Fifty Shades of Incredible Marketing

I began writing this blog some time ago and debated whether or not to finish it. Even though I decided that this particular book deserves no further recognition, I will share my opinion.

I got tired of hearing comments and innuendos about the book "Fifty Shades of Grey". Even the ladies of "The View" kept mentioning it on their t.v. show. Finally, I picked it up to see what the hype was all about. This action has now become one of the regrets of my life.

I'm not a literary snob. I like to relax with the occasional easy read fiction just like the next person. If  is a well told story, contains a good a mystery, a romance or is written with some humour, I can enjoy it. When the book "Fifty Shades Of Grey" received notoriety, I glanced at it and ignored it. A number of people mentioned the book and said it was a "must" read. They assured me that it was simply an erotic romance. I saw it disappearing from store shelves everywhere. I heard there was a movie in the works. What harm could there be? After all, I have enjoyed most books recommended to me.

Essentially this story is about a college graduate who is so smitten with a wealthy businessman that she immediately signs a contract agreeing to a relationship involving all his aberrant sexual preferences.

This novel is some kind of fantasy penned by a woman who made big money writing offensive, demeaning trash about a sick, manipulative, good looking billionaire who buys whatever he wants. At no time did I like this male character. He was never developed into anything more than a sicko psycho with some dark, mysterious past. I don't care about his past. My biggest problem, aside from the boredom factor, is that this might appeal to youngish women who don't need to be reading this sort of thing and accepting it as normal human behaviour.

I put the book down several times and finally gave up after suffering through just over half. As if the subject matter and attempt at a story line weren't bad enough, the writing is abhorrent. If I ever hear the phrases, "you must eat", "stop biting that lip", "pants hanging from hips" ,"down there" or "wicked smile" again, I'm fairly certain I will be forced to gauge out and stomp on my own cochleae.  It occurred to me to count how many times these phrases were repetitively used, but frankly, I didn't want to waste any more time.

"Fifty Shades of Grey" has obviously appealed to a lot of people. It's been on the best seller list for half a year. It accounts for one in five books currently sold. There are two sequels. If this is the sort of thing people enjoy, it's their prerogative.

On the other hand, I wonder how much of the excitement has been brought about by the brilliant ways the novel has been promoted. It's constantly mentioned, snickered about, joked about and written about. After all, when there are specially designed "covers" advertised to disguise a book so that "nobody knows what you're reading",wouldn't you be curious? In case you find yourself tempted, please resist. Trust me when I say, all you need to see is this youtube video by Ellen Degeneres.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on3JCwnwHbU