50 Shades of Grey?

[Lights]

Has anyone read this novel. I notice this book is a best selling novel right now, and a lot of reviews are saying it's awful.What shock me is that I didn't know erotic novels became popular. I feel like I am behind the times...

What cause the success of this book???

It's not like it's a brand new genre... or I am assuming without reading it, a masterpiece.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[BrucetonGuy]

It is a poorly written book and it boarders (actually crosses the line over to pornography) however;

What cause the success of this book???

1.) The "shock" factor
2.) Word of mouth advertising
3.) Building a brand. This is one book in a trilogy.

 

[Lights]

It is a poorly written book and it boarders (actually crosses the line over to pornography) however;



1.) The "shock" factor
2.) Word of mouth advertising
3.) Building a brand. This is one book in a trilogy.

It's shocking for a book of this type to be popular, but it's not that shocking in being original. Why didn't it just vanish with the rest of the similar books?There's bdsm porn stories on the internet for free for years, and erotica books all over the place. I thought society was over the "shocking" of bdsm when Madonna released SEX in 1992, and Rosie O'Donnell doing something similar in the early 90s.

It's not so shocking like, geez woooow.... like Lolita (french novel). To me that novel was shocking for its time, that's shocking, wikipedia quote, "middle-aged literature professor Humbert Humbert, is obsessed with the 12-year-old Dolores Haze, with whom he becomes sexually involved after he becomes her stepfather." for 1955, and even today http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita

It has to be the word of mouth, and I think timing, and mentioning Twilight.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I've read it.

Actually, let me clarify.

I read 3/4 of it and I couldn't finish it. Yes, it was that bad. Absolutely brutal. The writing is horrible. The characters -- even worse, unless you like novels that have the voice of a British teenage girl, but try to convince us it's an American college woman in the Pacific NW.

I read it because any book that sells millions, usually has my interest from an educational standpoint.

I'm not sure what sickens me more, the bad writing (how many times am I gonna be told Christian's eyes are grey, or that he "murmurs?") or that millions of women thought it was good enough to tell their friends.

What's even odder, from a Fastlane standpoint is this: Look at the reviews. Most of them are bad. But then, how on earth has this monstrocity gained such spectacular word-of-mouth power?

1/2 the market says it sucks. Does the other 1/2 say it's great, I'm telling my friends?

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[BrucetonGuy]

I thought society was over the "shocking"

Anytime something (literature, media, pop culture in general) deals with sex or what society deems as "inappropriate" or not in the norm, it has a shock factor because society has been conditioned that these topics should not be discussed openly but should be kept "behind closed doors". Because of this, people are drawn to it because they want to see (or read) what all the fuss is about. Even today, Lady Gaga (and others) uses the "shock" factor in her videos and songs and look how well she has done.

 

[The-J]

I read the first book. My favorite part was the ending... you know, when it ended. Couldn't bring myself to read the second.

My girlfriend read the series the way through. She claimed to have hated it, but she didn't stop at the first.

This book, I think, will have a positive effect on the sexual health of women everywhere. The book is mainstream, so it's becoming acceptable for women to indulge in their fantasies, especially by themselves.

I didn't know this until about a year back, but apparently women see it as a bad thing to, ahem, indulge themselves. I think that's unhealthy.

Is this a discussion for the Fastlane forum? Not really. So let's bring this back on topic.

It's a great Fastlane lesson: women everywhere NEEDED this book. Not because erotica doesn't exist elsewhere (actually, 50 shades is a slap in the face to actual erotica) but because it doesn't exist elsewhere in a mainstream, easy to talk about fashion. Before this, women couldn't talk about their desires.

Solve a problem, sell people your solution, become a Fastlane success.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Anytime something (literature, media, pop culture in general) deals with sex or what society deems as "inappropriate" or not in the norm, it has a shock factor because society has been conditioned that these topics should not be discussed openly but should be kept "behind closed doors"

True but this is not new in literature. Soft-porn, chick-lit, Vampire diaries -- all of this stuff isn't new in the world of writing. How this rose to the top to be considered the cream in this genre, escapes me.

This book, I think, will have a positive effect on the sexual health of women everywhere.

Sure, if your idea of "sexual health" is getting whipped by a leather belt while hanging upside down from a trapeze by some self-absorbed, borderline sociopath, well, awesome.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[BrucetonGuy]

Sure, if your idea of "sexual health" is getting beat with a leather belt while hanging upside down from a trapeze by some self-absorbed, borderline sociopath, well awesome.

LOL...my idea of a perfect Saturday night. (Except in my fantasy there are clowns involved)

 

[The-J]

Sure, if your idea of "sexual health" is getting whipped by a leather belt while hanging upside down from a trapeze by some self-absorbed, borderline sociopath, well, awesome.

I meant that it would be OK for women to read these books and have such fantasies, not that it would be OK to develop these kinds of expectations for themselves.

There are so many negative aspects to the book it's not even funny. It portrays the woman as a weak-willed damsel who just yearns to be controlled against her will, which is not at all what BDSM is. If the woman wants to be hung upside down and whipped, then it's okay and it should be okay. But in the book, the woman didn't want it but only did it to be loved and accepted by this powerful man. That is the disgusting part.

The even more disgusting part is (spoiler alert) she leaves the man only to get back with him when she realizes that he's all she'll ever need. That shit is dangerous to women. I hope that women who read the book can be smart enough to figure that out.

 

[JAJT]

To those commenting on the writing: It started as bad Twilight fan-fiction.

This is one of those examples of something stupid going viral and everyone "needing to see what the fuss is about". Reviews didn't matter after it hit critical mass.

It has gotten to the point where everyone wants to know what the big deal is. You are out of the loop if you haven't read it. Even guys, en mass, are reading through this clearly female-oriented book because of it's popularity.

I wouldn't say you can point at any repeatable formula of execution that made this a success. She just wrote it and put herself in a position to get lucky and struck gold. I'd say it's a perfect lesson on process - just do it, again and again, and good things can happen. No matter how garbage your product is.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Lights]

I've read it.

Actually, let me clarify.

I read 3/4 of it and I couldn't finish it. Yes, it was that bad. Absolutely brutal. The writing is horrible. The characters -- even worse, unless you like novels that have the voice of a British teenage girl, but try to convince us it's an American college woman in the Pacific NW.

I read it because any book that sells millions, usually has my interest from an educational standpoint.

I'm not sure what sickens me more, the bad writing (how many times am I gonna be told Christian's eyes are grey, or that he "murmurs?") or that millions of women thought it was good enough to tell their friends.

What's even odder, from a Fastlane standpoint is this: Look at the reviews. Most of them are bad. But then, how on earth has this monstrocity gained such spectacular word-of-mouth power?

1/2 the market says it sucks. Does the other 1/2 say it's great, I'm telling my friends?

Exactly...
I was coming up with concepts for a diet book lately, but I was like... "is this really going to sell?" I realize, it probably won't. I can't come up with good enough diet concepts to sell.

If this book is so damn popular, after checking the best selling list. Then I thought, I could flesh out an epic novel that the world would love without even trying that hard. I won't have to do research for this. I am already at 1.7 k with my novel, and I started today. Want an idea what it sounds like... then read my relationship threads and then dramatize it 100x lol and throw in some kink. Groundbreaking lady Gaga kink is going on in my Word document.

I won't even read this 50 shade book because I don't want to be influenced by it.

But, I will research it more to find the secret answer why this book turn out to be a millionaire-dollar ticket. There must be some marketing trick that trigger this into the mass media.

 

[Kak]

I don't read stories. I read books. Thank God.

 

[Lights]

It's a great Fastlane lesson: women everywhere NEEDED this book. Not because erotica doesn't exist elsewhere (actually, 50 shades is a slap in the face to actual erotica) but because it doesn't exist elsewhere in a mainstream, easy to talk about fashion. Before this, women couldn't talk about their desires.

Solve a problem, sell people your solution, become a Fastlane success.

Why do you need to talk about your dark desires openly?

If anything, this book put women backwards.

Nah, this is marketing. I am sure of it. There's no true need for this book, besides a marketing gimmick. Only a select few are into bdsm, and if you are into it, you will find it regardless of this book becoming mainstream.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[JAJT]

I don't read stories. I read books. Thank God.

To be fair, you can get a lot out of certain stories. Assuming you aren't reading to increase business knowledge, that is.

The brilliance of some books from either an artistic or intellectual level is amazing. Vonnegut's style is enthralling. Dostoevsky was a genius. Hunter S Thompson is a madman. Ayn Rand should go without saying. If you have an amazing thing to tell or an amazing way to tell something normal I never consider it a waste of time.

That being said, mediocre stories written by mediocre authors feel like brain rot...

 

[Kak]

To be fair, you can get a lot out of certain stories. Assuming you aren't reading to increase business knowledge, that is.

The brilliance of some books from either an artistic or intellectual level is amazing. Vonnegut's style is enthralling. Dostoevsky was a genius. Hunter S Thompson is a madman. Ayn Rand should go without saying. If you have an amazing thing to tell or an amazing way to tell something normal I never consider it a waste of time.

That being said, mediocre stories written by mediocre authors feel like brain rot...

LOL there is a huge difference between Ayn Rand and Vampire buttfucking stories.

 

[The-J]

Ayn Rand should go without saying.

Gonna shut my mouth on this one...

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[theag]

My gf bought it last week because a friend of her from work recommended it. Dont know if she likes it as she hasnt started reading yet, because she accidentally bought the second part and wants to bring it back to get the first haha.

But I tend to agree with the comment about 50% hating the book and 50% recommending it. Seems to be a clear black and white thing, no grey area. I wont read it but from the comments so far from you guys I probably wouldnt make it past the first pages.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Ayn Rand should go without saying.

Gonna shut my mouth on this one...

Probably a good idea because you'll probably find yourself alone on an island without a raft.

 

[Kak]

Gonna shut my mouth on this one...

You are a capitalist too, you just don't want to admit it yet. :cheers:

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Tommy92l]

Severely confused I am, understand this book I do not.

Why is this shit socially acceptable now? Seeing girls who aren't even 18 popping up on my news feed with status' like "Yes! I finally got it!" (This was back when it came out).

I mean how is a book that, as some others have said "Filthy" now so......OK?

 

[Lights]

Severely confused I am, understand this book I do not.

Why is this shit socially acceptable now? Seeing girls who aren't even 18 popping up on my news feed with status' like "Yes! I finally got it!" (This was back when it came out).

I mean how is a book that, as some others have said "Filthy" now so......OK?

The book isn't filthy, if all there is to the book is bdsm and sex. If you ask me, that's mild.

I just don't get the hype about it.

 

[The-J]

Probably a good idea because you'll probably find yourself alone on an island without a raft.

I'm just saying, objectivism =/= capitalism or entrepreneurism.

Why is this shit socially acceptable now? Seeing girls who aren't even 18 popping up on my news feed with status' like "Yes! I finally got it!" (This was back when it came out).

I mean how is a book that, as some others have said "Filthy" now so......OK?

Because society has a liberal bias.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Tommy92l]

Well I haven't read it, thats just what some of the reviews have said.

It is strange that just because a large amount of people support it, it's ok now.

Since when did teenage kids READ anymore? Facking fads.

 

[Kak]

Because society has a liberal bias.

Baaaaaa

 

[Lights]

Because society has a liberal bias.

I don't think I am going to see a bestselling book call, "Human Stallion", a book about dominant women whipping men into submission as farm animals starting with one stud who made his family a fortune, the best looking "stallion" will become the county glory. The men lick the dirty boots of women, drink the golden liquid of bliss, and eat the chocolate nuggets of humiliation. The men wives turn their men into the farm because they failed their duties as a man, and hope the farm can make the wives some money off the men toils. Hormone injections create some stallions into mares who fail even as the lowest of society.

Is society that liberal for that kind of book????

I think not.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[FastNAwesome]

True but this is not new in literature. Soft-porn, chick-lit, Vampire diaries -- all of this stuff isn't new in the world of writing. How this rose to the top to be considered the cream in this genre, escapes me.

I'd be curious to find out this.

I asked one of my girl friends what's all the craze with this book, and she without hesitation replied "oh it's just a book where a plain Jaine can read a ton of dirty words and fantasies".

Could this be the possiblity: that this was somehow marketed like a mainstream product, which made it ok for people to buy and read it, and get a taste of something different?

Maybe similarly to how buying even a soft porn magazine is something people hide, as "decent people" don't buy porn. But when news like this appear:

Vienna Venus: Hunt for mystery woman who boarded Austrian train completely naked | Mail Online

(naked girl in just boots took a ride in Vienna metro) then it's ok to look, comment, discuss because it's packaged as "news", which unlike porn is something we do discuss. Everyone is so concerned who this particular girl and finding out her name.

There is a ton of boot fetish sites, with know actresses, but that's "bad", that's porn. And this girl is "news" so it somehow makes it ok.

Just a theory

 

[Lights]

I'd be curious to find out this.

I asked one of my girl friends what's all the craze with this book, and she without hesitation replied "oh it's just a book where a plain Jaine can read a ton of dirty words and fantasies".

Could this be the possiblity: that this was somehow marketed like a mainstream product, which made it ok for people to buy and read it, and get a taste of something different?

Maybe similarly to how buying even a soft porn magazine is something people hide, as "decent people" don't buy porn. But when news like this appear:

Vienna Venus: Hunt for mystery woman who boarded Austrian train completely naked | Mail Online

(naked girl in just boots took a ride in Vienna metro) then it's ok to look, comment, discuss because it's packaged as "news", which unlike porn is something we do discuss. Everyone is so concerned who this particular girl and finding out her name.

There is a ton of boot fetish sites, with know actresses, but that's "bad", that's porn. And this girl is "news" so it somehow makes it ok.

Just a theory

that's it.

thanks!

 

[Vigilante]

I don't think I am going to see a bestselling book call, "Human Stallion", a book about dominant women whipping men into submission as farm animals starting with one stud who made his family a fortune, the best looking "stallion" will become the county glory. The men lick the dirty boots of women, drink the golden liquid of bliss, and eat the chocolate nuggets of humiliation. The men wives turn their men into the farm because they failed their duties as a man, and hope the farm can make the wives some money off the men toils. Hormone injections create some stallions into mares who fail even as the lowest of society.

Is society that liberal for that kind of book????

I think not.

My day is worse off for having read your post.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Lights]

My day is worse off for having read your post.

Oh! I found a fastlane idea like 50 Shades then.

So now I'll have to change the name to, "The Little Farm in Kansas", and have a little farm house on the cover, so scenic so pretty. And maybe Plain Jane would read it.

Who thinks this idea could work? put a thanks on my post

 

[BrucetonGuy]

I don't think I am going to see a bestselling book call, "Human Stallion", a book about dominant women whipping men into submission as farm animals starting with one stud who made his family a fortune, the best looking "stallion" will become the county glory. The men lick the dirty boots of women, drink the golden liquid of bliss, and eat the chocolate nuggets of humiliation. The men wives turn their men into the farm because they failed their duties as a man, and hope the farm can make the wives some money off the men toils. Hormone injections create some stallions into mares who fail even as the lowest of society.

My day is worse off for having read your post.

:iagree: