The Erotic Passions of Submissive Women
The Sharp Edge of Love by Galen Reviewed by Kevin R. Tipple The subtitle of this often arousing, sometimes emotionally painful book is "The Erotic Passions of Submissive Women." That and so much more is exactly what is found in this collection of Internet messages and sensual stories. This collection also explores the depth of human feeling and the urges and desires of a man who is dominant in his sexual lifestyle choice. The collection revolves around several deep issues, profiles the four women out of the hundreds he has met whose correspondence is the most ". . . personal and intimate, as I've searched the world for my ideal submissive soulmate." In doing so, as a byproduct of revealing the women's intimacies and passions, he reveals his own. By revealing so much of himself, this secondary theme, becomes the more powerful theme in the work. While working to extricate himself from a disastrous marriage, Galen is "outed" by the vengeful ex-wife. Labeled a pervert and worse by her and her attorneys, they attempt to destroy his life and very soul. During that hellish process, he meets the four women who he chronicles in the book. First to be chronicled is his Internet relationship with Sharah. He recounts how he met her through the Internet, their relationship during some of the darkest moments of his life and the very strange and interesting turns their relationship took. Next is Arlana and she also is met through the Internet. What begins as an Internet correspondence grows into something else entirely when they finally meet. Here again, he reflects her pain as well as his own through the Internet messages that they shared. Next up is Lana who he also met through the Internet at this same troubled time in her life. She is a victim of the divorce wars as well and they steadily, through up and downs, work on their Internet relationship. Then finally, and perhaps most satisfying erotically for the reader, is his relationship with Kate. Kate is a part of his defense team and even though he considers her off limits, he eventually gives her the dominance she craves. Throughout this well written book are short stories that Galen and the submissives created for their sexual pleasure. The stories are intense and erotic and serve as a wonderful counterpart to some of the intense emotional pain in the e-mail messages. This book is a wonderful recitation of one person's attempts to stay true to his core while being beset by a society bent on condemnation. This isn't light reading as the emotional cost for Galen comes though quite clearly. I think the book is best summed up by a small passage Galen wrote in the introduction to the book. I have shortened it here some, but the basic idea comes through very clear. "My mission now is to shed every shame, guilt, judgment or embarrassment about my or anyone's sexuality . . .I did my trial by fire, and came out the other side tattered, but clear in my identity." |