"Within a month, my romantic, Lost Generation fantasy of the city had sharpened into reality. The only moveable feast I'd found in Paris was of the fleshly variety - a constant supply of lithe, undulating bodies presented under glass, offering every view to the clientele."
In this dark and disturbing collection, Kothe explores themes of the damaged, the devious, and the deranged heroine, and examines the consequences of pushing the female heart one step too far.
"The Glass Room"
An American girl maintaining her comfortable Parisian lifestyle as a high-end brothel escort faces off with a mysterious client whose sadistic dependencies threaten her livelihood.
"Tethered"
After a passionate quarrel with her conflicted lover, a woman realizes that the best kind of relationships are the eternal kind. Sometimes the man just needs a little push ...
"Seeing Black"
A lonely librarian nursing a broken heart gathers liquid courage in preparation for her sister's visit, and struggles with a peculiar ailment she's had since puberty.
"Feminist Theory"
A troubled but diligent chemistry student reacts to the unsavory intentions of a predatory psychology professor.
Review:
This book was given in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Finding time to read a book all the way through these days is rare for me, so when I was given a copy of Sweet Violent Femmes, I hoped I would have time to read the entire thing. As it happened, the pages few by in quick secession and before I knew it, I was lamenting the end. This collection of short stories was beyond brilliant and full of righteous feminine fury. In each tale there is an element of helplessness, an aura of female subjugation in a male world and an overwhelming sense of rage at the injustice.
"The Glass Room" was the first story and it completely sucked me in. I started it on break at work and I barely remember finishing my food, I was so engrossed in the story. It shines a light on women who work in the sex industry and the risks they take to earn a living. When one of the gentleman callers proves to be a little too much into pain, one girl takes matters into her own hands. I was pretty nearly cheering at the end.
"Tethered" was spectral and at first confusing as the girl in the story figures out what has happened to her and where she is going. Lovers are not always what they seem and in this story it is true more than most.
"Seeing Black" was a wonderful story. It ripped my heart out and I found myself blinking back tears. Families can be a haven or Hell and in this case, it was more the latter. If you have been subjected to abuse in any form that involved your family, you will really feel it with this story. Trigger time. The conclusion is very satisfactory.
"Feminist Theory" was a devious little package from the get go. Revenge is sweetest when it is served cold and this young lady has more to dish up than most. Again, if you have issues with an abusive man in your life, this one will hit home with a dead on bulls-eye.
Overall the book was a fast paced read of bloody vengeance and horrific revenge. I loved every second of it. I think too often women in our society are looked upon as disposable objects of desire without concern for the repercussions. I am so glad Holly wrote this collection of darkly divine femmes to give a voice to some who can't speak for themselves. There are many women in the sex trade that die from extreme situations inflicted on them with no accounting at all. Children are victimized by a male relative or family friend and nothing is done to stop it. Boyfriends take it upon themselves to silence an inconvenient truth when it takes two to tango. All of these situations are thrust boldly under the stark white lights of this marvelous book.
5/5
I want to read more from this fabulous author!
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