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ZALMAN KING'S RED SHOE DIARIES: STRIP POKER
Zalman King, Elise D'Haene, Patricia Louisianna Knop and Julie Marie Myatt
Berkeley, Jan 2005
ISBN: 0425201309
“Hard Labor” by Zalman King and Elise D'Haene. Jake is depressed wondering if he could have done something different to save the life of his beloeved Alex who committed suicide. He seeks answers in her diary, but finds nothing illuminating. Desperate he asks betrayed or betrayal women to send their diaries to Red Shoes. Three do. Aleta does not want relationships beyond a one night stand to interfere with her goal to succeed. That changes when she meets Antonio, who she fears will expose her soul to pain.

“Strip Poker” by Zalman King and Patricia Louisianna Knop. Jack wants Katherine to set a marriage date, but she hesitates because he has changed from a free soul into a bore. They are to meet at Yalta for a special tryst, but he allows business to delay him. An angry Katherine notices a strip poker game and debates whether to join the players and drop Jack.

“Slow Train” by Julie Marie Myatt. Edna dies leaving her home, grocery store, and her diary to her granddaughter Sally. The diary highlights Edna’s sexual awakening during the Depression and awakens the granddaughter to what life.

These three erotic tales filled with profanities offer sex as the prime elixir to most relationship issues. The stories derived from the Showtime show are well written as diary entries, but lack substance as solutions to complex issues are too simplistically resolved in bed. Ironically Jake remains lost just like the audience. Fans of lust as the center of relationships will appreciate this trio, but those who believe there is more between two people will pass.

Harriet Klausner


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