Here’s the thing. I’m always keen on books; new, old, classics, fantasy.. well, you get my drift. I also like to support new authors and I love Goodreads for that very reason. It is where I find début novels and authors I like, it is where I go to make a list of all the books I would like to read – um, My list is endless and I never have all the time I want. So, when I heard about this new sensational best seller, a must read, fantastic story, with some naughty bits, I thought, hold on, sounds good, let me check it out. You see, I can stand in a book store and read through a book pretty quickly, so I grabbed Fifty Shades, and started reading a little here and there. After the first 30 pages, I was quite literally taken aback. I mean really, they are calling this the new sensational best seller? must have on nightstand, must use as reference ( as what may I ask) and must not mention to partner/husband or anyone else for that matter, I had to put it down. In the name of all excellent novels out there, forgive me. Not literary fiction, not a classic, not Gabriel Garcia Marquez or A.S Byatt, not Jane Austen, not Oscar Wilde, not Tracy Chevalier, not Paul Theroux and certainly not J.K Rowling. So what is it? since I give all books a go, do I need to read it?
I was moving on to the kids section, trying to come to terms with what I had just read, when I heard some ladies discussing it. I eavesdropped a little, oh all right, a lot. “You must read it,” one gushed. “It is fantastic.” “There’s three of them.” “Spicy, hilarious and romantic.” Romantic? if you can call what I just read, romantic. Well then, I’m all agog. That is not what I would call romantic – oh well, only my humble opinion here.
The mind boggles, really. I read that Fifty Shades has now passed Harry Potter in sales, in the UK. Books of all books, my word, all you Londoners, you picked this over Harry Potter? HP is yours, J.K created him. It’s like Shakespeare. Yes, I know the author is British. I felt pain, tremendous pain. I think I’m all alone in this one, in the minority, a wee but avid reader, clearly not reading the right kind of book. I am even more aghast, as this morning, I heard that they are creating a line of clothing from Fifty Shades of Grey – underwear, hosiery and other necessary accompaniments. I also know they are doing the film. Please tell me neither Ryan Gosling nor Matt Bomer have been chosen to play Christian. As for Anastasia, who would be naïve enough to play her? I can’t think.
So am I alone in this? have you read it? what did you think? should I go against my instincts and give it a read? Would love to hear from you
Meditating Mummy 
I HATED 50 Shades of Grey. I forced myself to read all 3 and it was torture, but since I need to work in a bookstore I felt I needed to read it since there was so much hype. I wish I could have put it down after the first 30 pages. The writing was just SO bad. Had an experienced writer written this it COULD have been better since the plot is really nothing new just some BDSM added in (more talk than action- so I don’t understand why people use it as a ‘reference’…). I could go on, but I wont. I actually went of on a tangent about it a couple of times on my blog.
http://reading7mandy.wordpress.com/
LikeLike
I am so glad I’m not alone in this. Why, oh why are they calling it a sensation? it is repetitive and boring – at least the part I read. Now, hearing what you have to say, I’m guessing it is just a continuation of the same. Will check out your blog 🙂
Thank you for stopping by.
LikeLike
Totally agree with your review! I cannot, for the life of me, fathom what the heck is the draw here. The writing is awful. I am even more astounded that women think that sounds appealing. No thanks! I could not read all of it. It was the WORST.
LikeLike
Hmmm, first thing I thought was, how old is the author? has she been published before and what on earth is this? It is a sensation, apparently we are in the minority. Sad state of affairs don’t you think? I’m so so glad you feel the same way.
LikeLike
Oh, MM, thank you for writing this. I am so in agreement with you, my friend. It’s cheap and tawdry and I guess that’s what sells. Forget art, forget literature! It’s all about appealing to the common denominator. It’s sad. And I agree wholeheartedly. There’s not one iota of curiosity in me to read trash of any kind. Life’s too short. So keep reading your excellent choices and keep keeping us informed!
LikeLike
I love that you feel the way I do, Monica. I stopped short of calling it drivel, just because I generally try to be fair to all authors and books. In all honesty however, I don’t understand why it spread like rampant fire and became an insatiable guide to women all over. Seriously? I should stop saying seriously… it makes me think of that post you wrote about words that are over- used 🙂 how does anyone define this book as a sensation – well, perhaps it is a sensation of sorts because of its mass appeal. Hmm. Big hugs to you my friend for your continued support of not only my strange letters to Colin, but also my reading habits and reviews.
LikeLike
COMPLETELY agree! I haven’t read it, but, like you, I don’t want to. Just talking to people who’ve read and talk about it makes me ill. I don’t understand why a story about a woman who is controlled by a man such a hit with women. Why are women so eager to relinquish power and choice? Just don’t get it.
LikeLike
I don’t understand it either. Women have fought very hard for power and choice, they’re still fighting it, in some way or the other. I don’t know if the book is meant to be a romantic illusion or just sensationalism, which sells. I guess, what I’m trying to say is that it gives someone looking for an escape into something unrealistic, that extra bit of fun. I like escaping into my books, but I CHOOSE to not escape into this 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Mika. You are lovely.
LikeLike
Hi I was in Lesley’s Bucket List Pub. site and looked you up, pleased that I did. My take on 50 Shades Trilogy (*cringes slightly* – being a woman of 57 yrs young). I concur that the writing was not of high calibre, in fact reaching points of totally repetitiveness, especially the BDSM scenes it was a case of “Oh god no here we go again”. Only in the 3rd book (yes I read the lot) did the story start to take on a plot and “got out of the bedroom”.This is not the read of the century, far from it, but it is what it is. I read it because I had heard about it, it would take women into a fantasy world (especially the way she describes Christian physically). Christian was a dominant (more so the 1st book – however he tends to change as it goes on) and by me simply reading words on a page, did not for one minute, relinquish any of my power or think I should have a man control me (he wouldn’t dare :-). Readers thankfully have choices in what they wish to read, I read it I’m not sorry I did, nor am I battle scared from doing so. I read with interest the various opinions here. I think with any literary piece we have to open our minds to all styles/topics. What one will hate the other will love. I did neither. Hopefully I haven’t sounded to heavy – handed, but that’s my two cents worth thrown into the pot and I will enjoy following you.
🙂
LikeLike
Hello there, thank you for stopping by and for following me. I am about to check out your blog. I love what you have to say about 50 Shades and the other two. Thank goodness Christian has more to him than all the creepiness of the first book. Many of my friends have read it and they say the writing is horrid. I chose not to read it because it is just not my thing. I try not to be a book snob, and I here I am doing exactly that. I think, it had something to do with outselling the Harry Potter series. I was appalled more than anything else. I agree, our reading habits should be diverse. Dare I say it though, I didn’t want to be diverse with this one. Sadly, this book wasn’t on that must-read everything list 🙂
LikeLike
Hi again, you are welcome and I totally understand what you are saying, we are fortunate that we do have the choice in what we read and your friends were right – the writing was horrid 🙂 I laughed at your HP comment. We as writers can only aspire to be the next JK Rowling without having to ‘stoop’, but who am I to say even that. If we get noticed or published that is our dream. I guess to what extent we chase that is up to us. 🙂
LikeLike