Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Why the hubub over 50 shades?

So I'm basking in my between term vacation, doing some light reading for next term (what can I say I'm a masochist!) and catching up on the books I've stocked up on for mindless reading. A few weeks ago a classmate sent me digital copies of the 50 shades trilogy after a ton of friends and classmates recommended them. I have to tell you now-I'm not a romance novel kinda girl. I tried reading Zane a few years ago and I just couldn't do it. Harlequin romance novels? They make me want to vomit or gouge my eyes out (sorry to those of you who enjoy those books they're just not for me). I'm a mystery kinda girl-give me the latest Tess Gerritsen or Mary Higgins Clark novel and I'm good to go. But I was bored last week and decided to give 50 Shades a chance. Admittedly, I'm hooked.
There have been lots of discussions about these books from what type of fiction it is (romance vs erotic fiction) to why women should be banned from reading this book to why you're going to hell if you read this book. Really people? Its a book. A work of fiction. What happened to reading for enjoyment? Warning-this may fall under your TMI category but what the hell....I'm an open book. I didn't think 80% of what is in any of the books are particularly horrible. Hell I've done a lot of that stuff (stop laughing I was young and limber once!) Frankly, I thought it was hot. Does that mean that I'm secretly getting off reading these books, or walking around daydreaming about my own Christian Grey? No. When I read and thoroughly enjoyed the Harry Potter Series did I want to run off to Hogwarts? No. I like the Hunger Games. Did that make me want to lock myself in a bubble and kill little kids? No. And I enjoyed the Twilight books? Am I searching for a 100 year old vampire to love? No! And why not? Because its fiction! Again...Its a book! The point of reading a book, at least for me anyway, is to escape from life's everyday stresses. When did reading for fun become something else to debate and argue about? Why can't anybody just read for the pure enjoyment of reading anymore without analyzing every little detail? Why can't we just lighten up?
And to those of you who have spoken out about it...have you read it? Did you listen to the media and hear that its "mommy porn" and judge it? Maybe if you actually read the book, you might enjoy the actual story of Christian and Anastasia. Some of you may even relate to it. I know so many women (myself included) who meet a man we think we can save from whatever demons they have in their lives. Why are you so afraid of this book? Are you afraid (gasp!) you might actually enjoy an actual work of fiction? If you don't want to read it-fine. Don't judge the rest of us who actually are enjoying the love story. And if you don't like this posting, feel free to come tie me up and spank me!
Laters!

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