<p>For me, the fact that everyone I know who has read it and loved it and bragged about it - in the same breath said the writing was horrible tells me that the reason they loved it is not for the writing but um, for other reasons…none of which area a draw for me personally to read the series.</p>
<p>^ I agree…there was a discussion here awhile ago of the Outlander series, which was recommended to me by a friend and I enjoyed it - except for the sadomasochistic theme (one of several themes in that series), which the writer returns to again and again. I just found it gross and tedious. So I was more curious than anything: <em>why</em> is this book in such demand?</p>
<p>It’s in demand because the author had access to getting great publicity–unfortunately.</p>
<p>They did a takeoff of it on SNL last week. I think I’ll pass.</p>
<p>I see people reading it at the beach. No personal interest in reading it. I hear it does fun things for couples.</p>
<p>On the opposite side, my book club reading Catherine the Great, Robert. Massey. Had no idea the rotation of lovers in the Court.</p>
<p>Well, i am glad that i checked out this thread. I had absolutely no idea that it was fanfiction. I am really surprised. I saw the author on a morning show and she said that she was surprised by all of the attention as well. Now her statement makes more sense. It is always possible to get the book at the library so that you don’t waste your money.</p>
<p>One of the posters mentioned the outlander series. I really liked that because of the whole weird time travel thing they had going on. It was fun to imagine someone that was traipsing around during the revolutionary war and that knew all that was going to happen.</p>
<p>I guess every book is going to have stuff in it that someone will find off-putting. I try to glean what i enjoy out of something and let go of the rest. It is funny how books come and go as trends. I remember waiting for the next Ann Rice book to come out in one of her series. I tried to read one of hers again and just could not even begin to get into it.</p>
<p>I read it on my Kindle…it is very trite …tortured hero turns life around because he meets sweet young thing who tames his wild side…don’t they call these books bodice rippers? And yes, the writing is so elementary it’s a very quick read.</p>
<p>60% through it. I don’t hate it, but the writing really is terrible. I can not understand how it got to be so popular. That’s just frightening.</p>
<p>I think they are trying to turn it into a movie…</p>
<p>^^^^Oh God, no!</p>
<p>Gawd, I hope our library doesn’t spend money on fanfic. There are so many other things I would like to see them get first.
Did you read the author has a seven figure movie deal?
Perhaps they are looking to reissue the Total Woman next.
Eeew. The Seattle public library has apparently purchased 139 copies of 50 shades of grey.
800+ people have requested it.
However there are 8 copies of The Story of O, and only one person is on the wait list.</p>
<p>Both my H & I have read the Outlander series( well I haven’t read the last two) He likes it because he is very interested in historical books, fiction or non-fiction, I liked it because my ancestors are scots/Irish and came over before the revolutionary war. He skips over the sex scenes, I read them but I would agree there are a lot of them & for the most part fairly vanilla.</p>
<p>So still looking for a trashy beach novel.
Perhaps I will reread The Drifters. Or The two mrs grenvilles.</p>
<p>I’ve been working at library and it is very highly requested. Just yesterday I processed about 5 copies that were returned and had to sent notices to the next person on the list. (some were book 2 or 3 in the series.) Nobody I talk to too understands why it is so popular. I did talk to one lady who really liked it and she is educated and loves mysteries. I was surprised that she liked it. She is in her 60’s. Many of the women reading it are older and I wonder if that has something to do with it. I am also a believer that the author had an amazing publicist. Drum up some hype and watch the interest soar. btw, the book apparently has extremely descriptive sex scenes, well beyond your typical romance novels.</p>
<p>OK- I finished the book the other night. It was ridiculous. SO redundant and her use of odd words over and over was annoying- like “clamber”. The characters “clamber” everywhere.</p>
<p>BUT- I rushed right out and bought the 2nd book in print to read on a short beach trip this weekend since I want to know what happens next! (so- I join the ranks of suckers…)</p>
<p>Clamber? LOL, in erotica? My imagination is running wild.</p>
<p>I mentioned it at book group yesterday. No one had heard of it.</p>
<p>They mainly clamber in and out of cars and planes. It wasn’t the erotic part. :)</p>
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<p>MOWC, in the spirit of the book, the proper response is “Holy Crap!” ;)</p>
<p>Dumbest book ever written. Just horrible horrible horrible writing.</p>
<p>I’m a fast reader, but the frightening part is that I am going to embark on Book 2!</p>
<p>^^^ MomofWildChild: Your posts made me laugh. I finished the book, acknowledged the poor writing and overall (for me) squickiness, then called my friend to see if she had the second book. She didn’t, so I dropped my name on the library’s waitlist. Yeah … I want to know what happens next (though I’m willing enough to wait).</p>
<p>Romantica, missypie, romantica, as opposed to erotica. LOL</p>
<p>A book club discussion of Fifty Shades of Grey … I’d like to be a fly on that wall … Holy Crap! 
Definitely should elicit some strong opinions - just look at the Amazon reviews.</p>
<p>Nrdsb4: I’ve read dumber books though truthfully that may say more about me than Fifty Shades of Grey. </p>
<p>My dermatologist (reads, reads, reads, and we talk books) asked me yesterday if I had read it. He said his wife has no interest in it and he wondered if he would like it. He’s heard the buzz about it - called it that “sex book on the bestseller list.” I told him I doubted he’d like it. I just find I can’t recommend the book to others without caution after caution tacked on … even though I’m not sorry I read it, at least, other than my general feeling of embarrassment at having done so.</p>
<p>Again … I really don’t understand how it got to be such a big deal.</p>
<p>I liked this piece on NPR. Author of “Between Shades of Gray” (regarding Luthiania strife) gets a lot of readers by mistake due to similar title.
[Two</a> Gray Titles, One Sexy Mix-Up : NPR](<a href=“Two Gray Titles, One Sexy Mix-Up : NPR”>Two Gray Titles, One Sexy Mix-Up : NPR)</p>