nubian_cutie21's Full Review: Elizabeth McNeill - Nine and a Half Weeks: A Memoi...
In 1978, a well respected, modern, Corporate New York City woman, may have never thought that she would go so far. Elizabeth McNeill is a pseudonym for the writer who pushed the limits of Sexual domination with her lover to the point that it could not be possible for her to ever be the same person again.
When the movie came out it in 1986 it seemed too fictitious to be based on a true story. A man could not possibly be so irresistible, yet so dangerous and lack that much depth.
The book was no where to be found in any bookstore that I checked so I resorted to purchasing it on Ebay. It’s a short book, 117 pages in length, with a very classic and simple book cover, there of course are no pictures of the author, no original handwriting entries, or any other kind of memorabilia. It’s a fairly easy read (getting past the content). Having seen the movie about 30 times since I first rented it in 2000 (I had finally turned 18 when I first saw it and wanted to see what all the talk was about), I anticipated reading the book even more. I wanted to know if this John character in the movie had more depth and a soul in the book then as he was portrayed by Adrian Lyne in the motion picture.
Elizabeth meets her lover at a New York fair while buying a scarf. By his description, he is attractive though fairly average looking, very approachable and likable. She never mentions his name throughout the book though, there are not very many names mentioned at all. If she does refer to a name she does not say the significance of that person in her, it’s up to the reader to use their better judgment. The key elements are at the beginning when she goes into detail. Elizabeth is in his room, looking through his drawers. She describes everything down to how many socks he owns as well as the colors, the style of his room, the whole apartment. When it comes talking about him though, she is vague. She mentions that he told her his life story, but leaves it at that. He is witty, conversational, he has personality, and he is human, which makes her escapades with this man all the more intriguing.
He offers to tie her to the bed after the second night, which soon turns into being handcuffed to the coffee table. Then comes the hitting, which leaves Elizabeth excited and wanting more. It soon becomes a normality. They go to work together during the day, then come home to their sadomasochist lifestyle at night. Before long, he bathes her, feeds her, washes her hair to name a few, and all she has to do is submit. Not once does he ever tell her that she has to do what he tells her, nor does he force her. There is an incident when he asks her to pleasure herself in front of him. She declines. He graciously offers to dress her, pack up her clothes and call her a cab. The power of this moment is that she is crying and pleading hysterically. She is begging, and he is calm, even polite. The point is that Elizabeth had basically become a slave to her own emotions. As the days turn into weeks, the humiliation gets more intense. She soon finds herself dressing like a man, wearing lingerie and provocative clothing and stealing from strangers. Completely submissive to things that she never thought she would do, while this is all very amusing to him. Her main thought….I am not accountable. It goes so far that she does not recognize who she is anymore, but just can’t seem to stop. While he is amused by it, she is in love, and he loves playing the games. Soon the reader can’t help but ask “When exactly is it enough?,” And believe me, it may have seemed like I have given a lot of detail but this is not even 1/8th of a fraction of the Elizabeth’s journey.
The book is disturbing, but you can’t help to keep reading cause you want to know how much further they go before someone finally cracks. When they go so far, would he practically have to kill her to keep the excitement? I still read the book over, and I am curious to know who she is now after going through what she did. Its women erotica at its finest.
I have written a review for the Movie of the name. As part of pearannoyeds write off.
Two ordinary, civilized people begin a casual affair that soon turns into a sadomasochistic experience of frightening intensity. It is a powerfully er...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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