...well, you know the rest (unless you've spent the past few weeks in an insulated bubble). So. Have you read it? And if not, how many times have you been asked whether you have read it? I have been asked by numerous people, from son's girlfriend to the assistant in Sainsburys this afternoon. Because I write, there seems to be an assumption that I must have read this novel.
For the record, I haven't, and neither do I intend to. Not sour grapes ( well, hardly), but because I don't want to. Because its not really my kind of thing. A prospective agent once asked a colleague of mine whether she "wanted to win prizes or make money". Good question. Obviously, Fifty Shades belongs to the latter category.
So, two questions: have you read it? And would you prefer the prizes or the money?
PS I'd like both, but then I'm greedy.
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No I haven't and I'd actually quite like both, too.
ReplyDeleteI logged on to Amazon yesterday to look for a book and along the bottom of the screen was a row of Fifty Shades of .... book covers, so they are plugging it for all it's worth. Apparently it's a trilogy. Yes, there are three of them!
Apparently they're bringing out varrious products (sex toys??) to match the book. Hmmm.
DeleteHaven't read it; the review I saw somewhere (probably in the ZEIT) was enough to put me off, and so is the general hype. The only books I really, really loved that became HYPE were the Harry Potter books, and when I read the first one, hardly anyone had heard of them yet (at least here in Germany).
ReplyDeleteNo, I am not interested in "Fifty Shades".
And if I had to choose between the prizes or the money, I guess I'd be going for the money. Can't really fill the fridge from prizes alone, can you.
I think Harry Potter is probably in a different class, Meike!
DeleteI like the idea of a fridge full of prizes...
I haven't read it and don't intend to. It doesn't sound like my sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteI'll take the cash, please.
If push comes to shove, I think I'll go for the money, too. But I have no desire to write erotica in order to earn it!
DeleteNo I haven't read it, but I listened to it on..... Youtube.... Yes, you did read that right and I'm not making it up. Someone has read the book and record it onto 'Youtube'. Did it make me want to rush out and buy it. No! with a tag like 'Mummy Porn' I'm put off straight way. It's a bit 'Yummy Mummy' who the hell wants to be known as a 'Yummy Mummy' In the same vein I would hate to be known as the 'Chick' that writes 'Mummy Porn'. Ok so I'm not a chick any more and even when I was I would have hit anyone who called me a 'Chick'.
ReplyDeleteAs for Prizes or Money. Hmmm, which prizes... Manbooker or whatever it's called nowaday, yes, I would go for that or any other prestige prize as I would hope it would improve my chances of making more money from my writing.
YOu mean they've recorded the WHOLE book on Youtube? There's dedication!
DeleteI'd never heard of it until I read this post. I looked it up. I wish that I'd never heard of it.
ReplyDeleteOh GB! have I taken away your innocence!
DeleteMy daughter read the first one...said it was good, a cheap thrill, like a beach book. Then she read the second one....not so good. Then she started the third one, but couldn't finish it. She said it got very boring and predictable. "OMG, they're doing it again!" The subject had run out of steam. Sounds to me like it was really one book but they tried to turn it into a trilogy for the money. As to your question...well, the money would be nice but I'd want to be proud of what I wrote.
ReplyDeleteI gather everyone is jumping on the bandwagon now, and they're even digging out old erotica and re-printing it.
DeleteZeitgeist?
Haven't read it. There is so little time to read all the books I really want to read, I can't waste reading time reading something that doesn't appeal.
ReplyDeleteHas to be the money for me as it's my living, but I do so hanker after a prize!
Prizes are nice but having just read the latest novel from a Booker-winning novelist, I do wonder. It was APPALLING! I had to finish it because it was for Amazon Vine, but boy, it was a struggle!
DeleteNo, I haven't read it but my daughter (who also writes) has and it doesn't sound worth the effort - it's not the kind of thing I normally read anyway!
ReplyDeleteI prefer the money, as it's now my job, but the odd prize or two wouldn't come amiss.
So you'd like both, Rosemary. But woudlnt we all?
ReplyDeleteMy latest book has a raunchy sex scene, and I rather enjoyed writing it, but it was an integral part of the story and not written for its own sake. (And yes. This is a plug for Basic Theology!)
No I haven't read it and I'm not even tempted. I would rather imagine a love scene than have it graphically explained in every gory detail.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely money!
Very sensible, Maggie!
DeleteI've given this some thought and I do believe I'd rather have the prize. An award would last a lifetime and money is gone so quickly. With a trophy on your shelf you'd be reminded everyday of the wonderful feeling of achievement.
ReplyDeleteRe. 50 Shades...no, I haven't nor do I plan to. At the risk of sounding prude, or worse still a snob!, I don't find sex for sex sake all that interesting.
Not a prude, Jill. Just someone who probably has better things to do/read?
DeleteMy sister works at the library here and says that they cannot believe the interest in this one book. She says that there are others that are just as bad, some that they hate to have to call and request them from other libraries...How would you like to call another library and ask if they have "Purple Panties"?
ReplyDeleteWhy is this book "Fifty Shades of Gray" so very popular? Is it just a very clever piece of marketing? I just don't get it.
(And my answer is "no", I would never read it.)
I think it's success is that it's a phenomenon (a sexy book for women), but I suspect that lots of writers/publishers will jump on the bandwagon, and then interest in sexy books for women will evaporate. The people I've met who've read it say they wanted to find out what the fuss is all about. Well, that's what they say...
DeleteHaven't read it. Don't intend to. I'm a 71-year-old man, for crying out loud.
ReplyDeleteI need the money more than the prizes, but still I would take the prizes.
Hmm. Perhaps you aren't the target audience?
DeleteJust to let you know I mentioned you on my bloglights tour today.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Pat. I'll go and have a look!
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ReplyDeleteI'm reading it now, for research (not the sex)...but rather to find out why it's such a bestseller. The answer is hype. Note to self: Learn how to Hype.
ReplyDeleteI think this is why a lot of people are reading it. I wish lots of people would queue up to read my books for the same reason....sigh!
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