Once the news broke that the Fifty Shades trilogy was being banned from libraries, I was hooked. I got in line to borrow a copy of the first book from a friend. In transit, the paperback made an unplanned detour to another friend. She knocked it out in three days before it finally got to me.
The can’t-put-it-down story is addictive. I now understand why it’s being labeled “mommy porn.” It reminds me of an S&M remake of Pretty Woman—business arrangement and all.
He’s rich, gorgeous and emotionally unavailable. She’s intelligent and naïve. So who cares how unlikely it is that he can make the 21-year-old virgin orgasm repeatedly with a riding crop. Who cares how unlikely it is to find a 21-year-old virgin.
Lady Chatterley had nothing up on E.L. James’ Anastasia Steele. As off-putting as the dark undertones can be, this is a book that makes husbands everywhere eat their Wheaties.
While waiting in line for the borrowed book two, Fifty Shades Darker, I picked up The Help, which I found to be one of the most important novels written this decade. Although that book out-scores Fifty Shades in nearly every way, it is the mommy porn that is a cult classic. The Wall Street Journal expects the trilogy to hit 20 million in sales this week.
It’s more than just reading a book. It’s the whole experience of all our girlfriends reading it. Facebook is aflame with wide-eyed curiosity. It’s as if you don’t get the joke if you haven’t read it. It’s the cool thing to do. I don’t remember an adult book being so sweeping—not since “Harry Potter.”
Maybe “Fifty Shades” doesn’t make the list of all-time classic literature. But it does make you say giddy up.
Melissa Medina
7:17 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Best books I have read in a long time! Even with the so called " Mommy Porn" I thought it had a great story! I heard they are coming out with a movie..Little scary LOL :) I would recommend it to anyone!
Christina
7:46 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I read all 3 books and loved them! It was a nice break from being at home all day with the kids.
Nicole
9:00 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Bombshell Movement Studio in Joliet is hosting two "Grey Experience" workshops in July: http://www.bombshellpolefitness.com/pages/lap-dance-workshop.php. It should be lots of fun - or rather painful. Either way, a good time!
Lisa
9:46 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I love the books too. If you love Fifty shades and dont have nothing else to read start reading Bared to you from Sylvia Day.
Zan
10:05 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I'm on wait for Bared now, but in the meantime I grabbed Wicked Pleasures by Lora Leigh.
@Nicole, And if this workshop is like the others you guys have done this one should be very good!!!
Julie J
11:01 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I know I am not the norm in this regard. EVERY SINGLE PERSON I know who read these loved them. And I was excited to start this series. ANYTHING to rev up my 46 year old libido. This book had the opposite affect on me. I was able to get about 400 pages under my belt when I hung it up.
Having been in a domineering relationship in my teens and working for a domineering, mean @sshole in my present life, this book left me feeling really sad. Why would this young lady subject herself to this type of unhealthy, dysfunctional relationship? All for the Big O??? Not for me.
I could not relate in any facet. No one is going to tell me how to eat and dress. Where I can and cannot go. What I can and cannot do. If I can or cannot visit my mother ALONE. I get it - he was insecure from his messed up childhood. That does not give him, or ANYONE for that matter, the right to be a controlling jerk.
Shannon
12:45 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Julie - Yes, that part of the book is there. However, the love and communication is there as well. I'm sorry that you have dealt with @ssholes in the past and present. These books show the BDSM side of the relationship, but do a great job of showing a great relationship filled with communication. She does have the ultimate control out of the two. She can say no at anytime and everything stops. All 3 books show a lot of love, caring and tenderness to go along with the BDSM. The hardest part to read was the very end of the 1st book. That was very difficult, and someone in your circumstances might take that even harder. Maybe their will be another time in your life that you can try it again. Good Luck to you!
John Roberts
11:44 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Our government has amendments to our constitution worse than these books
Deena
2:56 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I'm almost done with the 2nd book, and I like it more than the first. Thou S&M are not my thing, this story is HOT and a nice change from everyday life! The connection these 2 share is incredible and makes me want to read it constantly. Porn? Yes...but still very fun to read! LOL
howtochangeyourname
9:49 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Just read the book, then you will know
Patch Reader
10:11 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Books similar to this have seriously existed for years in adult bookstores. Porn books with storylines and love and all that stuff. I still have yet to understand how this particular trilogy has gotten so famous. It's not groundbreaking stuff.
Jan
10:48 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
Lets be serious ladies, you have no idea what BDSM is.
Perhaps if you researched and looked at some pics of this
stuff you may not be so gagga over the book even though
it was soft porn (vanilla) at best. The writer didn't
touch the world of BDSM nor has clue to what it is, but
leads readers to believe that is what the book will touch.
What she did touch was a world of naivety of a young woman
and a man that suffers form antisocial personality disorder.
How many "Oh my's" can one read in one book. The sex scenes
were repetitious, immature (with the use of "down there") and
redundant. I still don't understand all the hype that was given
and how women in droves fell for this trilogy. These books just
left me angry knowing that some woman may embark in this kind of
fantasy and find that it's not real. And thats the basic message,
you can change someone. Sorry you can't change a emotionally and
(dangerously close to) physically abusive man, sending that kind
of message is both ridiculous and irresponsible. Christian is
controlling, possessive, condescending, and cruel. He doesn't allow
Ana to behave as she normally would, and Ana just puts up with it,
insistent that if she can just give him what he wants, when he wants,
as often as he wants, she can eventually get some of her own control.
How many weak women are going to waste their lives on some emotionally
retarded jerk because they've read garbage like this and think this
will be fairytale come true?
jaskie1505
12:05 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Jan, what are you trying to say. Just speak your mind. Quit beating around the bush LOL Glad someone finally came out and pointed out that what your read and books and or see on TV is an illusion and not what really happens in real life.