F is for Fifty Shades of Grey

Yes, I���m actually going there, or at least partly. I have not read Fifty Shades nor have I seen the movie. I know only that it started out as fan fiction for Twilight, it was turned into a book that explores a BDSM lifestyle (of some sort), and has generated billions of dollars between the three books and now the movie that opened last week.

Why have I decided not to read the books or see the movie? Originally I was turned off by all the hoopla touting the books. Especially after hearing multiple times that the books were not well written. That may be the biggest turn off for me, no matter the subject matter. And I admit to a certain curiosity about them. I love a good erotic novel and I���m interested in reading about the BDSM lifestyle���I���ve even written a little bit about it as well. But that the writing might not be good now turns me off more than anything about a book.

Interestingly enough, I���ve heard the same thing about the Twilight series. And I have read that series actually, multiple times. My daughter was a big fan and wanted me to read it. I found the characters fascinating and the plot kept me turning pages and engaged throughout. Of course, I read it before I became a writer in 2009. Since then I have not re-read it, because I���ve become more aware of what is good or bad in a writing style and I didn���t want to be disappointed, although I have watched the movies and enjoyed them many times. So the plot and characters do hold up, it seems.

Still, I am intrigued by Fifty Shades. My daughter, the one who loved Twilight, has both read the Fifty Shades books and seen the movie. When I asked her how it was she said pretty good, but her concern was that a lot of the scenes had been cut and she hated the fact that Ana seemed less intelligent than in the book. As for the sex scenes, she said there was a lot of talking during those scenes in the movie theatre. When I asked her why, she said otherwise it would have been like watching porno with 60 other people. I somehow think that was not the intent of the film, but now I fear that I will have to see it just to judge for myself.

Fifty Shades of Grey has also sparked a huge sea of jokes poking fun at the books. My favorite one, which is a cartoon, I find to be just a whole lot of fun. Hope you enjoy it too.

And by the way, how do you weigh in on Fifty Shades?

 

Filed under: Jenna Jaxon, Reading