Latest news with #Lolita
Refinery29
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
The 30 Most Erotic Books You Will Ever Read
At this point, the sexcapades of Fifty Shades Of Grey are starting to feel a wee bit tired. Sorry, not sorry Christian Grey. For those looking to update their shelves with one-handed reads that hit all the erogenous zones, we've put together a list of the 28 sexiest books you will ever read. Snuggle up with one of these good, good sex reads, that spans different decades of sexual exploration. No one needs to know what you do under those covers, but these books all know how to get your heart racing. Sometimes that's by hammering down on taboos like merman sex or orgies that include over a hundred people. There's even a book that spans the length of a single blow job. This list includes a genderqueer retelling of Peter Pan and a gender-swapped update of Pretty Woman. There are pulpy novels that are straight-up smut (Oh, hello, Anne Rice!) and novels that take an intellectual look at female sexuality. Some will get you off, while others, well, won't. Alissa Nutting's Tampa isn't exactly erotica, but it will definitely make you wonder why Lolita is. That's kind of the fun of the list. Your kink might not be someone else's, but there is nothing sexier than sex positivity. So cue Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's "WAP" and start clicking through this slideshow. A one-handed act that will leave your other hand free to do whatever you like. At Refinery29 Australia, we're here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team, but we may earn commission or other compensation from the links on this page.
Buzz Feed
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
49 Of The Tackiest Weddings I've Ever Seen
What's the point of this? Yeah, this ain't cute. Guns have no place at a wedding, IMO. Neither do bullets. Who wants a bullet wedding favor??? What would you even use this for? What is it with weddings and guns??? Seriously. It's weirdly common. That's one interesting Best Man invite. ...Whatever floats your boat, I guess. Trumpers are so unhinged. Why does he need to be a part of your wedding? I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. I like beer as much as the next person, but did you really have to advertise that on your wedding cake? I can't decide if this is about sexual domination or the husband being controlled by his wife, but either way, I hate it. Please don't make your wedding cake toppers sexual. I shouldn't have to say this. We get it, you smoke weed. But do you really need to incorporate weed into your wedding? There's really no "cute" way to ask for money, and TBH, it's cringey when people try. Because nothing says romance like a cake topper that suggests your hubby wants to run! Why would anyone want your garter??? Does the Confederate flag really belong at your wedding? I get wanting to save money, but seriously, it's the bare minimum to feed your guests. I hate this!!! If I saw this at a wedding, I would leave. It's not all about you! Camo has no place at a wedding. What kind of couple thinks a quote from Lolita is a romantic thing to include in their wedding favors? It really doesn't get more tacky than a 9/11 themed wedding. Though throwing JUUL PODS at the happy couple in place of rice is a close second. Trying to shame your guests into just giving you random cash is one thing, but doing it via a cute fake fish in a fish bowl is a whole new level of cringey. These may be the worst wedding shoes I have ever seen. What even is a "buck and doe-themed wedding"??? This couple also had a hunting-themed wedding, with bridesmaids pretending to be shot deer and being dragged into the venue by the groomsmen. Imagine being this obsessed with yourself. These are NOT appropriate cake toppers. Can't you take one day off from advertising your multiple MLMs? I can get past the monster truck, but I don't understand why anyone would want to get married in mud. This is just disgusting. This "bathroom" wasn't much better. Honestly, I'd be glad I didn't receive an invite. It doesn't get much more tacky than being too lazy to write real thank-you cards. It's okay if you can't afford elaborate displays, but this decor was pretty crappy (see what I did there?). Sorry, but I'm hardcore judging this bride who had the groomsmen walk down the aisle with signs of things her groom-to-be had called her in the past, including "Fiery Fox" and "Sexy Raspy." I hope this is a joke. Why would you want serial killer-themed centerpieces??? If you thought Kylie Jenner's Handmaid's Tale-themed birthday was bad, get ready for this wedding theme. Even worse? This couple literally had a COVID-themed wedding. If you're going to reuse decor from your first wedding, at least don't make it obvious. A wedding is not a place to put your fetish on display! And finally, I have no idea what the couple was going for with this cake.
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
5 songs you did not know were inspired by novels
Art often echoes, borrows, or builds on what came before it, transcending the boundaries of time, space, and medium. Paintings have inspired poems, and novels have inspired films, and artists and writers often use music as as inspiration. Musicians, too, often draw inspiration from other art forms, depicting them sonically through lyrics, beats, and melodies. Here are a few songs by rock bands that are directly influenced inspired by characters, stories, and themes of renowned literary works: White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane adds a sinister tone to the classic children's tale, a stark contrast to the childlike wonder that is associated with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Maple press, pages 120, Rs 125) authored by Lewis Carroll. Released in 1967, the song portrays the experience of taking psychedelics which was characteristic to the counterculture movement in the 1960s. Beginning with the lines, 'One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small', the song uses Alice's eccentric and whimsical experiences in Wonderland to describe the experience of taking psychedelics. The eerie instrumental accompanied with the powerful and haunting vocals, creates a surreal atmosphere that reflects the effect of psychedelics on the mind. With a title that directly refers to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four (Penguin Select Classics, pages 304, Rs 199), 2+2=5 by Radiohead tells the story of the narrator who is trapped in an Orwellian regime. The statement, 'Two and two makes five' in the novel illustrates how the Party maintains absolute control over logic and thinking of its subjects; it symbolises total submission to the authoritarian regime and the complete disintegration of individual thought. The narrator in the song is a subject of such an authoritative regime. The sudden shift in the pace and tone of the song is indicative of the narrator's inner dilemma between choosing to be a subject of this regime or revolting against it. Also by Anosha Rishi | How Bookstagram is changing the way we discover and discuss books One of The Police's most popular songs, Don't Stand So Close To Me, a groovy pop rock song about a sensual relationship between a teacher and his student, is inspired by Vladimir Nabokov's most renowned novel, Lolita (Penguin, pages 368, Rs 550). The desire of the teacher mirrors that of Humbert, the protagonist of the novel who was infatuated with a young girl, Lolita. Lolita is infamous for the age-gap between the two characters and the immoral acts executed by Humbert to be closer to her. The song directly refers to Humbert: 'It's no use, he sees her he starts to shake and cough, Just like the old man in the book by Nabakov'. The Rolling Stones' Sympathy For The Devil is inspired by Mikhail Bulgakov's novel, The Master and Margarita (Penguin, pages 432, Rs 399). The lyrics are written from the perspective of a devil reminiscent of Woland, the devil from The Master and Margarita, who arrives in Moscow and incites chaos while helping The Master, a novelist who is the protagonist of the novel. The devil in the song also recalls some of the same historical events as the novel, such as the crucifixion of Jesus which holds great significance in the novel. The song explores moral ambiguity which is one of the major themes of the novel embodied in the character of Woland. The playful instrumental, with elements of samba music, adds a flair of devilishness to the song. Weaving fantasy into rock, Ramble On by Led Zeppelin directly references locations and characters from The Lord of The Rings in the lines, 'Twas in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair, but Gollum and the Evil One, crept up and slipped away with her'. Ramble On is a song about love and heartbreak from the perspective of someone who left their past lover behind and is now on the search for a greater love. Incorporating elements of fantasy adds a surprising twist to a classic narrative. Led Zeppelin has referenced The Lord of The Rings in their other songs as well, such as Misty Mountain Hop and The Battle of Evermore. Written by an intern with
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
7 songs you did not know were inspired by novels
Art often echoes, borrows, or builds on what came before it, transcending the boundaries of time, space, and medium. Paintings have inspired poems, and novels have inspired films, and artists and writers often use music as as inspiration. Musicians, too, often draw inspiration from other art forms, depicting them sonically through lyrics, beats, and melodies. Here are a few songs by rock bands that are directly influenced inspired by characters, stories, and themes of renowned literary works: White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane adds a sinister tone to the classic children's tale, a stark contrast to the childlike wonder that is associated with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Maple press, pages 120, Rs 125) authored by Lewis Carroll. Released in 1967, the song portrays the experience of taking psychedelics which was characteristic to the counterculture movement in the 1960s. Beginning with the lines, 'One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small', the song uses Alice's eccentric and whimsical experiences in Wonderland to describe the experience of taking psychedelics. The eerie instrumental accompanied with the powerful and haunting vocals, creates a surreal atmosphere that reflects the effect of psychedelics on the mind. With a title that directly refers to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four (Penguin Select Classics, pages 304, Rs 199), 2+2=5 by Radiohead tells the story of the narrator who is trapped in an Orwellian regime. The statement, 'Two and two makes five' in the novel illustrates how the Party maintains absolute control over logic and thinking of its subjects; it symbolises total submission to the authoritarian regime and the complete disintegration of individual thought. The narrator in the song is a subject of such an authoritative regime. The sudden shift in the pace and tone of the song is indicative of the narrator's inner dilemma between choosing to be a subject of this regime or revolting against it. Also by Anosha Rishi | How Bookstagram is changing the way we discover and discuss books One of The Police's most popular songs, Don't Stand So Close To Me, a groovy pop rock song about a sensual relationship between a teacher and his student, is inspired by Vladimir Nabokov's most renowned novel, Lolita (Penguin, pages 368, Rs 550). The desire of the teacher mirrors that of Humbert, the protagonist of the novel who was infatuated with a young girl, Lolita. Lolita is infamous for the age-gap between the two characters and the immoral acts executed by Humbert to be closer to her. The song directly refers to Humbert: 'It's no use, he sees her he starts to shake and cough, Just like the old man in the book by Nabakov'. The Rolling Stones' Sympathy For The Devil is inspired by Mikhail Bulgakov's novel, The Master and Margarita (Penguin, pages 432, Rs 399). The lyrics are written from the perspective of a devil reminiscent of Woland, the devil from The Master and Margarita, who arrives in Moscow and incites chaos while helping The Master, a novelist who is the protagonist of the novel. The devil in the song also recalls some of the same historical events as the novel, such as the crucifixion of Jesus which holds great significance in the novel. The song explores moral ambiguity which is one of the major themes of the novel embodied in the character of Woland. The playful instrumental, with elements of samba music, adds a flair of devilishness to the song. Weaving fantasy into rock, Ramble On by Led Zeppelin directly references locations and characters from The Lord of The Rings in the lines, 'Twas in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair, but Gollum and the Evil One, crept up and slipped away with her'. Ramble On is a song about love and heartbreak from the perspective of someone who left their past lover behind and is now on the search for a greater love. Incorporating elements of fantasy adds a surprising twist to a classic narrative. Led Zeppelin has referenced The Lord of The Rings in their other songs as well, such as Misty Mountain Hop and The Battle of Evermore.
Hamilton Spectator
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
In her gripping whodunnit ‘Fox,' Joyce Carol Oates jolts with a superb twist ending
Have you ever wondered why turkey vultures are bald? The answer is not pleasant. Turkey vultures feed on the viscera of dead animals, and sliding their heads into and out of carcasses — preferably through the anus — is easier without feathers. Turkey vultures are scavengers; they see opportunity where others can't bring themselves to look. In this they bear some resemblance to serious novelists, like Joyce Carol Oates , who, at 87, has made an astonishing career in part by turning over what others wouldn't touch, sliding into the darkest orifices, pushing forward until she's found all the tenderest bits. Her novels can be hard to stomach, but for this she can blame reality. Some truths are revolting. Oates's latest novel is 'Fox' (Hogarth), which begins at the Wieland Swamp in southern New Jersey, where turkey vultures circle ominously over what turns out to be a human corpse. At first, the corpse is unidentifiable — due to 'significant animal activity,' as the police chief puts it — but is found alongside a vehicle belonging to Francis Fox, a popular new teacher at the prestigious local prep school, the Langhorne Academy. 'Fox,' by Joyce Carol Oates, Hogarth, 672 pages, $42. In an interview with People , Oates described the novel as a 'classic whodunit,' and the unfolding of the police inquiry — and multiple related storylines — is mostly propulsive, despite the novel's 672 pages and some tiresome stylistic tics ( so many words are in italics ). The most impressive structural feature is the superb twist ending. This is a book that continues to change shape until the very last page. But the novel's real interest lies in its anatomy of the crimes of Francis Fox — a predator, as his name implies, who preys on his middle-school students — and the institutions and norms that make his behaviour possible. Oates does not seek out the origins of his conduct in some childhood trauma or — as in the case of 'Lolita''s Humbert Humbert — a thwarted erotic encounter, but in Fox's own sense of superiority. Fox is the product of a partial Ivy League education — he was ejected from a Columbia PhD program for plagiarism — and the heir to a Romantic tradition that insists on the individual's right to transgress convention in pursuit of his own personal ideal of beauty. Fox quotes Blake and Thoreau as his grandiloquent authorities — 'God himself culminates in the present moment, and will never be more divine in the lapse of all the ages' — as he flatters himself that his obsession with prepubescent girls is a sign of esthetic refinement. Fox keeps a bust of Edgar Allan Poe — who married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia — on his desk, and fills his apartment with the paintings of the controversial French Polish painter Balthus, best known for his prurient portraits of very young female models. In this way, Oates's analysis of child abuse goes beyond the psychology of the criminal to indict American society, where every educated child is expected to know Poe's poems and where Balthus's portraits hang in the Met. On a more immediate level, the adult characters in 'Fox' are guilty of extreme neglect. In the same interview with People, Oates described Fox as a 'charming con man,' but the novel has no sympathy for the adults who let themselves be conned. Teachers on hiring committees neglect to look into Fox's past, though several red flags call out for closer scrutiny. Later, rather than raising alarm bells, the attention Fox receives from his female students elicits jealousy from his petty colleagues. Parents, too, are fooled by Fox, and lulled into a moral stupor by their reluctance to believe the worst. Even those who harbour suspicions prove unwilling to jeopardize their professional status by levelling accusations against a teacher who has made himself a favourite of the headmistress. One of the few adult characters to see through Francis Fox is a lawyer Fox hires to help him through his first scandal with a student. (Fox tries to quote Kierkegaard to the lawyer: ' The crowd is a lie … The individual is the highest truth. ') The lawyer has nothing but contempt for Fox, but professional pride makes him pursue the best possible settlement for his client — an outcome that all but ensures that Fox will be able to continue teaching. How did things get so bad? The novel hints that the community's (almost complete) failure to stop Fox has something to do with the fragmentation of the community itself. The rich and the poor of 'Fox''s Atlantic County have almost nothing to do with each other. Instead, the locals — 'poor whites,' 'old families that have failed to thrive in the twenty-first century, left behind by the computerized, high-tech economy' — are filled with resentment for the smug nouveau riche who try to ignore them while enjoying a much more comfortable existence, one they seek to make hereditary by sending their children to Langhorne and onward to the Ivy League. Political scientists like Katherine Cramer have been warning of the growing rents in the American social fabric caused by the increasing distance between the well-off and the hard-done-by. As Cramer and her co-author put it in a recent piece in the Hill , 'Constitutional democracy flourishes when people feel common purpose with one another, and it is impossible for people who never come into contact to build that common purpose.' The institutions depicted by Oates serve not to advance a common purpose — or enforce a shared morality — but to prop up the strivers while grinding down the rest. This is an unflattering portrait, but not a hopeless one. Over a long and illustrious career — including a National Book Award for Fiction (1970), a National Humanities Medal (2010) and a 'by the same author' page in 'Fox' that looks like the sides of the Stanley Cup — Oates has sometimes been accused of trafficking in moral turpitude for its own sake. A 1991 review of 'Heat and Other Stories' claimed that 'Ms. Oates … is as cavalierly cynical as a teenager. Her stock in trade is precisely not to be shocked, and she pretends to be equally, mildly, analytically interested in all forms of human behaviour, however grotesque.' But 'Fox' reads more like a quiet jeremiad against complacency and hypocrisy, masquerading as a coolly analytic murder mystery. In a 1972 article about the role of literature in America, Oates claimed that the serious writer must recognize that his or her destiny is inescapably 'part of the nation's spiritual condition.' More than 50 years later, Oates has become an integral part of her nation's spiritual condition, circling its revolting truths as the tireless turkey vulture circles a kill. A weak stomach is no excuse for looking away.
