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What are some well-written dirty books?

OK, so the question had to be asked eventually. I keep trying to find steamy books that are also worth reading, or at least good books with one section that invariably falls open. Most "erotica" written for women leaves me cold - the people are not anyone with whom I can identify (they're always Ken and Barbie dolls with Ph.D's and chateaus in France). There's got to be some books out there with hot sex featuring people that might actually exist. Not necessarily one-handed reads (strictly dirty books), but more books with a couple great scenes and interesting stories.

I've tried the usual suspects, Lauren Dane and such, and her protagonists are the types I'm referring to above. Too stereotypically perfect (superhot martial-arts expert meets millionaire playboy brain surgeon, that sort of thing).

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  • David_library_small

    What a tasty question – I look forward to seeing what people suggest. You’re probably already familiar with the Literary Review’s Bad Sex in Fiction Award, just given the other day Rowan Somerville’s The Shape of Her, for such choice phrases as “like a lepidopterist mounting a tough-skinned insect with a too blunt pin he screwed himself into her.” Shudder. 

    I am reminded of one anthology called The Naughty Bits: The Steamiest (and Most Scandalous) Sex Scenes from the World's Greatest Books. That might lead you in some interesting directions. (A similar earlier collection was The Literary Companion to Sex, which also includes poetry).

    I’m afraid the examples that first spring to my mind are both on the disturbing side. First is Georges Bataille's Story of the Eye, which is filled with truly incredible, bizarre, grotesque sexual imagery. Be warned.

    The other is an extraordinary novel which begins with two highly erotic sections, and the gradually transforms itself into a different kind of novel altogether. To reveal more would be a crime against the book, but I can HIGHLY recommend D.M. Thomas’s The White Hotel, if you enjoy a book as provocative to the mind as to the privates, and one that is more than a little disturbing, this is one you won’t soon forget.

    For a rollicking good romp in the hay, Andrei Codrescu’s Casanova in Bohemia is good, and certainly well-written by almost any definition.

    Some other titles for your consideration:

    Allison Fell’s The Pillow Boy of the Lady Onogoro.

    Nedjma’s The Almond: The Sexual Awakening of a Muslim Woman.

    Ana Castillo’s Peel My Love Like an Onion.

    The Calligrapher, by Edward Docx.

    Damage, by Josephine Hart.

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12 Other Answers

  • Subcultureoftwo_small
    Reputation: 1892

    So far, I've enjoyed "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty," by Anne Rice. If you like it (open it up and read the first 2 or 3 pages...you'll know by then), it's a trilogy and is followed by "Beauty's Punishment" and "Beauty's Release." Those probably fall into the "One-Handed Reads" category.

    Anne Rice also wrote "Exit to Eden," which had some good scenes in it, but the second half of the storyline was irritating (the characters too, now that I think about it).

    "The Story of O," by Pauline Reage, came very highly recommended to me. I own it, but haven't read it yet.

    Most of the Clan of the Cave Bear series kinda falls into this category after the middle of book 2, actually. It's a little annoying if you're reading it for the rest of the story ("oh, her nipples are erect again, flip forward 5 pages..."), but might be enjoyable on a first read.

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  • Dscf0354_small
    Reputation: 148

    I know it's kind of old but have you read Anais Nin? Her erotica wasn't really my cup of tea, but it is well written and sexy. Also, Henry Miller - Sexus, Under the Rooftops of Paris, and one of the Tropics books (sorry, it's been a long time since I read them) are basically porn masquerading as literature. Under the Rooftops, in particular, is spectacularly filthy and perverse.

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  • N1462072360_2869_small
    Reputation: 320

    VOX by Nicholson Baker
    http://www.amazon.com/Vox-Nicholson-Baker/dp/0679742115/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_5

    The Fermata by Nicholson Baker
    http://www.amazon.com/Fermata-Nicholson-Baker/dp/0679759336/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_6

    Both unique and enjoyable to read. Excellent writer.

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  • Sho_small
    Reputation: 1226

    The "people that might actually exist" might disqualify this one, but I'd recommend "Soulless" by Gail Carriger. The romantic/erotic tension is handled quite well, and the language in the book is delightful. The female protaganist approaches everything from a witty, scientific perspective that is quite refreshing. She's also dismissed by society as a plain spinster bluestocking, so no blonde bombshell ninjas here.

    However, it's steampunk victoriana with werewolves and vampires, so...there's that. I liked it. It's hot.

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  • N815394_32920449_260_small
    Reputation: 576

    The "Claudine" series by Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette are very well written and pretty steamy. I wouldn't exactly call them "dirty", but they are incredibly sexy.

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  • Sidewalk_small
    Reputation: 216

    Surprising, but I found some fun, well-written smut on Literotica recently. Not a hold-in-your-hand book, but great for engaging your mind AND other parts. The main characters are a very ordinary young man and a stunning succubus, but don't let that stop you.  As an added bonus, the story happens to be set in Seattle.

     

    I can't get the link to post from my phone but the series is called Angels, Demons, and Alex.  

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  • Avatar_default
    Reputation: 3

    Kushiel's Dart has an interesting plot, likeable characters, and sex scenes. It may or may not be what you're looking for, but I really liked it! The author is Jacqueline Carey.

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  • Medium_2868373187_b2c11c89cf_o_small
    Reputation: 2266

    I remember enjoying the sex scenes in A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. But I read that when I was younger, so not sure how well it holds up now that I am a jaded adult. : )

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  • Elva_close_up_small
    Reputation: 59

    The Marketplace series by Laura Antoniou. She's a great storyteller and I love how beautifully she creates and maintains the characters' different voices.

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  • Sacri_ordines_by_charism_small
    Reputation: 3723

    I love all the dirty girl books here, but someone's gotta speak up for the practical and basically-non-fiction (&fun) dirty books too..

    namely,

    The Sensuous Dirty Old Man by Dr. A aka Isaac Asimov

    Yes, THAT Asimov.
    Well written for sure (and not at all about ninja Phds with a mansion in the Hamptons). Also: funny as fawk.

    I also like the onehanded collections, like 'Playing With Fire: taboo erotica', 'Afternoon Delight-erotica for couples' by Alison Tyler and 'Girls on Top - explicit erotica' by Violet Blue. Granted, many are ken and barbie-type paper dolls, but sometimes that's what's needed. ;)

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  • Quincy2_small
    Reputation: 129

    Vox, by Nicholson Baker

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  • 369322_536168272_1594350638_n_small
    Reputation: 0

    Penultimate Hustle! It's not out yet, so read Radar Love, first, the first in the series. But PH has full on sex scenes that are inside of an amazingly well-written story. Thanks to ebooks, it can be released as is, fully x-rated, instead of being watered down for a print publisher. Message me on Facebook and I'll send you a review copy. Actually, Pageburner has some hot scenes in it, as well.

    Pageburner

    http://www.amazon.com/Pageburner-ebook/dp/B006IJUGVU

     

    Radar Love

    http://www.amazon.com/Radar-Love-Ultimate-Hustle-ebook/dp/B006LRKASI/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_5

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