Fifty Shades of Grey

Jono · 23 Aug 2012 at 14:04

semi-pro waster · 23 Aug 2012 at 14:10

There's a part of me that thinks it's great that more people are reading (almost) no matter what the content and yet there's another part that has this slightly weird snobbery of thinking "why read this unmitigated tripe when there are thousands of good novels out there?". There are usually quite a few people reading it in the tube or on the train when I get on in the mornings so it just seems a pity that many will probably only read this series rather than developing a passion for reading in general - reading trashy books is perfectly fine of course, I read lots of rubbish myself but I just hope that people pick up on reading as a hobby rather than just reading the flavour of the day and then stopping.

I'll have to confess to never having read it and I probably never will so that automatically renders my opinion somewhat dubious about its quality but based on the opinions of people I know who've read it and commentators I would trust I feel fairly safe in concluding I'd hate it and that it's not worth the time or effort when there are so many good books available.

antijoke · 23 Aug 2012 at 14:17

From what I have researched on the internet, once the smut has been removed it actually seems like quite an interesting tale and I can see why women have taken a liking to it.

Vonhelmet · 23 Aug 2012 at 15:28

It's still horribly written, though.

antijoke · 23 Aug 2012 at 15:30

Vonhelmet said:
It's still horribly written, though.

You're not wrong, the first part I read mentioned him "Touching my sex" and I laughed to myself as it seemed like someone who was aged 12 had written it.

Shamikebab · 23 Aug 2012 at 15:36

semi-pro waster said:
There's a part of me that thinks it's great that more people are reading (almost) no matter what the content

That's like saying people who read the sun count as readers

Porceliamone · 23 Aug 2012 at 15:41

Lysander said:
Twilight worked on a very simple premise which has been recycled plenty of times before....

The choice between beasteality and necrophilia?

Lysander · 23 Aug 2012 at 15:45

Vonhelmet said:
That doesn't refute my point. There is truckloads of women's erotica out there. This stood out because of the Twilight connection.

I see women reading this on the train every day. All of them are in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. You can't seriously be telling me they're all reading it because of its link to a teen vampire novel.

anticonscience said:
You're not wrong, the first part I read mentioned him "Touching my sex" and I laughed to myself as it seemed like someone who was aged 12 had written it.

That's a particularly standard phrase in erotica.

Porceliamone · 23 Aug 2012 at 15:48

Lysander said:
I see women reading this on the train every day. All of them are in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.

Spending all day in wet clothes must be terribly uncomfortable after those train journeys.

PiKe · 23 Aug 2012 at 15:49

Porceliamone said:
Spending all day in wet clothes must be terribly uncomfortable after those train journeys.

I don't envy the people who have to sit where they were.

Shamikebab · 23 Aug 2012 at 15:51

Vonhelmet said:
That doesn't refute my point. There is truckloads of women's erotica out there. This stood out because of the Twilight connection.

I don't think that's true at all, all the women I've spoken to who have read it weren't aware of this connection.

The simple reason it's so popular is because of word of mouth and the media. As soon as it got a little coverage and someone said "have you heard of this naughty book people are reading?" nearly every woman had to try it for herself.

One · 23 Aug 2012 at 15:51

semi-pro waster said:
There's a part of me that thinks it's great that more people are reading (almost) no matter what the content and yet there's another part that has this slightly weird snobbery of thinking "why read this unmitigated tripe when there are thousands of good novels out there?". There are usually quite a few people reading it in the tube or on the train when I get on in the mornings so it just seems a pity that many will probably only read this series rather than developing a passion for reading in general - reading trashy books is perfectly fine of course, I read lots of rubbish myself but I just hope that people pick up on reading as a hobby rather than just reading the flavour of the day and then stopping.

I'll have to confess to never having read it and I probably never will so that automatically renders my opinion somewhat dubious about its quality but based on the opinions of people I know who've read it and commentators I would trust I feel fairly safe in concluding I'd hate it and that it's not worth the time or effort when there are so many good books available.

It's like advertising though. Everyone that sees an advert won't buy the product, but some will. The popularisation of books even crappy ones will make at least some people continue reading.

Harry Potter did it, LotR did it, GoT did it, no doubt Twilight and Mr Grey will do it too. Sure the majority of people reading 50 shades will never read another book again, and I'd put a bet on a large percentage not even finishing the book. There will be some converts though, and this is only a good thing for the book market, allowing aspiring authors a better chance of getting their work published.

Somnambulist · 23 Aug 2012 at 15:55

Power of marketing. My friend in NY knows a publisher that rejected it because she thought it wasn't any more deserving of being printed than the rest of the smut on FanFic.net... just goes to show what can happen when something gets a push through marketing/advertising.

It could probably have happened to any one of a number of 'lemon' filled fanfics but the author got the lucky break.

Morba · 23 Aug 2012 at 16:02

Lysander said:
I see women reading this on the train every day. All of them are in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. You can't seriously be telling me they're all reading it because of its link to a teen vampire novel.

That's a particularly standard phrase in erotica.

I always thought of erotica as for women. Why do you read so much of it?

FutileBreadMachine · 23 Aug 2012 at 16:14

PiKe said:
I don't envy the people who have to sit where they were.

lol, I've thought this exact same thing

Porceliamone · 23 Aug 2012 at 16:21

I think I just sicked in my mouth a bit.

Snograt · 23 Aug 2012 at 16:43

reflux said:
LOLOLOLOL just had a look and nearly spat my drink all over my screen... I'd quote.. but yeah

"50 Shades of Andy Gray" on FB is even funnier - and even more unlinkable.

Moothead2 · 23 Aug 2012 at 16:47

Snograt said:
"50 Shades of Andy Gray" on FB is even funnier - and even more unlinkable.

He pulls out his one-eyed milkman. She frowns “What happened? It were bigger when we last humped.” He shrugs “He’s lost that half a yard.”

Ahahah

.

bledd · 23 Aug 2012 at 16:51

anticonscience said:
If she gets the role I will buy the trilogy on blu ray!

My first actual laugh of the day

helpimcrap · 23 Aug 2012 at 16:59

anticonscience said:
If she gets the role I will buy the trilogy on blu ray!

quoted for truth!

considered reading this just to see what the hype was about as heard it mentioned loads. Looking on amazon and the one comment that stuck out was - "As many other readers have noted, the writing is appallingly poor and, if you removed the sex bits, would resemble a love struck teenager's diary."

Fifty Shades of Grey

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