Customer Reviews

Bondage

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

 

 

"Bondage" , by Patti Davis , was marketed in the Mainstream, and perhaps the initial reviews were colored by the stature of her parents and sensationalized by the erotic content, but this story touches more closely on the dynamics of D/s, or Power Exchange, than many of the more blatantly explicit and arguably controversial books on the subject that i have read. It is well-written, and she uses descriptions of mundane surroundings and activities to reflect the feelings and emotions of the characters in an indirect way . Never tedious, Ms. Davis possesses an economy of words that is both effective and succinct. And while the sex and BDSM activity is not extremely graphic, she utilizes the technique above to emphasize the more evocative elements, often sound, smell, taste...providing a very lucid impression indeed. Finally, she remains continually in touch with her principal characters, supplying specific details and information about the protagonists to create three-dimensional beings, upon whom we focus our attention, while allowing the antagonists to have enough vaguaries that they remain representative of "types" rather that fully-fleshed individuals.

While mild bondage and sexual mind-games play a large part in the story, it is really a tale about control and surrender of the heart.

~MWvixen~

I read "Bondage" because I had already read several other things by Patti Davis, and her writing style appeals to me a great deal. Like Truman Capote, Patti Davis is clear and concise; not flowery, but able to sum up human feelings and motives with original, profound phrases that caused me to pause to let the reality sink in without losing continuity.

The subject matter was new to me; a new genre. But I was entertained and educated by her insights into the more private realms of human sexuality; realms that many humans hide even from themselves. And though she took me to fictional places that were sometimes alarming, she exposed nothing for mere shock value.

Unless already a fan of fiction that deals with what some might call "fetish sexuality", this book might well be written off as using "sex and violence" as a quick hook to the media-led masses. To avoid that jumped conclusion, it would be a good idea, if you think you might be offended, to start with other Pattis Davis books. Having done so, and having gotten comfortable with her way of presenting the human condition, use that trust to allow yourself to read "Bondage". The lifestyle within may never be to your liking, but you will learn something about people, and that is always a valuable experience. And what you learn is being told by the same multi-faceted writer that wrote "Angels Don't Die : My Father's Gift of Faith", a warm and probing look at faith.

Most books give the reader someone to root for. The hero of this book, Sara, is a snob who wouldn't date an ordinary guy. She'd just ridicule him in her own mind and keep walking. She's not unusual in that respect.

Her boyfriend Anthony doesn't relate to women. He stays aloof and gives them commands. He does all the right things to seduce them, with the right amount of arrogance and conceit.

It goes without saying that neither of these two immature people is capable of a relationship. Anthony is only capable of a series of seductions, and Sara is only capable of a series of confusing and abortive mangled attempts at relationship.

To keep things interesting for himself after the initial conquest, Anthony must break new ground. He's into bondage, which usually consists of tying the toy up, blindfolding it, putting it in various positions, and coming in one place or another. He's not sadistic, so he won't do anything damaging beyond a little hickie. He's very good at sex.

Sara doesn't mind the fact that Anthony has no feelings for her. That is actually a big plus for her. She'd lose respect for him if he cared about her.

Sara eventually becomes infuriated with him when he stops limiting them to private sex and threesomes, and brings a few more people into their sex life, in his continual attempts to keep it fresh and interesting for himself. Sara irrationally decides that Anthony has betrayed her trust, and she wants to knife him. Irrational, violent, conceited snob, as dumb as a post.

Meanwhile, Sara's best friend Belinda makes Sara seem stable and intelligent by comparison. Belinda also ridicules normal guys and is a conceited snobby ditz, but she is stupider and more deranged than Sara. She's also easier to be with. Sara thinks of male-female relationships as power struggles to be fought. Belinda sees them as opportunities to be treated like garbage, which is what she seeks.

Belinda's father called her a bad girl when she was a teenager because she let a boy do it to her. So for the rest of her life, the punitive ghost of her father keeps calling her a bad girl, which makes her want to be punished.

Belinda is mesmerized by a Charles Manson type, a creep who has power over the sick and stupid. Philippe is a religious cult leader, as insane as the loonies who support him by carving crosses into their foreheads. Philippe likes to tell his adoring flock of dumb females to shut up. He likes to punish and burn and attack them. Being a good judge of character, he recognizes Belinda as a victim waiting to suffer.

That's the cast of main characters in this fast-moving novel. It keeps you reading.

I had the impression that President Reagan's daughter was taking shots at her father's political support base, the conservative religious right. Her arch villain is a popular religious leader quoting the Bible and doing despicable things, and Belinda's father is a more moderate Christian, dictatorial, damaging, unforgiving. I have no problem with taking the holier than thous down a few pegs.

It wasn't horrible, but I'll probably donate it to the library.

It's as sleazy as a Jackie Collins book, but not as well-written. The plot wasn't bad, but I've read it a thousand times in a thousand other books.

Further, the sub-plot of the protagonist's best friend has little to nothing to do with this book; indeed, the two might have better been fleshed out as two separate books.

Finally... I can't help but wonder... have the author's parents read this?

This is your typical book you buy when you jump on a plane for 5 hours. Halfway the trip you are so bored that you will probably leave it on the plane.

If she weren't who she is this would never have netted an agent, let alone gotten published. Patti Davis is strictly an amateur writer. The plot is creaky, the dialogue flat and the drama...well, non-existent. There are thousands of amateur stories on the web available for free, written by "nobodies," that are far better than this. People who think this is great erotic literature should do more reading.

This was the first book that I had read that was a story of S&M, mind games and power trips. I had no other books to compare it to. I found the book to be well written, no slow parts. I think that Davis did an excellent job in conveying thoughts and feelings. I must admit I was courious about what the daughter of famous people would write. I loved it.

This book showed a great deal of promise and development, but fell rather flat when compared with other novels of its type. The "eroticism" isn't all that erotic and the characters were cheaply but somewhat well developed. As a whole, while the book was a decent read, I would have to say that there's a myriad of other books on the subject that are far better written, more suspenseful, and erotic. If you find it cheaply, and have a few hours to kill, this is a great book, but unless it meets those criterea, there's no real need to bother.

If you're looking for a well-told story that presents sexual play, games, role-playing, etc., as a healthy, enjoyable part of human sexuality, look elsewhere. Even in the throes of climax, the lead female character, Sara, relentlessly analyzes her experience, seems incapable of enjoying herself, and later blames her partner, Anthony, for her inability to say no to the consensual acts that they share. Guilt-ridden, she can't help herself, but she won't take responsibility for it, either -- it's as if, to borrow a phrase, "the devil [Anthony] made her do it."

And men are indeed evil in "Bondage": Without giving too much away, the book features a rape, an attempted rape of a minor by three boys, and male characters who (with the exception of Sara's brother) will betray every trust a woman puts in them. It doesn't end well for the guys.

If that sounds enjoyable, help yourself. I'm an incurable media packrat, but I threw this book away.

this book is very hot... for someone who is a novice into the idea of being submissive, this book can show you how good it can be.

the scene in the alley and the scene in the dungeon are scenes you will never forget.