I don’t generally do a lot of book reviews on my blog, but I couldn’t stop myself from weighing in on Fifty Shades of Grey because of all the hype it’s gotten.
First, let me go on record…I liked it and don’t know what all the fuss is about. For me, a lot of readers focused on the wrong thing in this story. It’s not about bondage, even though that is important to the plot, it’s a love story about a young inexperienced girl who falls desperately in love with a handsome man, who, along with some strange hang-ups, can’t commit.
I know the story is billed as erotica, however, I didn’t find it all that erotic.
On the other hand, Jingle Bell Rock, an anthology of six Christmas stories, which I bought in a Goodwill store thinking it was just tales of romance, is far more erotic than Fifty Shades. Jingle Bells, features Lori Foster, along with Janelle Denison, Susan Donovan, Donna Kauffman, Alison Kent, and Nancy Warren. All, excellent writers and not known for erotica. I should also mention, Sandra Brown and Jackie Collins. Their stuff is mighty steamy. So, what’s all the fuss? Everyone acts as if Fifty Shades is the first book to ever be written about sex!
E.L. James is an average writer as best, but as we all know, you don’t have to be a fantastic writer to be successful. You just have to have a story people want to read…and I loved reading Fifty Shades. I couldn’t wait to find out if Ana grew a pair of ovaries and told Christian to hit the road, or gave in to his dark way of life.
Since I write humor, I’m thinking maybe I could come up with a book called Ten Shades of Camouflage and use farm implements in place of handcuffs, whips, etc. I could invent a new genre…Farm Erotica.
