Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
In 2013, I wrote the blog below about how the book Fifty Shades of Grey
affected publishing and reading habits. Now, with the upcoming release of the film, and therefore, more readers rushing out to buy the book, it’s worth taking a second look at what all the fuss is about and what it means for the publishing industry.
I’ve politely ignored Fifty Shades of Grey, dismissing it as erotica, which I neither read nor represent. But this past week, I startled myself into taking note of the book. After all, any series that can sell more than 100 million copies really isn’t to be ignored.
Why does the series sell like iced drinks on a sweltering day? What does that mean for publishing in general and for you in particular?
First, I went to Wikipedia to pick up a primer on the book. Here’s what I found:
“Fifty Shades of Grey is a 2011 erotic romance novel by British author E. L. James. It is the first installment in the Fifty Shades trilogy that traces the deepening relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, and a young businessmagnate, Christian Grey. It is notable for its explicitly erotic scenes featuring elements of sexual practices involving bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism (BDSM).
“The second and third volumes, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, were published in 2012. Fifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists around the world, including the United Kingdom and the United States.[1][2] The series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide,[3] with book rights having been sold in 52 countries,[4] and set the record as the fastest-selling paperback of all time.[5] Critical reception of the book has been mixed, with the quality of its prose being generally seen as poor….”
Then I clicked over to Amazon to read the reviews. After all, this book is seriously popular, right? Here’s what I found: 28,000+ Amazon reviews, most of which panned the book as being beyond banal. These generally are long, in-depth complaints about the plot and writing. Even the erotic portions of the book received complaints (although not as many as the other aspects of the book). The readers who liked it only said they loved it and couldn’t put it down. I didn’t find any insights from the positive reviews. It has a 3.5-star rating, with readers giving it one star or five stars–and very few ranking it in the middle.
Why do women read this book? I mentioned to a friend that I was writing a blog on Fifty Shades and wished I could find someone who had read it. She responded, “I read it.” When I asked her why, she said, “Curiosity. It was titillating, but it was so poorly written, I’d never consider reading the other two books in the series.”
I suppose a lot of women did pick up the book because they were curious. But I also think women want read it to fantasize about a relationship with an over-the top, drop-dead gorgeous, 26-year-old billionaire who gives money to feed the world’s starving, is a concert-level pianist, athlete, blah, blah, blah. With so many women finding themselves divorced and disillusioned, it’s exciting to think about a different kind of relationship from theirs that didn’t end so well. Also some women might have enjoyed savoring being a little bit bad by reading the book. I’ve seen more than one woman in an airport or on a plane reading Fifty Shades. Reading it in public must feel like being a little naughty.
What affect will Fifty Shades have on publishing? This book will cause a groundswell of erotica to be produced. The covers won’t be bodice rippers or show excessively muscled men but will instead look like the cover of any other novel.
We might groan over the thought of so many publishing resources being invested in this way, but it’s important to remember that for every trend there is a counter-trend. With erotica going mainstream, it also means more “sweet” romances will be in demand.
While E.L. James has made a fortune, publishing has been invigorated by the series as well. Random House, which published the books, can afford to expand the titles it publishes in every category, add personnel in all departments, spend more on marketing on other titles, buy other publishers, etc. Bookstores have experienced an infusion of cash because of Fifty Shades, and that means their doors stay open and their shelves are filled with hundreds of additional titles. The saying that what lifts one boat lifts all boats is true. We might not like the idea of erotica selling like crazy, but its success means success for everyone.
What does this book mean to you? I personally couldn’t bring myself to lay down money for the book, but I did download a sample of it on my Kindle. I confirm that the writing isn’t stellar, and it probably becomes more aggravating the further you dip into the book. Apparently the characters have extremely limited facial expressions and vocabulary (“jeez” being a word that presents itself multiple times per page). I’m not advocating anyone else give the book a try, but if you know someone who has read it (and you probably do), a conversation might shed further light on this publishing phenomena.
- Thoughtfully consider why someone would read the book
- Translate the felt needs and real needs Fifty Shades meets (beyond the sexual) that you can address in your writing
Even if you write nonfiction, the forces at play in making this book such a success could inform your writing. (The phrase, searching for love in all the wrong places, occurs to me.)
Why do you think this book has taken the reading world by storm?
How can understanding the reasons behind its success inform your writing?
TWEETABLES
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Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
The “Fifty Shades” phenomenon isn’t really about filling needs, or about the empowerment of women. It’s not about bringing hidden aspects of sexuality into the open.
It’s about an author, a publisher, and a group of movie production companies making money by reaching out, as it were, to the most prurient interests they could imagine would fly in the mainstream, both in subject matter and in the offering of explicitly sexual images.
“Fifty Shades” is pornography.
While a 2011 survey showed that 67% of men and 49% of women felt that pornography was acceptable, I’m glad to stand apart, because I think that these people are either warped, or they’re idiots.
Pornography works by affecting and altering brain chemistry, creating a “need” for new images and more depravity. It’s much like a drug addiction.
And the new bodies come from what is “kindly” called human trafficking. Maybe we can’t bring ourselves to use the word Slavery any more. Non-PC, I suppose. Human trafficking sounds like a bus service.
The success of a book, and movie like “Fifty Shades” increases a demand that pushes more women and children into a pit of coercion, threats, forced threats, forced drug use, and utter ruination of life. And, for many, a horrible death.
One may add to this the meaning of “S” in BDSM.
Sadism means hurting another person for one’s sexual pleasure. Is this “lifestyle” something we want in the mainstream, as an alternative way to find one’s identity?
Most American decried the use of torture to extract information from terrorists. This weekend thirty million of them happily queued up to watch it glamourized by pretty young actors.
And if the “M” for masochism comes from consent? Free country, and all that? Well, the relationship in “Fifty Shades” meets CDC criteria for an abuse, including the coercion of consent through alcohol use, isolation, and stalking. Not to mention that enjoying pain is a sign of mental illness.
The whole “Fifty Shades” thing has inspired me in two ways –
1 – To be more forceful in my blog on the dangers of pornography, and on its real, societal effects. There is no excuse for a fundamentally decent people to allow this evil abroad in their land.
2 – To write sweet and positive romances about normal people facing hard challenges, and overcoming them…or, sometimes dying in the attempt, but dying clean (to steal one of Richard Crenna’s lines in “The Sand Pebbles”).
If “Fifty Shades” means that there will be more competition for agents and publishing slots, there’s always CreateSpace or whatever, and maybe it’s time to learn some self-promotion.
The way I see it, Christianity means be willing to step into the bully pulpit, and I’ve found one. Anyone care to join me?
Shirlee Abbott
Kudos, Andrew, for jumping into the fray.
Our culture so often paints itself into a moral corner where people say, “oh, it’s harmless,” just because it doesn’t harm them personally, without considering harm elsewhere in the supply chain. I look forward to inserting your ideas into some future conversations about the movie. Thanks for the ammunition.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Thank you, Shirlee. “Fifty Shades”, women’s empowerment thereby, and the whole free speech/free lifestyle thing have become something of a sacred cow.
When it comes to kicking sacred cows in the teeth, one may as well use both feet (to paraphrase Keith Richards).
You’re exactly right; people don’t see the harm because it doesn’t affect them personally.
But for the want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for the want of a shoe, the horse was lost; for the want of a horse, the rider was lost; and for the want of a rider, the battle was lost.
ALL of our voices are important here. We can make a difference, if we’ve got the right arguments, can back up our opinions with fact, and are not afraid to become unpopular in sophisticated and ‘tolerant’ circles.
I’m fairly intolerant when it comes to seeing women and kids abused for fun. Now, constrained by circumstance, I use a pen; in the past I have been a touch more direct.
Let’s rise up and trash these bozos, send them back into the cesspit of their febrile imaginings. It’s our country, and I think it’s worth defending.
H L Wegley
Adding to what Andrew said, “You’re exactly right; people don’t see the harm because it doesn’t affect them personally.” And they continue to see it that way until it does affect them personally. By then, it’s usually too late to avoid the moral and relational carnage.
Jennifer Smith
If anyone is interested, Andrew has a great post about 50 Shades on his blog! 🙂
Gina
Amen
Elva Cobb Martin
Andrew,God bless you. In your comments you’ve put into words exactly what so many of us are feeling. I have, in fact, started a blog series on “Writing About the Four Kinds of Love” based on the four Greek words translated into English as the word “love.” Eros is the word the Greeks used to describe the despicable, lowest level, demanding, carnal lust depicted in 50 Shades. It is the one of the four, that I will never attempt as a Christian to write about other than to warn about its dangers for a society. It’s books and movies like this that assure us inspirational writers that we have a valid injunction from God to stand up and shout the truth about real love. Though not a Greek scholar, I readily admit to being a Greek student. You can catch my blog at http://www.carolinaromancewithelvamartin.blogspot.com.
Keep up the good work, Andrew, and please add me to your blog or send me your blog address. elvacmartin@gmail.com
Janet Grant, thank you for your information on this subject.
Blessings,
Elva Cobb Martin, President ACFW-SC Chapter, Anderson, SC
Judith Rolfs
Awesome response, Andrew. I couldn’t agree more as a Christian marriage and family counselor for thirty years. You are right on with your assessment of the damage material like this can cause.
Thanks for being a brave and bold voice for truth.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
One thing, if I may – we can’t blame “Hollywood”, because there are powerful forces for good at work there.
Here is a link to an interview with David Ayers, director of Brad Pitt’s latest film, “Fury”. It is the most unashamedly Christian film I have ever seen, and stunningly realistic in its portrayal of what combat is really like.
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/film/furys-director-explains-films-theology
Janet Grant
Andrew, we especially can’t blame Hollywood when a book sells 100 million copies and 30 million viewers show up on opening weekend to ponder sexually perverse depictions of “love.”
Jack Orchison
My wife read all three books. She never said much about it except that it at least had a plot. I, however, got to page three and put it down for good. It is badly written. Any agent or publisher with any conscience should have rejected it on the writing alone so the contents could not be paraded in bookshops and cinemas. Worse still, the book even has a new cover featuring a still from the film. I hate this with any book because a future reader cannot imagine the characters any other way. I’m sure the smutmeisters out there can (and will) imagine their own Anastasia in various putative positions without this sort of thing.
Janet Grant
Jack, the book’s history is even more “sordid” than a publisher finding it in the slush pile. Starting off as fan fiction, it was self-published and had gained such massive readership that publishers couldn’t wait to get their hands on it. They knew it was selling phenomenally when they picked it up. We only have readers to blame for its success; publishers helped it along after it took off.
Shelli Littleton
I have one FB friend, just friended him … knew him in high school … regret it now because he made a positive comment about the movie. My first thought … that dude has a problem. I always knew he did. Unfriend him? Maybe he’ll see Jesus in me.
Somewhere between black and white, people like Mr. Grey will find themselves in prison.
And well, I’m glad a book like that is good news for people like me … some good news coming out of it … because my little story makes my heart melt and there isn’t a single bad thing about it. 🙂
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
A story that makes a Texas-sized heart like yours melt ain’t “little”, Shelli.
Shelli Littleton
Andrew, you made me smile, as always. I’m becoming such a pushover in my middle age! Mercy me! I keep telling myself to get back to reality! 🙂
Christine Dorman
Shelli, I hope your “little story” does as well as 50 Shades. It would be heartening to see stories about goodness and the many shades of true love catching fire among readers.
Shelli Littleton
“Shades of true love,” Christine. Beautiful. Thank you!
Christine Dorman
You’re welcome, Shelli. My prayers are with you as you work to bring your book to completion and publication. 🙂
Kristen Joy Wilks
I read “The Da Vinci Code” so that I could comment upon it in an intelligent manner. I was not willing to do so for 50 Shades because I do not feel right reading erotica. Why is it so successful? Hard for me to say without reading it. I read an interesting article that made a guess that sounds plausible to me, though. It was originally Twilight fan-fiction. While not a perfect YA novel by an means, Twilight had a lot going for it. An ordinary girl draws the attention of an extraordinary boy and completely wins his heart, though he must fight and overcome his instincts to hurt her (yep, he’s a vampire). The author of the blog post I read mentioned that everyone wants to be special and extraordinary, just the way they are and Twilight plays upon this deep desire and perhaps 50 Shades does as well. For me, I think a lot of the draw of Twilight was Edward’s willingness to sacrifice himself and his needs for the girl he loved. The sacrificial hero…and the pacing was great the book moved along at a nice fast clip. Do these things carry over to 50 Shades? I do not know and since I will not read it, I probably never will. But something that I can learn as I attempt to write is the value of the ordinary person who is actually extraordinary. God does not see any of us as too boring to notice, as unimportant. We are all worth fighting for and He proved His love when He came to rescue us. The sacrificial hero, I can remember to bring bits of Christ into my story because our hearts long for Him even if we do not recognize His face.
Johnnie Alexander
Kristen, thanks for sharing your insight. This especially resonated with me this morning: “God does not see any of us as too boring to notice, as unimportant. We are all worth fighting for and He proved His love when He came to rescue us. The sacrificial hero, I can remember to bring bits of Christ into my story because our hearts long for Him even if we do not recognize His face.”
That’s an important message we can weave through our stories. And you said it so well.
Kristen Joy Wilks
I feel ordinary so much of the time…because I am. But that does not make me any less valuable to my Lord. So glad we could be in this together Johnnie.
Janet Grant
Thanks for pointing out that Fifty Shades had its genesis as fan fiction. And, yes, I think the idea of an extraordinary person loving an average person is a story we never tire of. Some of us just don’t want to read that storyline in a BDSM novel.
Kristen Joy Wilks
Um…some of us don’t want to read BDSM no matter what the story line.
Jennifer Smith
Spot-on post, Janet! Enjoyed the food for thought. It’s also nice to think that some of these popular books with shady content at least boost the publishing industry, something we can all be thankful for. 🙂
Janet Grant
Jennifer, the boost to the industry as a whole obviously is an unintended consequence but one we can be glad about even if we strongly dislike the book’s message.
Bethany Kaczmarek
Both these stories share the same basic, timeless, beloved plot line with Beauty and the Beast. A normal girl sees the heart of gold in the fearsome creature and eventually helps him conquer his beast within through the power of true love. That’s what Christ has done for each of us. Through His love, and only so, we can conquer the beast within ourselves. No wonder people long for the story.
I haven’t read 50 Shades, because I don’t need to subject myself to the erotica to know that this particular version is a story of abuse–and not only sexual abuse. I’d rather write stories of finding True Love, a biblical, selfless love, and the healing that Christ can bring. I see the potential for a counter-trend as an amazing opportunity.
That being said, Janet, do you see the possibility for the CBA to create some shelf space for sweet romances in the genres (and age groups) that are flying off ABA shelves? I’ve struggled with finding an agent, because my characters are the same ages as Anastasia Steele. Such complimentary rejection letters, too! Yet, the reason my ms has been rejected is because of “a lack of shelf space.” Do you think Christian publishers are going to begin to see that 20- and 30-somethings need an alternative to 50 Shades?
Janet Grant
Bethany, I see CBA publishers wondering what they can successfully publish. For many years Amish novels did well; now the emphasis seems to be on romantic suspense. I personally agree with you that reaching women in their 20s to 30s could be a significant growth area for CBA fiction. The problem, as has been true for years, is how to reach that audience to let them know the publisher has produced books they would especially delight in.
Bethany Kaczmarek
You’re right. Magazines like RELEVANT seem to be getting the word out using social media. There are often great discussions about new movies and books on there. I’m pitching an article series currently.
The marketing aspect sure makes the prospect of going indie daunting. My other thought is to consider pitching to an agent who works with both CBA and ABA. Maybe offering sweet New Adult to the ABA–without preachiness but with themes of Truth and healing–is the way to go. So much to mull over. Thanks for starting this conversation.
Janet Grant
Bethany, sweet new adult isn’t what the general market is looking for. The general market wants sexy. I think your best bet is to continue to knock on CBA doors. At least CBA wants the type of book you’re writing; its challenge is in feeling sure they know how to reach your reader.
Christine Dorman
Janet, if you by “the general market” you mean the agents and publishing houses, then you are right. I know I see over and over on agent sites that New Adult should be erotica–because they are trying to find another Fifty Shades just as so many tried to find another Harry Potter. I wish they would do some market research among the twenty-somethings though. I believe there is not only a need, but a desire for sweet New Adult books. Currently I’m a graduate student living on campus and going to class with both graduate and undergraduate students, most of whom are in their early to mid-twenties. The majority of the female students name Jane Austen as their favorite author and express a passionate desire that there were more books like hers around. Most of these students are unlikely even to go browse in a bookstore section labeled “Christian Fiction.” I am a Christian and don’t wish to hide from that at all, but I wish more Christian literature could be put on the shelves without being labeled and without being segregated. That way, the message might get to people who are searching for it without knowing what they’re searching for.
Janet Grant
Christine, I hear you! A few years ago I attended RWA and was floored how very young the editors were who acquired for the general market romance lines. And they all wanted the same thing: “sexy” stories. The sexier the better. I wondered what these young women’s lives were like that they thought the only type of romance that would appeal is, in essence, erotica.
The labeling of Christian fiction is a challenge because, in a general bookstore, there’s a religion section buyer and a general market fiction buyer. The buyers compete with each other, and the one buyer doesn’t want the same book to appear in the other buyer’s section. Trying to untangle that knot is tough! (What we don’t know about the issues publishers face could…well, fill a book.)
Bethany Kaczmarek
That’s sage advice, and I’ll take it. And I’ll focus on my platform and marketing plan. Hopefully, that effort will help.
Christine Dorman
Janet, the realist in me suspected that the segregation of Christian books was due to the politics of business. The idealist wishes that weren’t so or that it could be changed.
Meanwhile I am writing my YA fantasy which has messages about ministry and service, and about a soul (faerie though she is) on a journey to become who she is truly called to be. The book’s antagonist is a Dragon King–handsome, charming, powerful–who is similar to Grey in many ways (although I refuse to be that graphic). My teenage faerie is nearly seduced by his charms and by his claim that he will give her the very thing she desires, the thing she has dreamed of, if only she will surrender her entire self to him. She is tempted but ultimately realizes that if she entirely loses herself, her dream is useless. Obviously, it is a “What good is there in gaining the whole world if you lose your soul?” story, a Christian story. If I can get the novel published in the ABA, perhaps it could touch and affect the lives of teenagers (female and male) who, through television, movies, and books, are being conditioned to believe that love and romance are about how good the sex is, and young women who have been taught that if they are not in a sexual relationship, they are somehow deficient (or at least unhealthy).
Melodie Starkey
My problem with these books/the movie (and I did skim the books because all of my coworkers kept ranting about how fabulous they were) is not the sexual content, it is the fact that this man is a stalker and the very definition of an abusive partner in every other aspect of their relationship, and that seems to be perfectly fine because he buys her nice things and they have fabulous sex once she gets over her “little problem” with thinking she’ll allowing to have a mind/body of her own. Not only is this disgusting and NOT what actual practitioners of BDSM follow, I think the romanticizing of this is dangerous. It is sending the message to women in abusive relationships that yes, it is your fault he is treating you like that; he would get better (like Mr Grey does) if you would only learn to act they way he wants you to; you CAN magically fix him. Is this what we want our daughters to learn?
Janet Grant
Melodie, thanks for highlighting a core problem with the books’ and film’s message–being abused is normal, and the guy turns out wonderfully in the end.
Rachel Leigh Smith
What I have to say may ruffle some feathers, but I’ve hit the point where I don’t care.
This book is of Satan. He is using it to lure women into a trap that says abusive men can be changed if you just stick around long enough and are willing to sacrifice everything you are. It’s a lie straight from the pit of hell.
I say this because I was married to a man like Christian Grey. Grey is a narcissist, a controller, and a manipulator. He isolates Ana, abuses her, does not truly have her consent for anything he does, and he beats her down until she’s changed into what HE wants her to be.
Men like Grey leave soul-deep scars that sometimes never fully heal. Mine haven’t healed, and it’s been five years since I left him. Two and a half almost since the divorce was finalized.
Defenders of the book try and tell you how Grey changes over the course of the story, how his abusive childhood is something to take into account, and that all he’s doing is trying to keep Ana save. None of it is true.
To call 50 Shades a version of Beauty and the Beast is also a lie. It’s also an insult to the Beauty and the Beast story. The Beast is not abusive. Grey is.
I used this past weekend to break my silence and tell my story of what a Christian Grey did to me, on my blog. The post is almost at 1,000 views.
As Christians, we have to call this filth what it is. A lie crafted by Satan to draw women away from Christ.
Christine Dorman
Rachel,
Thank you for having the courage to share your story. I’m saddened by what you suffered–and what so many other women are suffering right now. I agree that Christian Grey’s abusive childhood is does not excuse anything. While one can feel compassion for someone who was abused in childhood, the history of abuse does not give the person an excuse to hurt others. The thing that really disturbs me is the book’s message that women should stay in an abusive situation. That there is hope and even excitement there. That is a lie and an evil one.
Bethany Kaczmarek
Hey, Rachel. I wholeheartedly agree that Fifty Shades is about abuse. I am SO sorry that you suffered in this kind of relationship. I did too, but I have found healing through Christ. It took years, but it was worth every pain it brought back to the surface. I found that the deeper Christ took me into my own darkness, the brighter I saw the stars.
I believe I said the books were abusive somewhere after I mentioned Beauty and the Beast. I’m sorry you feel like it’s a lie that the books tell a similar story. I certainly didn’t intend to side with E.L. James or to diminish the danger. In just the way that the world has twisted and broken the plot line I mentioned, only more so, the Deceiver has twisted God’s perfect design for love. This abuse is being sold as normal. Those of us who see and understand the danger need to look for every possible venue for sharing the beautiful, true design–the one that’s more perfect even than a fairy tale.
I’m most upset about the fact that the culture is normalizing this dangerous wreck of a relationship and calling it romance. I hurt for the young women who will blindly trust that it offers delights for them only to find themselves trapped. But I don’t think it’s wise to ignore the fact that millions are reading it because they want to believe fixing the broken is possible. I’m not defending the Fifty Shades series. I’m defending the gospel. You and I have a message of healing and real redemption to offer, and if a Story can deliver the Truth to those who don’t even know they’re looking for it, I want to supply it, don’t you? That’s what I wrote about over at Inspire a Fire. I’m finding it’s more fruitful (for me) to shout the Truth and let the lie be revealed than to limit myself to shouting Fifty Shades is a lie. I wouldn’t get very far in the conversations the Lord is bringing my way if I focused on the negative alone. Bridge-building is what I’m after. I want women to know there’s hope.
There is a love that will shake the ground they’re standing on.
Janet Grant
Rachel, thanks for telling us of your personal experience with an abusive man. And for bravely breaking your silence. That’s part of the healing process.
I don’t think any of the commenters have advocated the abusive behavior depicted in 50 Shades. I think some have delved beyond the wrong behavior to try to figure out what appeals to the book’s readers, which is what writers inherently do when a title has phenomenal sales. We all join you in saying the relationship between Grey and Ana is sick and wrong.
Jennifer Zarifeh Major
Bless you, Rachel!! You are a brave and wise woman, thank you for sharing your story.
Rachel Leigh Smith
The comparison of 50 Shades to Beauty and the Beast is something I’ve seen in multiple places, so it tends to jump out at me.
I don’t write for the Christian market anymore, and I actually find it easier to seed Truth into my work without the CBA boundaries. I’m free to truly show the difference between obsessive/abusive “love” and love as Christ displayed for us on the cross.
As an abuse survivor, those themes do show up in my writing. My characters aren’t Christians as we know them, since I write science fiction romance and half my characters are aliens. Yet writing this way has been so freeing, and I can truly dig into things and explore them the way I feel they need to be explored. I don’t have to sugarcoat things anymore or be subtle and tiptoe around stuff I want to face head-on.
Switching markets and being able to write from my heart, and my past as a survivor, has played a huge part in healing from what happened.
Christine Dorman
Janet,
Thank you for this positive and heartening post. I applaud you for reading a preview of Fifty Shades. I have wanted nothing to do with it and have been tremendously saddened by its success. I do think curiosity–and the idea of doing something scandalous–has been a big part of its appeal. I was in a book club when the novel came out and many of the members read it–or more accurately, part of it–when it came out. Most stopped reading because of the poor writing and because, they said, it rapidly got “boring.” I have heard from my friends the same thing that Melodie mentioned about the book. I am not a fan of erotica, but I can live with its existence and even its popularity. I have been vehemently opposed to Fifty Shades because of the presentation of abuse as normal and of the message that it sends to young women. I’m glad to hear that the book will have a positive impact in many ways in the publishing industry and keep bookstores from closing but it’s difficult for me to cheer since the effects feel tainted by the source.
Janet Grant
Christine, I so agree with you that the infusion of cash into the publishing industry is a ragged and inadequate positive–truly a mere consolation for the book’s success.
Christine Dorman
One of the things I respect about you, Janet, is your ability to find the positive in situations. You have done it before on this blog about things that have impacted the writing industry. God brings good out of evil and you have demonstrated how that is true in this case. Also, you have reminded us that anyone with an interest in the writing industry cannot completely dismiss this book’s phenomenal success. My comment was not at all intended as criticism. I just have a visceral reaction every time I hear about this book–and it’s success.
Janet Grant
Christine, I totally get that.
Christine Dorman
One of the things I respect about you, Janet, is your ability to find the positive in situations. You have done it before on this blog about things that have impacted the writing industry. God brings good out of evil and you have demonstrated how that is true in this case. Also, you have reminded us that anyone with an interest in the writing industry cannot completely dismiss this book’s phenomenal success. My comment was not at all intended as criticism. I just have a visceral reaction every time I hear about this book–and its success.
Davalynn Spencer
I know a young woman who read SOG when it first released and said she considered it to be pornography in search of a plot. She is not a Christian, yet considered the book to be tacky. And plotless.
Janet Grant
Davalynn, yes, well, if one considers it started out as fan fiction, that explains a lot. I suspect the author just plunged into a vaguely fashioned plot and meandered on from there.
Elizabeth Torphy
I am glad to hear that you think that the publishing world may go the other way, looking for “sweet” romantic stories…but I am not sure they are ready for that quite yet. Erotica seems to be “in” thing. I purposely wrote my romance novel to counter the fluff and superficial concepts of love that are in the marketplace. I wanted to have depth and meaning behind the relationship that develops, and sex that is loving and meaningful, not degrading. I always say, i wrote a love story, not a sex story! I am betting that readers are looking for just that…but when you see the headlines of 50 Shades, it is hard not to get disillusioned, and for agents/publishers to run towards the shiny penny. I will keep writing my “lovely” stories and hope my “trend” is soon on the horizon! Thank you for your article.
Janet Grant
Elizabeth, I resonate with your statement: I write a love story, not a sex story! Blessings on you for that. There are readers who yearn for a good love story.
Elissa
I think there are a number of reasons for this book’s popularity, but the main one (in my opinion) is the hype. When something gets talked about, people start noticing. The more people notice, the more talk there is. Like the proverbial snowball rolling downhill, it becomes an unstoppable phenomenon.
A strong human trait is the need to belong, to fit in, but also to be on top of the latest things. I firmly believe that the majority of people who bought this book (and who go to see the movie) did so simply because everyone was talking about it and they didn’t want to feel left out. Some apparently enjoyed it. Others didn’t. I’m sure a large number didn’t even finish it, though probably the majority did.
I pray that no lives are ruined by this book and movie. That no one, man or woman, comes to believe the relationship depicted is desirable–or even acceptable. Sadly, I suspect other people’s free will trumps my prayers for their safety.
I also pray that a more enlightened book featuring a healthy relationship (and better writing) will shake up the publishing world and become a mega-bestseller. That, I think we can agree, would be a most marvelous outcome.
Janet Grant
Elissa, your hoped-for outcome would a marvelous one indeed. Whenever I get discouraged by successes of “sexy” books, I remind myself that Debbie Macomber has been writing–and selling–sweet love stories for decades. You go, Debbie, girl!
Elaine Clampitt
The popularity of these books remind me of a 19990 movie that was immensely popular, about a successful businessman and a prostitute–Pretty Woman. I confess I’ve never seen the movie but I couldn’t understand it’s appeal at the time. Talk about a fantasy! And yet, people seemed to embrace the idea of the good-hearted young woman who is rescued by a wealthy man. This isn’t a new plot in romance, but in this particular movie form, stretched the boundaries of “believable.” With the Gray series, is this what’s now at the end of a 25 year slide on the slippery slope of society’s idea of what is romance?
I take heart in your conclusions of the good that can come from their success, Janet. More money for publishers to put into other books with a better demonstration of romance. Praying that we can share His love with others in whatever stories we write.
Janet Grant
Oh, yeah, Pretty Woman. Another unbelievable story with major doses of fairy tale–the prostitute with a heart of gold who is seen for who she is by the handsome, wealthy customer.
Jennifer Zarifeh Major
Ah yes, Pretty Woman. I remember watching an interview with Helen Mirren is which she shredded that film for the message: move to L.A., become a prostitute, and you’ll marry up.
I liked the story then, I hate it now.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Don’t know why I didn’t see this before – dumb!
The parallel’s not “Beauty and the Beast”, but The Flying Dutchman, the condemned Captain van der Decken sailing endlessly, a true bad boy of the seas, who can only be redeemed by the love of a pure woman – a sacrificial love.
If that’s true, it does put a different spin on the readers’ motives; they want to identify with a character that is something of a sacrificial salvor (I’m not using ‘saviour’ for obvious reasons, and the job here seems to be more salvage, in any event).
In that case the BDSM may represent, to some, more a scourge to be endured than an appealing lifestyle to be fantasized.
(Doesn’t let the authors, etc., off the hook, for me.)
Could be totally wrong, but an idea worth floating, I guess.
Rachel Leigh Smith
That’s it exactly, Andrew. The trope of a woman saving a man is immensely popular in romance, and I think it’s because we’re all wired for that internally to seek out Christ.
I freely admit, as a romance reader, I love it when the hero and heroine inspire each other to be better and together they face their problems and come out the other side stronger, and together. What FSOG does with this trope, though, is unacceptable.
What’s really interesting is how the real-life BDSM community is united with the Christian community over how awful these books are. BDSM is about feeling something deep and life-changing in a world of shallowness and superficiality.
There’s a huge difference between BDSM properly practiced and abuse. But at the same time the line between the two is very fine, and abusers seek it out as a way to acceptably indulge their desires.
Greg Spyker
Juxtapose “50 Shades..” versus “Hunger Games”. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins has more to teach me on the changes readers are expecting in their fiction. “50 Shades” is simply another in a long line of examples that fit the paraphrased quotation from several thousand years ago “that every inclination of the thought of (man’s) heart was only evil all the time.”
Jennifer Zarifeh Major
I loathed the premise of this book the moment I heard of it.
A dear friend of mine is in law enforcement and has to deal with these kinds of relationships on a daily basis. For a time, she worked on the National Database for Missing and Exploited Children.
She’s watched women and children, and same-sex partners, return to their abusers and either end up beaten to a pulp, or dead.
50 Shades is porn dressed up as art, and the end game is always the same. Control.
Men, or women, who physically assault a partner for their own pleasures do not and never will aim to refine that relationship into one that is healthy and whole.
There is almost no line between abuse of an adult and the abuse of children.
The writer of that book may be wealthy, but that money is earned on the backs of actual victims.
My criteria for a book or film is if I can take my mom to it, or ask her to read it, then we’re good to go.
Otherwise? Forget it.
And I agree with Rachel Leigh Smith. This book is straight from the enemy.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Beautifully stated. Amen.
Christine Dorman
And another amen!
Tara Mayoros
Thank you for this blog post. I also wrote a post about this from the perspective of being a clean romance author. Your comment “With erotica going mainstream, it also means more “sweet” romances will be in demand,” – this gives me hope and encouragement.
I had a few haters, but for the most part the comments from my blog post was very uplifting and respectful. The huge response I received tells me that there is a demand for clean romances.
Here is a link to my article, if you would like to check it out.
http://taramayoros.com/2015/02/10/fifty-shades-of-grey-my-02-from-an-authors-perspective/
Thanks again!
Randy Mitchell
This is an interesting post. I haven’t read this book and don’t intend to, however, its success cannot be ignored by anyone in the writing arena. Why is it so successful? I think it just happened to spark interest in many who are seeking alternatives to the norm. In this case: sexuality and how some seek fantasies in relationships. Just this statement alone would explain why certain reality TV shows and daytime dramas always draw consistent ratings.
The biggest complaint I’ve heard is the quality of writing, and this comes mostly from writers, agents, etc. But, as someone once said to me, “Many readers read on an elementary level. That content is more important than quality of writing.” This of course goes against everything I’ve been striving for in my craft, but perhaps there is truth to this statement. After all, it would explain a lot.
Janet Grant
Randy, my observation is that, while readers aren’t always able to articulate what they liked or didn’t like about an author’s writing, they have a sense of whether it was good or not.
Randy Mitchell
Janet, your point is correct. Every reader either has chemistry with a certain book or they don’t.
jessy
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Janet! Interesting post. I personally haven’t read the book but have seen the movie. To my mind all the hype about 50 shades just proves the well-known words of A. Warhol “Sex is more exciting on the screen and between the pages than between the sheets”.
Janet Grant
Love the Warhol quote, Jessy. So apt.