15 August 2013

My take on the whole '50 Shades of Grey' thing...

I'm sorry, I know it's been done to death by pretty much everyone but fans have asked me how I feel about all the hype that particular book has generated.

So here's my own, personal take on '50 Shades'...

As a real, genuine, living it 24/7 submissive type, and as someone who has been writing bdsm erotica for years, I'm rather irritated by it.

This is because a) the standard of writing is absolutely horrendous, and b) the book does not portray a healthy bdsm relationship in any way, shape or form. Nor is it even remotely realistic in many of it's key plot points.

Yes, I understand that it is meant to be a fantasy and if you've read a couple of my novellas you'll know that I'm hardly one to always portray healthy bdsm or realism when I'm writing.

However, therein lies the rub. Whilst 50 Shades is erotic fiction and sold as such, subsequent promotions, media portrayals etc. have led to it's being seen as a type of 'how to' book for bdsm. This is, in my opinion, potentially incredibly dangerous. It's like watching a 'Fast and Furious' movie and then assuming you know how to drive a car and understand all the elements of road safety.

I won't even go into the unresolved psychological issues that the protagonist 'Christian Grey' appears to have.

It seems unfair that there are so many incredibly talented erotica writers out there, who have been catering to their readers' innermost fantasies and desires for years, only to have someone who writes at the level of a 2nd grader end up making an absolute fortune doing the exact same thing.

But it's not all bad. The book has certainly brought the world of bdsm-themed erotic literature into the spotlight in a way that hasn't been seen since 'The Story of O'. This must surely lead to some of the better authors out there gaining increased recognition for their work - or at least, I hope so.

And I must admit that I too, experienced immense pleasure whilst reading... no, not the book, but some of the Amazon reviews on the book. They are exceptional and I would highly recommend you have a look!

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