm fan fiction however, this might be one you might want to pick up, but I would also suggest you save your money and head to Wattpad.
Several aspects of this books were problematic (uh- one of the few black characters being named Onyx and the entire premise of the book being slavery while the history of slavery in the United States was never addressed). There’s also this strange feeling that the author truly believes that Alex (and his company) can essentially enslave people, abuse and brainwash them, and proceed to come out the other side as better people. While it’s true that Alex does experience growth in his character, it almost feels as if the effect of his previous actions are erased completely. (Major spoiler warning here) this is very evident at the end of the novel when Elisha, even after realizing he had been raped and brainwashed by this man, sought him out to not only forgive him him but to also suggest that they eventually have a relationship together again. Despite Alex leaving the company and Elisha no longer being a docile- the power imbalance in the history of these two and also their societal status poses the question of whether or not Elisha is truly consenting now or in the future. He admits himself he is still figuring out what is him or what is Alex within his head.
- one thing I did enjoy about this book was the dual perspectives from both Alex and Elisha. This did lead to confusion during the first few moments where Elisha is SA’d. How could he in his first few sexual encounters with Alex be so accepting already of his situation. There are no internal negative thoughts really about Alex and this book reads more as a BDSM fan fiction than a novel of substance critiquing capitalism. So much time is spent on these encounters that it is distracting from any point trying to be made about wealth inequality in the United States.