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| Ratings and Reviews: |
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of Ratings: 17 |
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Weighed
Average (?):  (10/10) |
| Average
Rating: (10/10) |
| Highest
Rating: (10/10) |
Lowest
Rating:  (9/10) |
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| Reviewer:
polle
(Edit) |
Rating: |
May 6, 2011 |
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Perfect ! (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
athompso
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Feb 24, 2011 |
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I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description ["art"]; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the story involved in this case is certainly that.
[Paraphrased from Jus. P. Stewart, in Jacobellis v. Ohio 378 U.S. 184 (1964)]
Wow. If this was a painting, I'd buy it and hang it in my living room. As it is, I'm thinking about where I could get it printed professionally to add to my permanent collection. (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
Loraspa6
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Jan 6, 2011 |
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Loved the story Ashley.
My only question is; Why was the host absent from the first two parties?
You eluded to it both times, but never closed that particular plot point. (10/10)
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- Replied by:
Ashley Zacharias
(Edit) (Jan 6, 2011)
- I'm not really sure why. I'm pretty certain that he was watching the party on videos from a back room. I think that maybe Catherine asked him to stay out of sight to keep from contaminating people's reactions with his presence. But maybe he simply didn't want to have his own facial expressions recorded and included in the archive. Or maybe he didn't want to have to answer any embarrassing questions about what was happening.
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| Reviewer:
MarginallyTruePig
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Jan 2, 2011 |
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I've been reading stories here for quite a few years, occasionally contemplating registering in order to post reviews. This story has finally made me do it.
Everything is to like here: setting, build-up, pacing, writing. Like many others, I especially liked the questions it made us ponder, and what we would do in such situations. The fact that it remained on the softer side of things (as far as this site goes) was a refreshing change in tone.
There are almost no flaws, and those are minor that do not prevent the story from getting the highest mark. Notably, the characters are a little too shallow, and things happen a little bit too perfectly, without glitches. The ending is somewhat too happy to my taste, I would suspect the artist would be a bit more shaken and sobered by the experience, even after a few months of healing. (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
Tease Cathy
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Jan 2, 2011 |
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I'm really not even sure where to begin with this review.
I originally was looking for something erotic and sexual and twisted, but decided since f-self was one of my favorite categories 'd give this one a try.
To be honest, it started out a little slow for my tastes, and I was a few moments away from clicking to a different story - but there was something that kept me going. I'm not sure what. promise potential? Never did I imagine the story would amount to what it did.
I feel this work isn't a sexual piece at all. yes there are aspects of sexuality that lend to the eroticism of the piece, but by no means would i define anything that happened as sex.
Instead, it was a draw into what art is, the meaning of art. okay, that's fine and dandy for artists, but it goes so much further beyond that. this brings up questions of the gender divide between men and women, questions of humility, or modesty; of rage and anger; lust and desire.
I've never met a story that was so thought provoking (and not assigned reading). This is, just, fantasic.
also, at first, I thought Catherine was going to end up with Jeff (I wish a little more was explained about him, but there really isn't a place for it.) but when their relationship didn't progress any further in the story i thought that was a mute point.
To the issues I had:
~Unfortunately I found a few typos, which are not pleasing but for the moment can be overlooked by the sheer physiological depth this story provides.
~ I feel the character's names were switched a few times. at one point I read Marcia instead of Marcie, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out who Morris was. Marty and Marcie's names were too similar I feel, just because they sound so similar it is easy for the mind to play tricks on the reader.
~Lastly, I find Jeff to be a mildly unrealistic person, to throw around so much money (is it pocket change to him? Say so!) to an artist no one knows for a work that has even been created yet.
~I was half rooting for Howard to call the flogging to a stop, to make a scene, to do something. However, I did enjoy his inner turmoil regarding his wife, the woman he "shared his life and his bed with for seven years", and her sociopolitical tendencies. I wish that was explored more.
Overall, this is a fantastic piece. I apologize that I don't now many people who can celebrate and appreciate this work as "art in fiction and fiction as art" as I like to think writing can be. Collectively, amazing job. I have no choice but to give it a perfect score. it's more well done than a lot of published works I've seen, even with the typos and under-developed characters. KUDOS!!!
oh, and my review has little to do with the fact that myself and the main character have the same name. =P (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
Nemz
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 27, 2010 |
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Superb.
Not your typical story to find on this site, which likely helps to make it the gem it is. Although there's the element of BDSM, the story does not focus on it, but instead on philosophy and mentality of the subject. I find the switch between Howard and Marice to be particularly engaging, her having initially felt more toward her and accepting the value of the art, and later Howard being the one in the role. Although neither fully embrace the acceptance, which brings up interesting inquires in itself.
I have to thank you for writing this and your other stories. I hope to read more from you in the future. (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
SensoryOverlord
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 25, 2010 |
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Oh my! I don't know if it's art or porn, but I know I like it. The only trouble is, now I also know my own writing is neither. Ah well, something new to aspire to.
A brilliant, moving, personally involving, thought-provoking story, with a vicious ring of Truth. A solid length, and only a very few typos.
Ten plus!
How would I have reacted in real life? I know how I'd *hope* I'd react. But in real life we often fail our own ideals. (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
Losalt
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 24, 2010 |
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So far there's been a single vote for nine with the rest being ten points out of ten.
There's a reason for that.
This is a story that combines the best qualities of art and some of the better qualities of erotic writing. It provokes the mind and the body. And it will be remembered past this first reading.
It involves the reader into the story in a way that's very rare among the stories on this page.
In short, it's an excellent story and it deserve 11/10 points or more.
Well done.
This story really another example of how exceptionally good writer Ashley Zacharias really is.
I'm looking forward to the next story by this author. (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
HardBur
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 23, 2010 |
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Intriguing, thoughtful, insightful, and well written. (9/10)
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- Replied by:
Losalt
(Edit) (Jan 24, 2011)
- Hum, what improvements would you say would be needed to get a 10/10 score from you?
I guess perhaps a few spelling mistakes could be fixed...
But honestly I was to busy reading to notice any errors...
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| Reviewer:
Bucky Goldstein
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 22, 2010 |
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I also registered to review this story. I concur, this story is unexpectedly thought provoking, and very well written. (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
gilgamekk
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 20, 2010 |
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Incredible tale. My favorite part was interacting with the performance by thinking how *I* would have reacted. Of course, I can't be certain, but I think I know. Right after the third stroke of the lash I realized that I had to jump up and intervene -- take the whip away from her. I nearly dropped my laptop on the floor by *actually* getting up. Yes, it was a fabulous story. (10/10)
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- Replied by:
Losalt
(Edit) (Dec 24, 2010)
- I hope I would have had the courage to intervene.
My first though was that of offering to take the last five strokes and threatening with divorce if she didn't comply...
I don't know...
All I know is that this is art by the definition that I'm using.
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| Reviewer:
Kegly
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 20, 2010 |
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I also signed up solely to review this work. Unexpectedly thought provoking and emotionally moving. Bravo! (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
Sirvor
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 20, 2010 |
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Ashley is the only author here worth reading. Every one of her stories is excellent and something to look forward to. She's always provocative and stimulating! At least a ten. (10/10)
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- Replied by:
Losalt
(Edit) (Dec 24, 2010)
- She's not the only one, there's others that write with about the same quality as her average stories.
But by damned, she does have a bloody high average quality on her stories with the best stories being among the best I've ever seen...
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| Reviewer:
Snark
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 20, 2010 |
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Spectacular! Remarkable concept, excellently described and developed. Excellent editing - a complete package. But did Howard leave Marcie? (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
Gendi
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 20, 2010 |
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Incredible. I registered purely to comment and rate... I hope it will stay with me as long as the performance stays with your characters.
Thanks (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
reddragon
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 19, 2010 |
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Not just erotic but makes the reader contemplate many of the same things the characters do. This is the first story I've reviewed after reading for years. Bravo. (10/10)
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| Reviewer:
tjlewis132
(Edit) |
Rating: |
Dec 19, 2010 |
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Magnificent. Erotic, realistic style. Need I say more... At least a ten... J LEWIS (10/10)
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- Replied by:
ericca
(Edit) (Dec 23, 2010)
- This is no porn, no art... but is it psychologie or filosophie? In each case a splendid submission. Many thanks to ashley zacharias !
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