Review: As She's Told
I've seldom had the pleasure of reading such a wonderfully intense book as the one Anneke Jacob has just released. Her story, As She's Told, in my view easily surpasses the work of Pauline Reage (Story of O) and it is my belief and hope that this story will become an erotic classic.
As She's Told is the best kind of love story; a tale of two people from widely disparate backgrounds, who find in each other the perfect match to their deepest fantasies and needs, then move slowly and carefully to make their mutual dreams come true. That these dreams so drastically vary from what society normally considers "love" matters not to them, for they are deeply committed to bringing their fantasies to life and it is a love story in the truest sense, despite some of the darker passions that are slowly unleashed.
Maia and Anders initially meet in an internet chat room and at a safe electronic distance describe what they seek, but each with an eye to the fact that the other may not be what they profess. Soon though, they come to meet in person and that is when the story begins in earnest. Over the course of the following weeks and months Maia slowly and willingly becomes immersed in the life she has always wanted, that of being a fully controlled slave, possession, and eventually, an animal, doing only as she has been commanded. Maia moves into Anders' house and not only does she become his possession physically, but mentally as well, while his control of her physical person and her mind and awareness is constantly increased. This situation is not a Stockholm Syndrome occurrence, but one of deep commitment to each other.
As the months of their lives progress, Maia sinks deeper and deeper into her desired status of being a possession and animal, now constantly denied speech through the use of a wide variety of muzzles, gags, bridles, and bits. Then, while on a remote farm, she loses the use of her hands and fingers for two Summer months and by turns, Maia becomes a plow horse, a beast of burden in the garden and a cart pulling horse woman.
All the while, she is kept constantly bridled and bitted, breast- and nose-leashed, and guided by the inescapable commands of her reins. Her nights are spent on a blanket thrown over straw in a horse stall, controlled and restrained by her chain leashes and gagged while Anders and his friends enjoy themselves at the house. With no hands and fingers, she must use only her tongue to lap up water and her food, but this is precisely what she wants and has needed to complete herself, since she first dreamt of this life as a young girl.
The story is told from two points of view, Maia's and Anders', and as such is a fascinating look into both personalities, clearly showing why they are who and what they are, and react as they do to the life they are creating for themselves. Ms. Jacob's other characters and the locales they function in are as finely and exactingly drawn, and so the story is fleshed out in the most believable way.
Ms. Jacob has obviously spent a great deal of time and effort to polish her descriptions of her characters: their dress, appearance, emotions, sensations and how they react to each other and the world around them. All of her characters are beautifully and crisply drawn and Maia and Anders are most certainly not cardboard cut-outs, but living, breathing people that you and I could meet on the street or at work and really like. The locales and equipment are beautifully described and a reader can quite literally see the places and feel all of her equipment being fitted. Her plot line is of intricate interest and flows smoothly to a logical and lovely conclusion and I sincerely hope there is a sequel to this wonderful story.
As She's Told is such a good story that other readers have thought that it is actually a memoir, rather than fiction.
I cannot but envy this triumphant display of Ms. Jacob's skill with words, for she has crafted her story to the precision of a Swiss time piece. All in all, this story is a classic piece of erotic fiction and not just jerk off porn.
I recommend it most highly to anyone who wishes to read a story of love, lust, and kink. You'll not be disappointed with this gem of a book.
For more information on As She's Told and Anneke Jacob see http://www.tpe.com/~anneke/book2.html#intro
You can also find reviews of this book on Amazon.
Visit the reviewer, JG-Leathers http://www.jg-leathers.com/
