I was interested in the book and the movie because of the 70's feminist/female-empowerment angle. I am sorry to say that I purchased this book after reading the mixed reviews here and found that it was completely unreadable. Perhaps it's because it's translated from the French: I will give it the benefit of the doubt that the writing appears better in its original language. But In English, the writing is terrible and there is no attempt at any literary value (despite its claims). The "erotica" was so clumsily worded as to have no appeal at all. I stopped reading after a few chapters. At least the movie had Sylvia Kristel, who - no matter what you think of her acting skills - is kinda cool in her cult, campy, 70's way. But this book has no Sylvia Kristel or any kind of cult cool. If you think Danielle Steele and Shirley Conran is corny and unreadable, this is much, much worse. It was a waste of money.