Sorry just getting on my box (Eye Roll! ) ahem!...

As a romance/romantica reader for over a, LOT, of years and I'm sure you ladies, just as long or even longer, I find it hilarious that media is acting like it's the "Latest newest thing" all from ONE series.

Do you know my biggest irk with romance snobs, it's if you ask them if they have ever read romance, they turn their nose up and say no! But I always ask them, have you read Snow White, Cinerella etc, and they say yes, well then WHAT"S THAT, it's just doesn't have the S.E.X, and then there's the Nicholas Sparks books (just to name one of) are they not romantic?

and now this... I guess I just don't understand, I guess I am not reading this story out of defiance, in that MAINSTREAM readers are... call me contrary! I guess I am a MAINSTREAM SNOB. But knowing me I'll read it when it's no longer front and center....man I dilemma myself.... and worry on stuff for naught....

...Stepping off box.....

http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/health/lo ... -sex-toys/

This is a blog I sometimes read.

http://www.bookloversinc.com/2012/06/06 ... mr-berube/

I've been reading romance novels my entire life!! I was an avid reader of the original "bodice rippers" and believe me 50 Shades has nothing on some of them!!
A lot of the stuff being published today is just bland!
No sizzle whatsoever!
I actually miss the good old days of the romance novel and I am all for going back!
I wish there was a 4th book of 50 Shades of Grey!

Ditto L.S. and Klass!

I notice when romantic comedies are made into movies nobody sneers at them, calls them mommy porn

I AGREE COMPLETELY!!!!!!!
That is just about the same thing I said on this subject on other post on this site. But, I felt as if I was standing alone holding my protesting sign saying. HELLO THIS IS NOT NEW. It felt like hitting my head against a brick wall. I thought maybe I should just keep my comments to my self, you know. I am just so happy someone sees this the same way I do. See I don't follow trends at all. I prefer to live my life the way I want to, not the way other people think I should. This whole thing reminds me of Barbra Mandrell's song "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool".

The thing is I have no ill feeling towards the books or the author, just the response that people have given it. As if they have found some brand new thing that has never been done before. I feel like every Romance author that has been writing Romance for decades has been slapped in the face by all this.

On the bright side maybe all this attention will bring more readers to Romance.

Sorry rant over now.

I just clicked on the link that you had in your post, Klass and watched the video, and the whole time I was thinking; I wonder what will happen when these women that are new to the Romance genre do when they read a truly spicy Romance novel? From what I have heard from the women on this site that the heat in the 50 Shades novels is really not that much heat compared the erotica that they read. I mean what will they think when they pick up a Romance novel that has two guys and one girl or three guys and one girl?

I know my brain is truly a scary place, with very weird things going on. Hey I think I just found my quote. Yes I will use this as my quote from now one. See Klass you helped me find my quote that I did not even know I was looking for. Your good.

I read Klass's link and I have never been tempted to imitate the romances I read in real life. I really doubt the claimes made in this link. It occurs to me that the people writing about FS in the media don't read romances. They really must think sex is the only reason women read romance. That its our Playboy!

@ Nell: I AGREE COMPLETELY!!!!!!!
That is just about the same thing I said on this subject on other post on this site. But, I felt as if I was standing alone holding my protesting sign saying. HELLO THIS IS NOT NEW. It felt like hitting my head against a brick wall. I thought maybe I should just keep my comments to my self, you know. I am just so happy someone sees this the same way I do. See I don't follow trends at all. I prefer to live my life the way I want to, not the way other people think I should. This whole thing reminds me of Barbra Mandrell's song "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool".

The thing is I have no ill feeling towards the books or the author, just the response that people have given it. As if they have found some brand new thing that has never been done before. I feel like every Romance author that has been writing Romance for decades has been slapped in the face by all this.

On the bright side maybe all this attention will bring more readers to Romance.

Sorry rant over now.[/

Couldn't agree more. I am glad romance in general is getting a good plug. However, I wish it would have been another, better book to do it. The book is NOT a brand new subject or genre. But then maybe to some it is a genre they considered themselves to be above. So now they rave about it like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Now that Oprah is starting up her bookclub, maybe she will have FS as a club choice. Since book 1 doesn't have a HEA, it would fit right in with her depressing choices.

I still would love to know why FS is described as not the best book to introduce peple into the romance genre? When I read things like that and that its badly written but no details of examples I dismiss such statements.

I also totally agree with Nell---wait til the newbies get a hold of say....Megan Hart, Lauren Dane, Emma Holly, Lorelei James, Beth Kery, Robin Schone, Em Brown or Monica Newcomb. I am sure most of you all can add a few more erotica/romance books that are better than 50 Shades.

I loved the love story of 50 Shades. She isn't the best writer, but she wasn't horrible. Hopefully all this hoopla over 50 Shades will open up the minds of snobbish readers. I do get a kick out of people's reaction to erotica/romance as if this is either the best thing since sliced bread or they are so sexually repressed that they have to label it mommy porn.

So did I! And after all that's what the romance novel is all about!

I agree. I tend not to read any of the books getting such raves and hoopla from the media. I love those author that are quietly publishing wonderful stories, and then there I am still buying them when they final start getting some notice. If I do end up reading those books that gathered such accolades, I often end up asking why.

And Nell Never ever keep your comments to yourself. Every ones comments are valued, and are needed in this world. Dance to your own tune. I do every day.

I ain't no "mommy"....

I think I surprised my auntie yesterday as she was coming out of Target, Holding Fifty Shades Darker.... all I did was tap the book and look at her, she looked embarassed.... I just laughed ... and said "it's okay, I read similar stuff, that makes that look tame!" , but a least I know if I want to read it, I can borrow it from her....

After FS I'm looking for more romances w/uber alpha heroes like Christian. I'm not looking to read more bdsm erotica romances.

I'm so happy I read this series before the media hoopla and the negatve attacks by bloggers who can't believe this author is more successful than their favorite author.

You want details – here you go. I finally broke down and got the first book for Kindle.

The couple is British, are they not? There was a ton of British terminology, yet I did not hear the author indicate if they were actually British transplants, living in Seattle. Well yeah, it’s obvious they are. But talk about not setting the stage. Then Christian is how old? Has how many billions? But he never goes to work! OK, it’s a romance book, so I should be able to suspend my belief a bit. But so far that’s not working well for me.

Is Christian really a dom? He threatens to spank Ana, but never does. He’s a very tortured hero, but the author seems a bit out of her league regarding Alex, and the darkness that is him. She never really lets us see the how wacked out he really is, just tells the reader in vague descriptions. This could be a great psychological drama, if Christian would have been allowed to show us he’s nutso, rather than her telling us he is. Show and tell – the author needed to do more of this. And the sex was the same, every single time. Wham, bam thank you ma’am. I was expecting some really creative sex scenes, but all it was, was Ana feeling her inner goddess every single time, and the same way every single time. I swear she climaxes when he just looks at her! OK, so good for Ana!

And finally….oh my, holy cow, they murmur, mutter, aww geez, blush, holy crap – the list goes on and on – how many times??? If the ebook had any editing at all, it would have made a huge difference, and considerably shortened up the page count too. There are too many annoying, sophomoric, over used phrases in this book. Just check out your Kindle search function if you don’t believe me!

I am glad that the romance door has opened to an entire new reader audience, but I’m stickin’ with my comments that I wish it would have been a better written erotic romance that had triggered this. I just finished Christy Reece’s final Last Chance Rescue book last night, and Jared goes down as one of the most tortured heroes ever, with some graphic descriptions telling us why, from his point of view. In turn, his tortured past also makes him the most creative lover of any book I have read this year. And I felt the love between the characters too. “Nuff said – I’m done talking 50 Shades!

Thanks Terri P. I'm doing a reread of FS and feel quite differently. I've read many a historical w/modern characters. I expect more from traditionally published romances than self published romances. All that matters when I read FS is my happiness that the writing was so compelling.

Hey Teri P

No, Christian and Ana are not British, but author E.L. James is (you will found out later in the series which US town Christian is from).

He is 27 years old and will also reveal how much $$ he makes per hour. Not sure who Alex is (that you mentioned in your post).

Yes, Christian is a Dom and he does follow through with threatened punishments. As you read the other two books, there are more creative sex scenes.

This series is more of a romance turned love story with a wonderful HEA and refer to book three as similar to Breaking Dawn.

Look forward to your reviews of the next two books in the series

For me its like the first time you meet someone. You want your clothes to look good, your hair to be perfect, you want to have engaging conversations that are both funny and make you think. Make a great first impression. Now does that mean that you can't meet someone for the first time in your jeans and favorite tee shirt, not at all but it is human nature to want to put our best foot forward. In this case the "foot" would be a book. I don't think anyone, myself included think 50 Shades is the worst books to introduce people into the world of Romance, we just wish it had been the best our world has to offer.

What you have to keep in mind is, for decades the Romance authors and readers have been looked down at as if we are uneducated, and not worthy of readers of the other genre's out there. This is not my opinion, this is what others have always talked about. I have even read publishers saying that although Romance has always been a best seller it is still(before 50 shades) the black sheep of the book industry. So please understand that this is hard for me to swallow that now its cool to read it. Just because the masses say so. For myself, you have no idea how many times I have been asked: your read a lot, what do you read? I answer: I read Romance then I get: Oh you read that. I doubt that I am the only one this has happened to. Now its: you read a lot what do you read? my answer: Romance then from them: really have you read 50 Shades its great and its Romance I answer: no I have not read them.

Now also keep in mind that my feelings on this are in no way directed at the author or the books. I congratulate the author and her success with her books. She has done the one thing all authors(including myself as an aspiring author) want to accomplish, everyone wants to read her books.

Thanks for your perspective. As someone who has read FS trilogy I think its the perfect intro to romance. I have read romances popular on message boards and am glad they weren't my introduction into romance since they weren't compelling.
I can understand the discomfort of readers who think their established favorite author is more deserving of the media attention however the Twilight connection is what propelled FS into such popularity. I saw many a message board topic, what to read after Twilight and rarely did I see established romance authors. Readers were taking chances on new authors to fill the void and James meet a need that established romance authors didn't fill.

Maybe put here on the board what you are looking for in Romance novels, I am sure that someone here could tell of authors that might be of interest to you.


For me the whole Twilight thing was just one of the main reasons I did not read 50 shades. I am not a Twilight fan. I don't hate the books. I just have no desire to read a Romance about teenagers. I am just not into the whole high school scene, been there done that bought the tee shirt. I'm not in high school any more you know. The Romances I read are about adults with adults relationships. This is just my opinion on this matter.