tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987282986651733585.post5093775571814101864..comments2024-01-08T22:45:33.445-08:00Comments on The Bi and Lesbian Romance Book Reader: Review- Birthday Girl by Paisley SmithLVLM(Leah)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02967270446547400006noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987282986651733585.post-87958533371566390942009-11-28T18:24:37.879-08:002009-11-28T18:24:37.879-08:00Lovely stories, Paisley. : )Lovely stories, Paisley. : )M.A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03927406376034120121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987282986651733585.post-66885864954720826142009-11-28T11:24:34.373-08:002009-11-28T11:24:34.373-08:00Paisley- I'm really looking forward to your ne...Paisley- I'm really looking forward to your next book!LVLM(Leah)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01344785501583933784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987282986651733585.post-2026748832476378132009-11-27T14:38:23.732-08:002009-11-27T14:38:23.732-08:00Thanks for the great review and the nice discussio...Thanks for the great review and the nice discussion!Paisley Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423942343522295380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987282986651733585.post-48211789389033220452009-11-19T11:15:03.982-08:002009-11-19T11:15:03.982-08:00I would agree though that maybe too much inner dia...<i> I would agree though that maybe too much inner dialogue was given to her mulling it all about, which could come across as ambivalence. <br /><br />But that's how it goes with books. We all pick up on different things that hit us in certain ways. </i><br /><br />I think part of the challenge (my perspective) is that "Birthday Girl" begins as a "light" tale about a married couple indulging Gemma's bisexual fantasy. From there, it transitions to a much "deeper place," where all the "issues" come up (i.e., the lovers' various involvements with each other and other partners.) <br /><br />The turn from light, sexy romp to deeper, pending romance (or romantic set-up) struck me as abrupt. <br /><br />I was also a bit put off by Lindsey's motives in participating in Gemma's "birthday surprise." ("You know I've always had the hots for Gemma.") That just sort of read to me like she took the interlude very lightly, casually, and as a wish for sex. It reminded me a little of Kirsten's remarks of how bisexual women and/or lesbian women are sometimes stereotyped as being willing to have sex with anyone female.<br /><br />Later on, though, the story reveals Lindsey expressing some emotional investment in Gemma and Nate. Gemma's feelings toward Lindsey seem much more transitory (IMHO.) I get that she likes Lindsey and is attracted to her and wants sex with her, but Gemma's rationalization of it as "friends with benefits" didn't strike me as romantic. <br /><br />With that said, everyone's view of what is sexy and what is romantic is different. I can see how Gemma,a married bisexual woman, would view the idea of a casual female friend/playmate as very romantic and satisfying. It's hassle-free fulfillment, not "real" cheating since Nate condones it, and Gemma gets the "best of both worlds." I think the transition might have worked better if the "relationship negotiation" took place at a later time (say, a few days/weeks after the "birthday surprise" where everybody's had some time to "process his/her feelings.")M.A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03927406376034120121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987282986651733585.post-40729605383529457952009-11-17T14:56:43.499-08:002009-11-17T14:56:43.499-08:00I was a bit "thrown out" of the book by ...<i>I was a bit "thrown out" of the book by Gemma's chronic sexual ambivalence.</i><br /><br />I understand what you mean by that, but I guess this is where it's interesting that different readers come away with different perceptions of a book.<br /><br />I did think there was a bit too much internal dialogue about being with a woman and what that meant. But I experienced her mainly as being a kid with her hand in the cookie jar. I felt she's so excited and can't believe that she's finally with a woman, something that she's fantasized about, but then doubts and all kinds of other things come into it for her because she's, well, married. And how can she want both people? So I didn't feel it so much her questioning her sexuality as much as the social properness of it all due to being married.<br /><br />I got that she was just totally jazzed to be with Lindsey.<br /><br />So I really didn't experience as ambivalence as much as questioning now what? Since she wants to keep going with Lindsey but loves Nate as well.<br /><br />I would agree though that maybe too much inner dialogue was given to her mulling it all about, which could come across as ambivalence. <br /><br />But that's how it goes with books. We all pick up on different things that hit us in certain ways.LVLM(Leah)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01344785501583933784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987282986651733585.post-1457913522173733822009-11-17T13:22:36.789-08:002009-11-17T13:22:36.789-08:00I like "Birthday Girl" but I wasn't ...I like "Birthday Girl" but I wasn't crazy about it, which bugs me a little since it has some great moments. I'm not put off by the spanking--sometimes I think spanking's cute and it was definitely cute in "Birthday Girl." <br /><br />The romantica was sensuous, lovingly expressed. I was a bit "thrown out" of the book by Gemma's chronic sexual ambivalence. NOTE: I'm not bugged that she's ambivalent, just that IMHO too much word count went into frequently reminding readers of her ambivalence. <br /><br />A nice, short read. I see a real gift in Smith's craft and admit I'm very curious to see more developed stories from her. Well done.M.A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03927406376034120121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987282986651733585.post-84717295474981880962009-11-16T09:10:23.826-08:002009-11-16T09:10:23.826-08:00You may be right! Perhaps EC knows something we do...You may be right! Perhaps EC knows something we don't.KT Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15958121742156171756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987282986651733585.post-2596798023423537632009-11-16T09:09:01.422-08:002009-11-16T09:09:01.422-08:00Katie- LOL
Her First Taste cover is getting a lot...Katie- LOL<br /><br />Her <i>First Taste</i> cover is getting a lot of mileage, huh? EC's screw up might just be an unintentional boon for Paisley Smith.LVLM(Leah)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01344785501583933784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987282986651733585.post-43476825704308890042009-11-16T09:02:19.442-08:002009-11-16T09:02:19.442-08:00Sold me! :DSold me! :DKT Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15958121742156171756noreply@blogger.com