Would you like something hotter? Has 50 Shades made hot romance go mainstream?
May 8, 2012
Have you seen the Top 3 Best Sellers in the Sunday Times and every other chart this week? Have you noticed those dump bins of mysterious grey paperbacks at the entrance to Sainsbury’s? Have you seen people raving and sighing and being Totally Outraged on social media sites?
All over a novel?
A romance novel?
Okay, I’m willing to stir up a debate here but the 50 Shades series seem like romance novels to me. I’ve only read the first, which I found amusing and mildly titillating in equal measure. If that’s a crime, please feel free to report me to … whoever.
What really amazes me is how what is, effectively, a very hot and kinky romance novel, has gone mainstream at all. Controversial books, usually involving lashings of s*x have hit the best-sellers in the past, of course, but 50 Shades is one of hundreds, probably thousands, of books of that genre out there.
Many of my friends have read it and are astonished that such books exist, yet of course, BDSM romance is a very popular romance genre in the US – so what’s new?
Could it be the Twilight fanfiction origins of the book? Clever media marketing? Is 50 Shades a ground breaking work by a genius? Or like, Bridget Jones, simply the first of an established genre, to catch the world’s attention?
And will the charts now be flooded with very hot romance in the UK and USA?
It makes me smile when people who don’t read a lot of romance tell me my own books are ‘very racy’. One chap (admittedly of 75) asked me at the weekend ‘do women really want to read such naughty stuff? Well, going by 50 Shades, the answer clearly a resounding ‘yes’ – and a hundred times naughtier. 🙂
If you’re outraged by 50 Shades, as you’re perfectly entitled to be, may I suggest you avoid the entrance display at Sainsbury’s and hope it all goes away. It may well be flash in the pan but I rather hope not. That book has made it okay for me to discuss hot romance with people who I’ve previously only chatted to about gardening and house prices.
And if you’re looking for something a little hotter and a little darker than my usual books, may I also suggest you try Fever Cure? There aren’t any trips to the hardware store in it, and no eye rolling or lip biting… but I think you might enjoy it. 🙂
It’s available in the UK, US and further afield as an e book – and from June 5th in print.
Posted by Phillipa @ 7:02 am | Leave a Comment
Laura E. James Says:
I’m caught in a quandary. Do I buy 50 Shades to see for myself what all the fuss is about, thus becoming entangled in the web of media hype surrounding said book, or do I ignore it and let the whole thing wash over me?
Do I need to read it? Will my life change because of its content? Will I be considered an ignoramus if I leave well alone?
I think the hype has put me off, which is a strange thing, as hype should sell books.
Having said that, how can I make an informed decision if I haven’t read the series?
See? Quandary.
Trudi Camilleri Says:
I needed to know what all the fuss was about, so read it, and didn’t have a problem with the content at all. My big problem with the book is lack of plot, with conversations that could have been cut and pasted from previous chapters. I just don’t think it’s well written. Yet, if it makes conversation about romance novels publically acceptable, it can’t be a bad thing.
Jenny Haddon Says:
I didn’t (low be it spoken) get on with the Twilight books and 50 Shades seems to have picked up the chilly nastiness that I disliked in its onlie begetter. So I’m passing, even though that means I won’t be able to pontificate about it. Life’s too short.
On the other hand, v. interested in a Phillipa Ashley with a twist. Will buy as soon as I have recharged my Kindle. (New to me and seems to require recharging after every book or twice a week. Hmm, not sure about technology.)
Phillipa Says:
Laura and Jenny – it’s defo not a must read… I got a Kindle version. Not sure if I’ll read the rest as Trudi has hit the nail on the heade with her review. The content doesn’t shock me at all – but it is very repetitive in places and also quite funny, not always intentionally.
Jenny : I wouldn’t say it was a ‘twist’ on my other books but it’s definitely more intense, explicit and escapist romance rather than a chick lit/romance crossover. 🙂 No editing for naughtiness in this one and there’s a lot of angst, which I loved writing. 🙂
Rachel Lyndhurst Says:
I bought my copy of Fifty Shades in Sainsbury’s out of sheer curiosity for what it’s worth. Clever cover I think, because unless you’ve heard all the fuss about what’s between the covers you’d never guess! I do believe it’s sold loads more digitally in the US than in hard form though.And I wouldn’t have paid full price …
I’m only as far as page 125, but I’m rather enjoying it. It IS naughty, but hey, so were some of the Black Lace jobbies my mum used to hide in her knicker drawer! It’s also liberated me a bit while writing the sex scenes in my latest WIP,not BDSM by any stretch, but a teeny bit warmer than my last two. I wonder what my editor’s going to think?! Will let you know!
I did have a bit of a snort about the hardware store though, Domestos wipes, scouring pads,Mr Sheen and all that immediatley sprang to mind. *Snigger*. I am far too immature to be reading such stuff … xx
Rosy Thornton Says:
Interesting post, Phillipa. I haven’t read Fifty Shades (yet), but the answer to your “chap (admittedly of 75)” who “asked me at the weekend ‘do women really want to read such naughty stuff?'” is clearly a resounding ‘yes!’ And write it, too…
Phillipa Says:
Rosy and Rachel – Rosy, I don’t think you’ll like the book but I do think that Jenny Colgan did a decent review in The Guardian – apart from her comment on middle aged authors…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/13/fifty-shades-grey-el-james-review