Curious about this for awhile...

[saucyirishlass.livejournal.com]

It's been said in many places by different people that LKH's portrayal of the BDSM lifestyle is off. I know a bit more than just the basics - ah, the joys of reading - and can sort of inherently pick up that something isn't right with her depiction, but I can't really articulate it. I was just curious to hear from those who participate in the lifestyle, what they personally find offensive, frustrating, or just headdesk-worthy about LKH's portrayal. Perhaps they can help make it clearer to me why it feels amiss.

Comments

[relmneiko.livejournal.com]

And when sideline characters show they are interested in more than what the main characters are, they are labeled perverts.

Most definitely. One of the scenes that really struck me - I think it was in NiC - was one in a BDSM club where Nathaniel and a bunch of - wereswans? Or something? - are being essentially tortured. Anita has to actually pull knives out of Nathaniel's chest, and while you might pull that off with werecreatures and a sufficient leadup, the only ones enjoying the scene are the dominants, and the entire purpose of BDSM is totally lost because submissives are portrayed as victims rather than participants.

Meanwhile this is all taking place in a BDSM club. Liek wut?

[melaniedavidson.livejournal.com]

I think in that part of NiC, they said afterwards that they wouldn't do that to anyone they weren't planning to kill.

(Anyone have the book handy?)

[relmneiko.livejournal.com]

...You may well be right. I lost my copy of NiC. It's going to stay very, very lost. :P