Monday, August 23, 2010

Review: Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas




From Amazon.com:
Emily Vargas has been taken captive. As part of his conditioning methods, her captor refuses to speak to her, knowing how much she craves human contact. He's far too beautiful to be a monster. Combined with his lack of violence toward her, this has her walking a fine line at the edge of sanity. Told in the first person from Emily's perspective, Comfort Food explores what happens when all expectations of pleasure and pain are turned upside down, as whips become comfort and chicken soup becomes punishment.

DISCLAIMER:
This is not a story about consensual BDSM. This is a story about “actual” slavery. If reading an erotic story without safewords makes you uncomfortable, this is not the book for you. This is a work of fiction, and the author does not endorse or condone any behavior done to another human being without their consent.

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I was first made aware of Comfort Food when Cecile reviewed it, then did an interview with Kitty Thomas. Cecile -thank you.

I don't know where to begin....All I can say is, "Wow." I read this book in one sitting, I was sucked in from the first page and couldn't put it down.

Comfort Food is the story of a true Master/slave relationship, not a fetish, but an actual way of life. Emily is kidnapped, held hostage, and manipulated emotionally until she is a willing slave.

Ms. Thomas says in her interview at Cecile's place: "Any readers who are expecting a lot of physical violence or some type of brutal rape ... that doesn't happen here."

She's absolutely right - it's all psychological, and both horrifying and fascinating at the same time. I didn't find it a dark read, more....almost clinical, if you will, and I think that was due to the descriptive quality of Ms. Thomas' writing. The "cell" was light, the other rooms were bright - I never got the impression she was ever left in darkness.

The "relationship" that developed between them was so fucked up I just couldn't look away:

"....I came to trust him more than I'd ever trusted anyone. Because even if he was a monster, he followed his own rules. And he was my monster."

I didn't miss the irony of Emily being semi-famous for writing self-help novels, and that she had a degree in psychology. She knew what was going on and was still helpless to stop it. I was very interested in Master and the reasons behind his actions. I wanted to hate him, I knew I should hate him, but I was fascinated with his motivations. I was thrilled when Ms. Thomas gave us a peek into Master's journal.

"If I have this dark need to have compete power over her, she has an equal almost pathalogical need to give it to me."

Although I thought the fact that Master was rich made things a bit too easy, it didn't bother me for long. I just couldn't put the book down, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished reading it.

We never do learn Master's name, and I can't stop wondering if Emily ever does either.

My rating:



12 comments:

  1. '...so fucked up I just couldn't look away.' I could not have said that better. I love this stotry, one of my faves this year.
    Nice review, Patti!

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  2. I love this review Patti. I still don't know if this book is for me, but I love your reaction to it :)

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  3. I'm pretty sure this book would freak me out WAAAAAY too much.

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  4. After reading this review, I am going to B&N at lunch and pick this up. Thanks for the fyi on what I need to read to get me re-energized!

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  5. Great review, but I to think this one would be too much for me

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  6. Aww Patti, I am glad that you liked this book. It really touches a place in your soul!!! You did an awesome review honey!!!!

    This is an awesome book!!!!!!!!!

    ***ppssstttt... is it almost here***

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  7. I read this book and couldn't put it down either!

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  8. YAY! so happy you enjoyed it so much! wooohooo!!

    did you see my trailer for the book??

    http://www.larissaslife.com/2010/08/my-first-book-trailer-comfort-food-by.html

    xoxo

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  9. Mar: I loved it -one of my faves this year too!

    Mandi: Thanks, I was hesitant at first but so glad I read it!

    Chris: Not too freaky, loved it!

    Hannah: Not in print yet - October, I think.

    Blodeuedd: Thanks!


    Cecile: You're absolutely right! (and less than 2 weeks - yay!)

    Kitty: You're welcome - as you can tell, I really enjoyed it!

    Estella: It is riveting!

    Larissa: I did see it - it's fabulous!

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  10. I read so many reviews about this one. I think I totally have to read it. It sounds like a story I could dive into.
    Wonderful review hon.

    And the books we can't stop thinking about are most of the times the best.

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  11. Okay. I just finished reading this so I have to comment.
    Wow. Impressive. Amazing.
    But you're right - the situation was made easy by the Master's money and good looks....

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