Nerine Dorman
Biography
A somewhat grumpy newspaper sub-editor, travel writer, author and fiction editor, Nerine lives in a Treehaus near Cape Point, plays piano accordion very badly and regularly fends off baboons armed only with a broomstick. Sometimes she helps her photographer husband photograph scantily clad fetish/glam models in derelict buildings.
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Books
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Smashwords book reviews by Nerine Dorman
- The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit
on Nov. 29, 2009
After struggling to find printed copies of this novel in my home town, it's absolutely fabulous that Storm has finally gotten 'round to releasing her Wraeththu series as ebook.
In this novel, we get to follow Pellaz's journey of discovery when he is incepted into the ranks of the Wraeththu. The tale gradually unfolds, showing a richly textured world without overwhelming readers.
There were times when I grew annoyed with Pell's behaviour near the end, but overall this is a daring read. It wasn't easy wrapping my head around the Wraeththu sexuality because it is unlike anything I've encountered in fiction thus far. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
- First Date
on April 07, 2011
A very charming slice of magical realism here. Would have liked a bit more than the mysterious pronouns for the two main characters but overall, a lovely read.
- Across the Way
on April 11, 2012
Under normal circumstances, Sam probably would never have danced around her apartment in her underwear, but too much cranberry schnapps leads to her moment of indiscretion, and her discovery of the young man she affectionately names The Boy. And so begins her obsession, if not an addiction. Sam soon spends more time spying on and taking photos of The Boy than going out, and lives herself entirely in his world to the detriment of her own, up until such time that their paths eventually do cross.
Of course how does one explain incriminating evidence once the cards are on the table? Sam as a character is self-aware in that she knows her behaviour isn’t healthy, but she can’t help herself and in that Zakari salvages what could be quite a creepy story of stalking if not so sensitively handled.
Sam could be any one of us, and I can safely say very few of us haven’t experienced unrequited love. To a degree there is some sadness to Across the Way if one considers how modern city living isolates people and often makes it difficult for us to meet new people. Or indeed to reach out to them. Isolation is a big theme in this story.
My verdict: if you’d like a small taste of what Zakari is capable of before you commit to one of her longer works, give Across the Way a try. She writes the kind of erotica I like to label as “hot writing for chicks who like to think”. The characters are not larger-than-life as one would find in standard romance and erotica examples. They’re real, three-dimensional people in what feels like authentic situations. She doesn’t fall into the trap of hyper-reality, and therefore leaves readers feeling that they too, have had a voyeuristic peek into the lives of others.
Her story-telling leaves me thoroughly satisfied, and Zakari’s characterisation lets me feel as though for a short while I visited in others’ lives, and for a brief time shared in their loves and losses.
(4.44 from 9 reviews)