Desire - A Collection of Erotic Short Stories [Kindle版]

I don't usually read erotic books but I thought I would check this one out. Once I get into it, I found the writer to be very good at bringing me into her story. Usually, I like full length novels that I can take a week to bite out of each night but this was an interesting change of pace. Being able to read a story in a matter of minutes (or was it longer, I don't know since I got into it, no, not in a bad way!) I read the first story and enjoyed it. I have glanced at erotic stories before, most do not appeal to me, but she did a good job at actually putting a bit of depth into it considering the length of the story. I am not a famale but I could feel the frustration of the woman. Great job!!

Kathryn O'Halloran may not be well known to readers outside her native Australia; but those who have yet to discover any of this gaudily gifted writer's jewel-like erotic short stories are in for a genuine treat. O'Halloran's collection of five short stories, appropriately enough entitled "Desire", is a marvel of the genre.

The first impression one gets on entry into O'Halloran's lavish word-scape is one of sheer rhythmic vibrancy, the frenetic onomatopoeic energy informing structure even as it drives language. We feel it as we spy on strangers making love in time to the incessant motion of a train in the title story; the herky-jerky momentum of acceleration and sex; the braking wheels squealing as lovers stifle their cries, metal against metal, a spray of ozone, and the electric sparks of orgasm. The narrator's memories of the recent past are visited, briefly, like the train's stops along the line. In another tale, O'Halloran employs the manic motion of a rollercoaster at an amusement park to underscore the emotional struggles of her characters; translating the clack and whine of flanged wheels and groaning track into the roaring, full-throated cadences of erotic release.

Yet, there's more than mere quasi-poetic gimmickry to this writing. Reading through the five wonderful short stories in this collection reveals a multi-faceted talent; from the structural tour de force of the title story, to the delicate, jewel-like impressionism of "I Always Cry in the Rain":

"From the bar he can watch her on the balcony. She perched against a table, the lights of the city rooftops behind her. She dresses like a wayward fifties bridesmaid--in red with a froth of petticoats swirling around her legs, a crimson rose punctuating her hair.

Outside the heat is like syrup, thick and heavy. He'll stay indoors.

Inside is white and clean and crisp. Inside, everything floats on the surface.

He tries to ignore her, but she buzzes like an exotic insect at the edge of his vision. She is never totally still. He doesn't need to be close to her to know: her teeth are stained with red wine, her fingernails tap to a tuneless song in her head; and she makes proclamations, swathing and caustic, and when she's challenged her eyes gleam like a chastised child's. She turns through people."

This is marvelous prose by any standard. Kathryn O'Halloran's "Desire" is not to be missed.

This short tease of a story was just that, a tease.

I started reading the story of a woman who is desperately in need of having sex with her man. The significance of her name is obviously irrelevant compared to her desire of getting off. I say this because I either missed her name or never read it :(

The problem starts when Evan, her boyfriend, offers his place up for his Uncle Jules to stay for a while. This is the beginning our mystery woman's problem because Uncle Jules is always around, always seems to be lurking in the corner or in their common space. She becomes so distracted by his presence that she begins to push Evan away, declining their very active sex schedule. After what seems like a lifetime she asks Evan to talk to his Uncle about moving on to another place.

Since her needs haven't been met on a regualr base, her desire, her need to get off has become so great that she can't seem to concentrate on anything else. She leaves their home in hopes of giving Evan and his Uncle Jules time and space to discuss his departure. Hoping like crazy that when she returns Uncle Jules will no longer be there and she can finally jump Evan's bones again without an audience. Finally, it's with great pleasure that when she arrives home the house is clear of Uncle Jules. She can finally have Evan all to herself.

The Best Thing:
This quickie definitely left the wanting to read more, learn more about the characters. This could be considered a good or bad thing. The teaser at the beginning had me very interested in the types of games they played with one another.

The Worst Thing:
Although this was a short story I wasn't able to form any type of connection with the characters. In my honest opinion this short story did not meet its full potential. I would have liked to at least learned our main character's name and reach some type of climax beofre it ended. . Maybe some of the other short stories give more detail.