I bought this book on ebay but decided to review it here on the off chance that EF members were interested or the book comes back in stock. So, here we go:

Screw the Roses, Send Me Thorns was written in the 90s, when bdsm was still underground and kind of hard to come by. The book is somewhat outdated, for example, there's mail order catalogs for sex toys listed in the glossaries. Not many people order their gear through the mail anymore, now that we're in the internet age.

However, this 275 book is full of tons of useful information. It's got glossaries on bdsm terms, illustrations of toys and techniques, and (some rather cheesy) photos of bdsm sessions. None of the photos are very graphic, they're tasteful and educational.

The first four chapters are about the basics of power exchange, alternative lifestyles and sexual politics. These chapters emphasize the importance of safety, consent and education involved with kink. The history of BDSM in culture is discussed at length. There's also information about finding partners and how to start off your first session with a new submissive.

The middle chapters focus on toys, technique and role play. There's inserts of light erotica that can help give you some ideas for play, as well as practical information and illustrations. There are extensive bondage guides if you're into rope, as well as information on how to safely use crops, canes, or whips.



The last chapter is about furnishing your dungeon, how to store your toys, and sex clothing. These chapters are great if you want to built a dungeon in your home or are curious about the types of sex furniture used in professional dungeons.

There is a huge glossary at the back that explains a great number of terms you may be unsure about. There's 30 or so other pages that include support groups & organizations, suppliers for gear, and some online resources. Some of these include mailing lists and internet bulletin boards that no longer exist, but others are helpful.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's curious about sadomasochism, or for an experienced couple who wants to find some new ideas.