Customer Reviews

The Ages of Lulu: A Novel

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I ordered this book expecting a titillating read, and ended up enjoying it more as a well-written exposition of the obsessions of a rather unfortunate young woman.

Like Nabokov's _Lolita_, _The Ages of Lulu_ is often perceived as scandalous erotica, but in fact deals in a fairly pedestrian way with common forms of fetishism, especially sado-masochism and pedophilia (although the narrator is 15, hardly a little child, when she has her first experience). What is more interesting about the book, however, is the depiction of a woman who enjoys watching gay men having sex -- the flip-side, as she insightfully notes, of the much more common habit of men enjoying "lesbian" erotica. My own experience talking to real women makes me think that this kind of fetish is much more common than one might think, which makes the depiction of it in "Lulu" somewhat refreshing and novel.

Unlike some reviewers, I enjoyed the use of British English slang, which added an air of foreignness to the story -- entirely appropriate, since it takes place in Madrid. Ultimately, though, Lulu's self-destructive and selfish behavior, like that of the hero in _Lolita_, made me feel sorry for her and the people in her life (especially her neglected daughter), and the ending seemed abrupt and perfunctory, not well-thought-out at all. Perhaps Ms. Grandes was writing for a deadline. What prevents me from giving the book another star is the excessive use of erotic-lit cliches -- everything is swelling, bursting, exploding, over and over again, to the point where it sounds like a recipe, rather than a real experience.

So... if you're interested in a well-written fictional journal of female sexual obsession, I recommend this book. But if you're looking for an erousing piece of erotica, I can't say there's much in Lulu that will satisfy you.

To be fair, I am a 33-year-old male heterosexual with a conventional, liberal upbringing.

I read this book several years ago while in high school. I found this book to be very refreshing, fun, erotic, and interesting. I related to some parts of Lulu's experiences, and that to me is incredible because it made it more vivid. As I read this book, I could mentally picture each scene as if it was a movie, I could imagine Lulu's expressions of her emotions, and the emotions and expressions of the other characters too. I really enjoyed this book, I've read it more than once and passed it along to my friends who also enjoyed it immensely.

Perhaps my standards are low, but I've plowed through a fair bit of erotica, and this currently stands at the top of my list. More accessible that "Story of O" or "Justine" and less pedantic and plodding than any of Anne Rice's erotic writings, Grandes' work finally makes proper use of the power of words in conveying sexual imagery. The protagonist's sexual forays allow us to enjoy that element of sex so often ignored by most erotica and pornography: the tease, the suspense, the yearning, the quiet obsession. To tie it all together, Grandes provides readers with a poignant story of sexual birth and maturation, to give, as they say, a "plot" to all the naughtiness.

The Ages of Lulu is erotic, but by the end you want someone to save her from herself. There is a great scene where Lulu's lover shavs her. The part where she has blindfolded sex with her brother is wierd - I imagine especially for those who have a brother. As Lulu matures she gets into some wierd activities, including tagging along for sex with otherwise gay men. Glad I read it. No nightmares. But I felt bad for Lulu, and the urge to be more chaste, by the end.

I bought this book a few days ago and read it in one setting. I've read a lot of erotica and this has to be one of my favorite books I have read in a long time. The plot pulled me in and took me to another world. I felt compelled to help the main charater, Lulu, I felt sorry for her and wanted to hold her and make everything better for her, to norture her. A lot of people can relate to this story because most of us have found ourselves having a crush on someone much older when you are young. She fell in love with her brothers best friend, a much older man. The romance between them were erotic and breathtaking at the same time, even though you could slap her husband, Pablo, for being an ass he soon turns the tables and you find yourself ooing and aahing because you can tell he loves Lulu so much. Albeit the scene with Pablo, Lulu and her brother was a bit much, you still wished for everything to end happily. Lulu's sexual quest throughout the novel was I think a self discovery and also a punishment. As a young girl she felt unloved and met a man who not only nortured her like a father, but loved her as a man. If that makes sense. I really enjoyed this novel, the story will stay with me for a long time.

I read the book in Spanish. It is written in a fairly easy uncomplicated language. So I do not think that when it was translated into English it lost strenght or dept (not much in any language anyway)The heroine is mesmerized by gays and out of the beaten path sexual practices, the book will never attempt to explain you why. She will just be looking for experiences to ease the monotony of her life and the life of of those who are willing to follow her story.

Se trata de una buena novela erótica de la más reciente novela española. Lulú puede ser un símbolo de un tipo de mujer moderna, libre e independiente, pero todavía con una gran inclinación a ser dominada, aunque sólo sea en la cama. El lector tiene garantizada su excitación sexual continua en cada una de las páginas de la obra. En cambio, no es en absoluto recomendable la película basada en la novela, que únicamente se ocupa del aspecto sensual, pero no de la evolución psicológica de la protagonista.

I was completely taken in by this book! Although I didn't find it "sexy" in that sense of the word, I did find it to be incredibly arousing in that it woke me up to a different world of pleasure versus pain. This novel definitely examines both facets.

I have so many questions about the story and the stories within this story, and I wish I could have had the opportunity to discuss it with someone (...which reminds me, this novel is not for the faint at heart). I found myself being able to identify with her lust and confusion...

I thought it was beautifully written and although as disturbing and heartbreaking as it is... I would nevertheless recommend it to those who would like to take a deeper look into the mind of a young woman in search of her heart.

*...and if you get a chance afterwards, let me know what you think ;-)

Buy it and make it your bedside companion. You can not go wrong. The sexual tensions build between the really hot spots as a young modern spanish girl enters the world of totally abandoned sexuality. Her loss of verginity after a shave is a mind sticker. Written by a woman - it is a modern day story of O. An insight into a woman's sensual nature and as a bonus a view into a womans feel for erotica. Best erotic fiction i've read in years.

Have taken this book off shelf several times & suppose I am too stodgy to appreciate it. I never liked Ayn Rand sex/ rape scenes, so am aware I less enjoy reading unusual adventures than many folks. Maybe I'll get into it later, still in collection.