Awesome Erotica for Bedtime Reading

Contributed by Ambrose Diaz, Lavalife

Erotica is a type of literature that is written in order to arouse the reader. It's not smut and it's not pornography.

It has literary merit and usually has more to it than just some arousing sexual scenes, but let's not hold that against it.

No matter what your taste in literature is, it's a guarantee that there is some kind of erotica that is tailored to what you like. Science fiction, poetry, historical, romance, biography, even philosophy genres all have erotic sub-genres to them. I've even stumbled across a compilation of erotic stories written for Jewish couples (now that's niche marketing).

Heck, even if you're not much of a bookworm, I know that reading some erotic passages out loud to your lover in order to turn them on isn't something that you'd be averse to... is it?

There are so many erotica titles to choose from that it's almost unfair to pick just five to highlight for you, so I've tried to mix it up with different styles and incorporate both new work and the classics.

Delta of Venus, by Anais Nin

Lush, poetic and sensual, the many tales included in Delta of Venus serve us a menagerie of eroticism. Nin's studies of sexuality are all the more stirring due to the fact that she puts a decidedly feminine stamp on what had been an area of literature dominated by men. Because the stories stand separately (although there are some common threads) this is a great book to get into for a short while, then return to later once the hunger rises again. Nin's almost hallucinatory writing and deep understanding of passion and sexuality helps her stand as the Godmother of Erotica. You might also want to check out Nin's collection of short erotic stories, Little Birds, for an extra splash of stimulation.

The Sexual Life of Catherine M, by Catherine Millet

Catherine Millet is editor of the prestigious French art magazine Art Press, but that really doesn't matter when it comes to this book. Millet's autobiographical tale of steamy and seamy sexual escapades doesn't hold back in the least. How raw and honest does a book have to be in this day and age to really cause a stir? Well, in a review for Playboy Magazine, Patty Lamberti called it "One of the most erotic books ever written." It is unapologetic, ruthless and it just might make you blush... or flush.

Story of O, by Pauline Reage

This is another classic that's far more than just a sexy read. The Story of O takes a look at the life of a female fashion photographer, whom we only know as "O" and her obsession with a man named Rene. Many people in the BDSM community will point to this book as their first introduction to the world. At its core, the story is about submission and while many critics have called it degrading, they miss the point. The character of O chooses to be a slave to Rene. It'll stimulate your mind and your body. Anyone interested in the world of domination and submission should definitely take a look at this one. It's too bad it was turned into a terrible movie in 1975. Trust me, the book is hotter.

Five Minute Erotica - 35 Passionate Tales of Sex & Seduction, by Carol Queen (Editor)

Carol Queen, a former columnist for Playboy, cherry-picks 35 short stories by some excellent writers (including herself) each of which can be read in as long as it takes boil a kettle. Of course, if your goal is to use reading erotica as a starting point for your own carnal explorations, this collection will serve as a great ignition prior to your liftoff. And, for all the boys out there, the story Bad Kitty, by Thomas Roche, will give brand new life to your perhaps dormant cat-woman fantasies. Meow!

Unruly Appetites - Erotic Stories, by Hanne Blank

H - O - T. Hanne Blank is best known as an editor of erotica collections. Her first solo book does a great job of showing women getting exactly what they want. There are 20 stories in this collection, each one seemingly hotter than the last. Sometimes teasing, and other times overt, Blank tells us to "Love hard, live with grace and appetite, forget that you're a grownup once in a while." Her characters do just that. Her writing is excellent and the descriptions of some very original sexual encounters are rich, sizzling, and incredibly detailed. Blank puts the 'xxx' in sexxxy.

Like I said earlier, these five books are just a taste of the great erotica that's out there. And, once you've had a taste to whet your whistle, you'll definitely be back for more.