'Nothing Natural centres with illuminating precision on a sado-masochistic relationship. Rachel is in her thirties, a single parent admired by her friends for her self-sufficiency . But when she meets the compelling, sinister Joshua she discovers another side to herself . In a sense which horrifies her, she has found herself . An outstandingly well-written novel' New Statesman An addictive story of a dangerous love affair with a shocking denoument, this is a complex examination of the relations between the sexes at their most combatative and collusive. It is a clever book with much to tell us about the nature of desire and what should or should not be permissable.
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'The frank and frequently shocking exploration of an addictive, sinister relationship is as compelling today as it was when it was first published in 1986' -- Red Magazine
About the Author
Jenny Diski is the author of eight novels and two memoirs: Skating to Antarctica and Stranger on a Train. She lives in Cambridge.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this to be a powerful book that delved deeply into the life of a woman named Rachel who becomes involved in a sadomasochistic relationship with an emotionally distant man. Initially I felt the title referred to this s&m relationship. However, as the author reveals more of Rachel's life, it appears that there is nothing natural in her emotionally starved world. Her parents fought bitterly when she was a child. She struggles with paralyzing spells of depression and is incapable of emotional closeness. She is delightfully articulate and quick witted - an intelligent woman with a large share of emotional distress. We watch her spiraling deeper into a suicidal state and it takes a strong reader to maintain compassion. Finally her darkest hour passes, and the novel ends with her first steps towards a healthier self concept. Compelling reading and wonderful character development - a great first novel.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Anthony
Format:Paperback
The only explanation I can find for this book is that it was intended as a feminist answer to "Nine and a Half Weeks," starting with the same plot but taking out the glamour, making the woman more obviously a victim, and ending with some kind of redemption where she turns the man in to the police. But it doesn't work even in those terms, because her liberation comes through some kind of split personality state where she does things without knowing it and is as surprised as anyone else at the climax. And what she shops him for is a clumsy frame-up which you can't see ever getting to court. Both the story and the earnest afterword read as if the author had a serious message to send, but it's not clear what it is.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
bad news i didnt like this book and was rather upset as i thought it was going to be good. I wouldnt recommend it.
By Eileen Shaw
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Our narrator is Rachel, who, after a failed marriage to Michael, lives on her own with her small daughter. We learn about Rachel's unhappy childhood and then her much happier adoption by a single woman, Isobel. Now grown up and with a daughter of her own, after her marriage broke down Rachel is not looking for another relationship and prefers one-night stands, until she meets Joshua. From there the narrative takes us on a journey into a sado-masochistic affair which, to many readers will ring rather false. Joshua is a social charmer but he is into beating women and quite how such an ostensibly intelligent woman could remain involved with him is difficult to credit. As she explains it, he gives her permission to be submissive and childish - which we have been at pains to discover is not how she wants to be in the rest of her life. And there's a child, around there somewhere, though after an introduction of her at the beginning, she's never heard of again. As Rachel is never sure when her abuser will turn up, what does she do when the kid is with her?
A more convincing sub-plot describes Rachel's efforts to help a young boy in a local children's home whom she is helping to work towards some CSEs before he leaves the home. The mixture of indifference and sympathy Rachel displays in this relationship is much more convincing and logical, but there is no happy ending.
In an afterword Diski explains her puzzlement at how the novel was received by some feminists. Whilst I have some sympathy for the outrage, I can also see that suppression of fantasy sex-lives is not the answer, even in the cause of feminism. This is a contentious book largely about sexual deviance and those who baulk at the explicit should stay away.
A more convincing sub-plot describes Rachel's efforts to help a young boy in a local children's home whom she is helping to work towards some CSEs before he leaves the home. The mixture of indifference and sympathy Rachel displays in this relationship is much more convincing and logical, but there is no happy ending.
In an afterword Diski explains her puzzlement at how the novel was received by some feminists. Whilst I have some sympathy for the outrage, I can also see that suppression of fantasy sex-lives is not the answer, even in the cause of feminism. This is a contentious book largely about sexual deviance and those who baulk at the explicit should stay away.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Mot Juste
Format:Paperback
This book is so totally ridiculous and ludicrous you have got to laugh!
This woman is in her thirties, she even has a child to look after for heavens sake!
She must meet other mothers to chat to on the school run.Then there is the weekly shopping, not to mention her actual job and reading the newspapers, watching TV etc, having fun with her daughter, making chocolate brownies with her, teaching her to knit a scarf, french-braiding her hair etc.
In short, loads of fun things to keep an intelligent and resourceful woman happy and occupied.
But oh no,she has to mope around the house, thinking dark oppressive thoughts and waiting for some weird git to turn up and beat her!
And he is fat and not even good looking! He just turns up announced. (In the real world she would be putting Immac on her legs and he would end up with a parking ticket) And he never brings her a present ,the tight-fisted swine. Worse of all he doesn't have a sense of humour, he is too busy acting the enigma. Personally speaking, funny men work best for me, I like to be laughed into bed, . The spanking malarky would just crack me up, I would just burst out laughing and say something irreverent like "Oh matron!" or "Are we in a Carry On film, babes?" which would probably spoil the moment.
To be honest I couldn't get into shannigans-over-the-kitchen-table scene either cos I was too worried about the lamb in the oven getting burnt. Trust me, that would never happen in our house, we are just too practical.My husband would never let sex get in the way of a good piece of lamb!
(Makes me wonder if Jenny Diski has ever met any real men?)
Oh well, whatever floats your boat.It is all a bit depressing for me.... Read more ›
This woman is in her thirties, she even has a child to look after for heavens sake!
She must meet other mothers to chat to on the school run.Then there is the weekly shopping, not to mention her actual job and reading the newspapers, watching TV etc, having fun with her daughter, making chocolate brownies with her, teaching her to knit a scarf, french-braiding her hair etc.
In short, loads of fun things to keep an intelligent and resourceful woman happy and occupied.
But oh no,she has to mope around the house, thinking dark oppressive thoughts and waiting for some weird git to turn up and beat her!
And he is fat and not even good looking! He just turns up announced. (In the real world she would be putting Immac on her legs and he would end up with a parking ticket) And he never brings her a present ,the tight-fisted swine. Worse of all he doesn't have a sense of humour, he is too busy acting the enigma. Personally speaking, funny men work best for me, I like to be laughed into bed, . The spanking malarky would just crack me up, I would just burst out laughing and say something irreverent like "Oh matron!" or "Are we in a Carry On film, babes?" which would probably spoil the moment.
To be honest I couldn't get into shannigans-over-the-kitchen-table scene either cos I was too worried about the lamb in the oven getting burnt. Trust me, that would never happen in our house, we are just too practical.My husband would never let sex get in the way of a good piece of lamb!
(Makes me wonder if Jenny Diski has ever met any real men?)
Oh well, whatever floats your boat.It is all a bit depressing for me.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
A dismal portrait of destructive collusion
I came upon this book by chance as it was part of a promotional display at my local library. I then made the unforgivable mistake of being lured into a book by the appearance of... Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2003 by Damian of Clitheroe
3.0 out of 5 stars
More complex than kinky sex
I read this as an interested participant in submissive sexual practices and although it was easy to read I found it disappointing on several scores. Read more
Published on 28 May 2003 by "elaine-x"
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