The Compleat Spanker - guides to a better sex by Greenery Press - review by queertastic

This book, although tiny, helped me so much! I have been spanked before by an ex-boyfriend and have been ashamed about being aroused and the other feelings I felt during (and after) the spanking. I can't tell you how much self-hatred I have had towards myself due to my arousal I endured during my spanking. Enjoying spanking has made me question whether or not I enjoyed abuse that I endured during my childhood and adolescence. Let me tell you, this book is worth it if you have THE SLIGHTEST hesitation about spanking – or even something deeper – such as my situation.

The author's language isn't flowery or fancy. It is simple, to the point, and she discusses spanking in a frank manner that quickly put me at ease. The chapters outlined are as follows: Spanking & Me, Who Spanks?, Why Do We Like Spanking, Anatomy of a Spankee, Communcation and Mood, Warmup, Implements, Positions, Afterwards, Troubleshooting, Tricks Tips & Fun Things To Try, Conclusion, and Appendixes A-D (Finding Others, Cleaning Your Spanking Toys, Combining Bondage With Spanking and finally, a Resource Guide).

The second chapter of this book, entitled Who Spanks?, outlines why people may be ashamed of their spanking fetish and answers questions whether or not spanking is S&M (sadism and masochism), and whether or not spanking is considered sex. This chapter was the most helpful for me out of the entire book.

I never really knew how to care for leather toys, and had a difficult time finding how to care for a leather paddle. I ended up throwing out a paddle I had for about a year that an old ex-boyfriend or I didn't want. I wish I had picked up this book when he and I were dating. It would have saved a lot of emotional pain on my part.

My one real complaint about the book is the chapter on Positions. I used to have a website of spanking positions that seemed to be an exhaustive list. This list was maybe 15 positions – and you had to flip throughout the book, seeing as the position pictures are throughout the book. I disliked having to flip through the book to find pictures. I wish that they were all in one place! Although I prefer a good over-the-knee spanking, this book did offer a few new ideas.

This book covers it all – from positions, to what to do if your partner has an emotional crisis, to safewords, to how to care for toys, even where to find a spanking partner. I was rather impressed, seeing as the book is only 90 pages. Although thin, it is a testament to spanking – and the pleasure – it can bring when done with trust and love.