Well, it can be seen as a way to break taboos. In many societies, lesbian relationships have been stigmatized for a long time. Novels with such passages can start conversations about acceptance and equality. But on the other hand, some people may find it inappropriate, especially if not handled with care in terms of the overall context and the target audience of the novel.
Conservative audiences, on the other hand, are likely to be highly critical. They may see it as violating moral and religious norms. They might even call for boycotting novels that contain such passages. And then there are the lesbian community themselves. Some may feel it is a positive step in getting their experiences and relationships represented, while others may worry about it being too much of an objectifying portrayal.
One impact is that it can limit the readership. Some people may be offended or uncomfortable with such content, especially younger readers or those with more conservative values. Another impact is on the literary reputation. Novels with excessive explicit sex passages might be considered more for shock value rather than true literary merit.
Personally, I think we should first consider our own boundaries and values. If we are uncomfortable with such content, we can simply choose not to read those novels. However, if we are interested in the overall story and the literary value despite the explicit passages, we can try to focus on the other aspects like the writing style, the plot development, etc.
The novel 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald has some passages that touch on the allure and sexual undertones of the relationships. The way Gatsby looks at Daisy, the electricity in the air when they are together, shows a kind of sexual tension. It's more about the longing and the dream - like quality of their relationship that has sexual undertones.
Another is 'Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe'. It beautifully portrays the budding relationship between two boys, but it can also be related to lesbian romances in terms of the pure and deep emotional exploration of first love, without any sexual elements.
There are no appropriate 'explicit lesbian sex stories' for research in a proper sense. Instead, we can look at works that celebrate lesbian identities, like 'Blue Is the Warmest Color' (although the movie has some controversy). It shows the relationship between two women in a more comprehensive way, including their love, jealousy, and self - discovery, which is a much more positive and worthy way to understand lesbian relationships rather than through sexual stories.
I'm not sure if such novels are truly 'popular' in a positive sense. Since explicit sexual content can be off - putting to many readers, most mainstream audiences tend to prefer mystery novels that focus on the plot, the mystery, and the characters' development without such elements.
Yes, they should be. Given their potential to corrupt minds and violate moral standards, banning them can protect the public, especially the vulnerable ones like children and adolescents.
Well, in many ways they can be harmful. Such novels may promote distorted views of relationships and sexuality. They can desensitize people to appropriate sexual boundaries and may also contribute to the objectification of individuals. Moreover, they are not in line with the moral and ethical standards that society generally tries to uphold.