Author: Kassa

Euphemisms.. good or cringe worthy?

25 Comments

Taste in general is very subjective and reading tastes even more so. It’s impossible to please all readers but the goal – I assume – is to please most readers. In this m/m genre, there is a lot of explicit erotica. It makes up a huge portion of the genre, although not the entire genre. Yet as all those dicks rub against each other and enter various orifices in increasingly kinky and outrageous ways…the language used to describe such is always extremely important.

Whether you call it an ass, a rosebud, channel, anus, chute, hole, crack, cleft, bunghole (really? *shudder*), butthole, rectum, arse, pooper, starfish, dock, back door or anything else your wild imagination comes with each reader will have a preference.

This extends to ALL details of the sex scene. From the cocks to the ass to the cum, if the words aren’t right the readers will cringe. Some may cringe anyway and others find it hotter than ever. Once again, taste is so subjective.

Since the colorful purple prose invention, language has become much more direct and graphic when speaking about sex. Books no longer have to hide their bushels under artful and rather obvious euphemisms and the throbbing rod of steaming man love is no longer the status de jour.

Yet the erotica industry just comes up with new and more inventive ways of explaining and describing sex. Definitely far, far more creativity than visual porn, which sticks to the basics.  So in this new era of brazen sex scenes, some terms are still laughable and some are just flat out hot hot hot.

So which is which for you?

I personally like the obvious ones. A dick’s a dick – not a pole, a rod, a bat. A hard-on’s ok but if I ever see “purple-headed yogurt slinger” again I’m going on a witch hunt.

I don’t mind any term for the asshole but stay away from the obvious references: rectum, chute, channel. And anything that says “shit-eating” during a sex scene. Doesn’t matter if it’s a grin or a literal interpretation of salad-tossing, it doesn’t belong please!

These are just a few of my personal choices and that doesn’t mean it suits everyone. Some readers can’t stand the term dick (I assume those don’t read m/m) but I definitely don’t speak for everyone.

So what do YOU like dear readers? Which terms turn you on and which make you throw the book?

Do you like your cum or do you prefer watery essence of love’s true devotion?
What about the pretty rosebud just waiting to be eaten?

Review: Ghosts and Lovers

Leave a comment

Ghosts and LoversGhosts and Lovers by Jaime Samms
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ghosts and Lovers is a very short story by Jamie Samms, just 20 pages but it’s interesting and well crafted. The main character is suffering from a degenerative condition that erodes his eyesight over time while living in the family home full of ghosts. Each person in Tim’s life has died and he clings to their ghosts for something familiar. When Tim finally realizes that his neighbor Mark could be something more, he’s torn between the cold comfort of ghosts and letting go of the past to embrace an uncertain future. Continue reading →

Friday Follow… YA edition

2 Comments

As I’ve mentioned ad nauseam I really suck at keeping up with blogs. Or I keep up but don’t comment. It’s a vicious cycle. There are however a handful of blogs that I read in email (my preferred way to keep up) and I read every post as I get them. Here are two of those. They both happen to be written by young gay men. This isn’t a pervy thing (get your minds out of the gutter) because they’re YA people! But the posts are honest, refreshing and pretty entertaining. If you’re not following these two.. you should be.

The first is I’m Just Thorny..

Thorny is a young (not sure how old, 18? 19?) man that’s incredibly .. well bouncy even in his writing. I discovered him through someone on twitter because of his brief reviews of gay books he loved. Then I realized how adorable and entertaining his blog is and have been hooked ever since. He’s cute, honest, and in love with his boyfriend. Seriously is there anything else I have to say? Oh yea .. he’s a little bit kinky. Be nice though pervs, he’s young and impressionable. Corrupt slowly…

The second YA blog is 2 Boys in Love…

I found this blog through Thorny and it features two high school seniors (soon to be graduating) that are in love. Ahh young love.. The focus of this blog is an honest look at how these two have made it to a year and what they think about things. I think their goal is to help other young gay couples and offer support. Either way it’s really amazing to see such articulate, intelligent, mature, and happy young men that know what they want but can still get incredibly excited and worked up over prom. We’re all jaded on this side (or is that just me?) so this blog is like a breath of fresh air.

There you have it! Today’s Friday Follow… young adult edition.

Review: Learning to Dharn

Leave a comment

Learning to DharnLearning to Dharn by Ann Somerville
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Learning to Dharn is an interesting alternate universe/historical fantasy story that includes the rarely seen hero with a disability. In fact the disability and how it affects both men’s lives is perhaps the best part of the book. The setting is well crafted and the story well written but I never quite warmed up to Kelten and the story relies on a lot of manipulation, which may or may not work well for some readers. It’s definitely a different story and stands out for the unique elements which makes it an easy one to recommend even if it’s not a story I’d personally read again.

Continue reading →

Focus on the ones who matter…

15 Comments

The latest wank heard ‘round the internet is to resurrect the reviewers vs. authors debate. This includes how authors should or shouldn’t behave towards reviews (really? This horse hasn’t been beaten to death yet?) and whether reviewers are worth the salt to give a shit about anyway. I won’t reiterate those arguments or even link them because they’re tired, stale, and nothing especially original anyway. Plus I’m also lazy and I can’t remember all the various posts and don’t want to twist anyone’s panties by not linking them.* If you want my take on whether reviewers are “professional” you can read that HERE.

*as an aside if anyone has a post they’ve written about it comment with a link to your post and I’ll be happy to add a list of links so everyone can read those posts too.

However the point of this post is because unfortunately some very good, honest reviewers have said “fuck it” to reviewing after feeling like their efforts aren’t appreciated. That’s really sad, just as it is when any author gets bogged down in the negative reviews. It’s focusing on the negative instead of the actual real purpose in reading and reviewing.

My take on the whole fubar situation is to focus on those that matter.

If an author wants to slam reviewers, bitch about reviews, and basically call reviewers worthless? Fine. Don’t buy, read, or review those authors anymore. You know who they are. Let them stew in their little corner without those they deem immaterial. Don’t waste your time on them either.

Focus on those dozens if not more of authors that respect reviewers and actively seek out the blogger readers who buy their books and convince their friends to buy the books too. The positive authors easily outnumber the bitching rhetoric filled ones so focus on those that do care and do matter.

Promote authors that you like and actually send out a positive message on their blogs instead of veiled or open insults. The positive blogs tend to be quieter since they’re not stirring up shit and trying to spew hate but they’re out there and worth your time. These authors are the ones we should be focusing on and caring about. These books are the ones we should be reading and reviewing.

Let the negative ones disappear instead of giving them the time, attention, and focus they don’t deserve. Focus on the ones that do matter and care.

Review: With The Band

Leave a comment

With The BandWith The Band by L.A. Witt
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I’ll admit I’m a sucker for band stories. They may not be everyone’s thing but I do love a good drama among sexy rockers (or wannabe rockers). With the Band plays on that as two members of an up and coming band get together, something that is sure to cause havoc among the tight knit group. The drama is mostly well played with a few very obvious manipulations. The story lost me on the resolution though as honestly it feels weak and too easy. This is a common issue when books build up the tension and conflict to such a fever point, then let it all wrap up in the blink of an eye. 200 pages of tension to be resolved in 5 pages just ends the book on a sour note for me. However, other than that and a few other issues, the story is easy to read and pretty satisfying.

Continue reading →

Review: Perfect Score

Leave a comment

Perfect ScorePerfect Score by Susan Roebuck
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Perfect Score is a difficult book to read and it’s not entirely enjoyable. The story is complex and the characters three dimensional with strengths and weaknesses, all against a backdrop of the 1960s when attitudes were very different about a lot of things. The story takes a real chance in introducing a rather unlikable main character who I never really warmed up to despite his later attempts at change. The other character’s speech defects should endear him to readers but I found myself pitying him more than anything, which creates a second uncomfortable situation while reading when combined with a loathsome other half. In the end the slow pace and questionable characters left me with a bad feeling and sorry I’d read this.

Continue reading →

Review: Mere Mortals

11 Comments

Mere MortalsMere Mortals by Erastes
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Mere Mortals is an excellent Gothic story filled with drama, intensity, romance, and a vivid setting that stands out in almost every scene. The mystery is somewhat surprising in that the clues are slowly laid out along the way and the reader is left to interpret them. You can either see through the disguise as Myles does, remain innocently clueless like Crispin, or indulge in the fantasy like Jude. The characters all represent vitally important but different personalities that together form a complex yet fascinating story. Historical drama is not always a favorite genre among readers but you won’t want to miss this one.

Continue reading →

Review: A Prideful Mate

2 Comments

A Prideful Mate (Supernatural Mates, #2)A Prideful Mate by Amber Kell
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I usually consider Amber Kell to be popcorn reading. It’s not necessarily well written but the sex scenes are hot and the situations interesting enough for the short story. There are always editing problems but this has gotten better over time. Unfortunately this new shifter series is so rushed there is nothing tangible to the stories. The second book has a couple of sex scenes, a psycho human that hates shifter, a new insta-romance/love, and even pride dynamics thrown in. There is so much that nothing is given any credibility or weight and the entire story is pretty silly.

Continue reading →