Rui said:
There was some reasonably extreme content in the Millennium trilogy and that was similarly widely advertised back at the time. Could there be a double standard for terrible books aimed at women and better-written books aimed at both genders?
R
I can't really remember there much promotion for the Millennium Trilogy in supermarkets (although I do remember seeing posters in the London Underground for the movies). I remember seeing it in book isles (and I still do), but not in Tesco's main entrance (could have been that I just didn't pay attention to it though). One thing I will say about the Millennium Trilogy though, is that I found the author's intentions really interesting, in that he wrote them to try and repent for witnessing a gang rape when he was younger and doing nothing about it (and yeah, he also said that the violent scenes do help it sell too >>). 50 Shades' author has admitted that it's self-gratification (hell, it started off as Twilight fanfiction). Is that bias based on the author and the history? I'd say so. However, the inspirations behind a novel also help shape it.
Sure supermarkets sell games and films that are pretty graphic...but they have the certificate ratings slapped on the front covers. Sure, there will always be those few parents who will buy Call of Duty for their 8 year old (>>), but for the most part, the risk is low, unlike with say, Fifty Shades - whose front cover is rather plain (it seems like books in general lately are going for a rather symbolic, minimalistic theme in their covers. Not a choice I agree with, but whatever) - at least with Nuts, Zoo and similar magazines...you pretty much know what's in it based on the cover (not like that's a good thing in itself though >>).
I'd be a hypocrite if I slammed the book based on it being erotic, considering how I like a good harem or ecchi show. However, what I do own of those genres is limited to things that won't be on display - any remotely explicit series I own is kept amongst my larger collections and I wouldn't even want things like some figures on display on my shelf as my younger brother would no doubt come across them (is that me being paranoid? Probably, but I see it as being cautious). As I said earlier, I have no problem with the book existing (other than it being so poorly worded that I literally could write better - hey, the poor writing gives me hope that my novel will be published xD) or S&M in general (despite it not being my cup of tea) and I wouldn't be bothered if it was found in the regular book isle, but it's the prominent focus at the front of a family friendly store without any blatant reference to it being for adults that bugs me, which could easily be solved by something as little as an "Explicit Content" sticker on the front cover.
I don't get how films, games and even music has to have those kind of warnings on their front covers, but books can get off free - and I'm saying that as a guy who aspires to be an author.
@Ayase - Sure, finding out whether they're into S&M or not through a book as opposed to actually trying it out sure is better...but I'm not sure if the entrance to Tesco is the best place to explore what may be your sexual fetish or not (although saying that, the customer services desk is kind of sexy....xD).
Here's the blurb from Amazon though:
Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, Fifty Shades of Grey is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you for ever.
When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind - until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out.
Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more.
But Grey is tormented by inner demons, and consumed by the need to control. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Grey keeps hidden away from public view .
Romantic eh? But according to Wikipedia - the relationship between Grey and Ana is not romantic at all (Also, while finding that description I read the reviews on Amazon. Some of them are absolutely hilarious - worth a good read in itself xD).
Hopefully the word of mouth that helped the piece-of-crap-of-a-book sell in the first place extends to telling people what it's about...because I'm sure the Daily Mail and similar "news" places would jump on any S&M related deaths or serious injuries.
