If you’ve heard of smut in literature and wondered what that meant, the smut meaning in books is typically sexually graphic content with little character or plot development. It can even sometimes overlap with another genre called erotica.
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What Is Smut?
Smut originally had two perfectly natural meanings. The first was a piece of dirt or soot. The second was a fungal disease that attacks grains and turns parts of them into a black powder.
The etymology comes from the German schmutzen, and it first appeared as smut in late Middle English. Its meaning then was “to corrupt, defile, or make obscene. At that time, it was a verb, and the noun usage came about during the mid-1600s. Smut has been used in its pornography-related meaning for at least as long.
Synonyms for smut in its debased sense include erotica, filth, obscenity, porn, and dirt.
Example sentences:
- You may call that story art, but to me, it’s just filthy smut.
- I’m not in the mood to read complex books; I’d like some smut instead.
- The author insisted that the graphic sexuality was supposed to beautify intimacy, but critics said it was smut.
- The struggling writer was surprised and disappointed to learn she could earn more by writing smut.
- There was an intense debate over whether erotica and smut are the same thing.
How About In Books?
Again, the smut meaning in books is for content that is obscene (sexual) in nature. Some people characterize almost any literature with explicit sexuality as smut. However, most people distinguish smut as being mostly a vehicle for sex scenes.
The plot of a smutty novel is typically loosely centered around something like an adventure or crime. Another common plot is to spoof a well-known book or movie. In that sense, smutty stories resemble pornographic movies that have basic storylines. But in both cases, the focus is the sex, not the story.
Are Erotic Romance and Smut the Same?
People who disapprove of explicit sex in books and movies tend to think smut and erotic romance are identical. They consider both of them to be pornography. There’s actually a difference, though.
The primary focus of smut is a series of explicit sex scenes with little or no emphasis on plot and character. On the other hand, in erotic romance, you will see attention to the plot and characters, and explicit sexuality is not the main point of the story.
Another way to explain the difference is that smut is mostly explicit sex while erotic romance is not. If eroticism appeals to you, but you also want a meaningful story, then erotic romance is better for you. So is erotica in general (this can include films, art, music, etc.).
Must-Read Smut Books
So, what are some good examples of books that might fall into these categories? Let’s look at three popular ones. Many call them smut, but many others consider them erotic romances.
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
This 2918 bestseller explores the complexities of long-distance and mixed-race relationships.
It starts with Drew Nichols, a successful pediatric surgeon from Los Angeles, having to attend his ex’s wedding. Then he gets stuck in an elevator with Alexa Monroe, who works as the mayor’s chief of staff. The two have instant chemistry, and Alexa agrees to be his pretend girlfriend and attend the wedding with him.
They end up having a great time for them, but then reality intrudes. A long-distance relationship ensues, and their fast-paced careers make it hard. As they find their way, plenty of erotic encounters occur.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
This 2018 novel centers around Olive Smith, who is seeking a PhD at Stanford. She isn’t over her ex-boyfriend yet, but she wants her best friend to think she is.
So, she begins a fake relationship with Dr. Adam Carlsen, a Stanford professor. His incentive is to convince the university that a serious relationship there proves his intentions to stay long-term.
As they pretend to be in love, they realize that their feelings are more real than they thought.
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Whether you think it’s smut or not, this 2011 book got the whole world talking. It also led to a series and a blockbuster film adaptation.
Anastasia Steel, a 21-year-old college student in Vancouver, meets Christian Grey, a young and wealthy entrepreneur.
Although Anastasia does have romantic feelings, she begins a non-romantic sexual relationship with Christian, who is adamant about the relationship being about sex only.
Anastasia ultimately has to find out if she can win Christian’s heart or if they’re incompatible. Spoiler: since there are three books in the series, the final answer isn’t in this one.
If Fifty Shades of Grey interests you, you might also consider other books like it.
Final Thoughts
Smut initially meant dirt or a fungal disease that left behind a black powder. However, the smut meaning in books is different. It takes the “dirty” meaning to refer to explicit and/or obscene sexual content. Most understandings of smut involve literature that is pretty much all about sex, while plot and characters are unimportant.
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