Synopsis/blurb.....
An emotionally and sexually frustrated divorcée explores her mounting attraction to women.
Rhoda’s divorce has her thinking that romance is not for her. But maybe she just needs to look in a new direction. Megan is an attractive blonde who instantly sees what Rhoda’s love life has been missing: a woman’s touch. As Megan guides Rhoda into the sensuous - but hidden - world of women who love women, the two unlock a passion that may be too hot to contain. There are a lot of beautiful women in the Village, and Rhoda’s just begun her adventure as a freewheeling lesbian.
Another early erotica novel from Lawrence Block and another one which entertained me on the commute without being especially memorable, titillating or explicit.
A young woman, an encounter, confusion, acceptance, romance, a relationship, a wandering eye, jealousy, a break-up, a new partner, a death in the circle of friends, a test, a confirmation.
Not much else to say really. I do kind of scratch my head at the instant proclamations of love towards a partner you've only just met. It seems more a schoolyard playground occurrence, as opposed to something that happens with people in their mid-twenties, but why do I know about lesbians in the New York village fifty years ago.
Definitely of it's time with dollar bills dropped on bar tables to settles a drinks bill and a dollar plus change the price of a cab ride. (Or was that in one of the other Block/Emerson books I've listened to recently? They do tend to blur.)
Overall it did what it was supposed to - entertained. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters, I didn't find the main one too annoying. I was interested in her story, up to a point. I liked Block's writing and the pacing. I think I'd enjoy his writing irrespective of the subject he was writing about.3 from 5
Read (listened to) - October, 2019
Published - 1965
Page count - 198 (4 hrs 47 mins)
Source - Audible download code received from author's assistant)
Format - Audible
I give you credit, Col, for really reading deeply into Block's backlist. He is a hugely talented author, and I always learn something when I read his work. But, if I'm being honest, his Jill Emerson stuff has no appeal for me at all. Now, I'll confess to not having read it, so there's that. But still - not my sort of thing at all. But a fine review, as ever!
ReplyDeleteThanks Margot. I definitely get why these might not be your cup of tea, but I'm enjoying them. In some ways it's a marriage of convenience with his early erotica-non crime books, as I'm utilising otherwise dead time while driving.
DeleteYears ago, I read a memoir by Block about his writing life in which he talked about his early published work in this genre. But I will stick with later crime novels.
ReplyDeleteElgin, I may have read the same book. I prefer his later work myself, but I am having some fun with these.
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