Vanessa Duriès (1972–1993)

This is an interesting read, I own the book in the original French, but was offered the opportunity to read it in English and jumped at the chance (my French is rusty). Written as a memoir made even more poignant by the author’s very early death, there is an underlying tone of sadness that invades the story, even as she is finding her ‘place’ in the world of BDSM.

While the world of BDSM is often a guilty pleasure and fascination for readers, and the most popular series ‘dedicated’ to the lifestyle has become the go-to reference for many: this is not a bored housewife looks for spice tale. The situations are far darker, with a dominant older male who is far more immersed in the lifestyle, and her pathway to sexual submissive / slave is one that is depicted with truth, if not always elegant.

Not an easy read, or as titillating as the subject matter may suggest: her realization that submission was a coping mechanism that she learned early in life, with a childhood that was peppered with random beatings in an unhappy family life. When she met Pierre, she didn’t slowly learn the ins and outs, she dives right in and endures several tests of her submission from her master and several others throughout the French countryside.

While the story is gripping, the writing is rougher than one would hope: partly this is due to translation, partly the immaturity of the writer. Unfortunately, she was in the process of crafting the second in this series when she died in an auto accident. Certainly a book that will intrigue readers truly interested in this lifestyle and why someone would voluntarily submit to the gruelling process, Vanessa Duriès has created a book that can sit on the shelf with
Histoire d'O by Pauline Reage and L'image by Jean de Berg.

I received an eBook from the author for purpose of honest review for Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions were my own responsibility.
… (mehr)