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I’m going to rant. I’m sorry, I don’t usually do that on
this blog (although I do it quite a bit in real life), but I’m going to do it
anyway. Ready?
I’m sick and tired of 50 Shades of Grey. I’m sick of
hearing about it, reading about it and most of all, having my work compared to
it.
There, I’ve said it.
Now, to be perfectly honest, I haven’t actually read it.
It’s not my style. I don’t particularly want to read erotica, and if I ever
decide to read that type of book, I know many authors whose work I’d prefer to
read first. So I’m not complaining about the actual book itself.
And I don’t believe in trashing authors online, especially
when they can’t defend themselves, so I’m also not discussing the quality of
the writing, the story, or anything else.
I’m complaining about the people who have either read it or
heard enough about it to assume that they are now experts in all things romance
and who also assume that all romance writers are writing books like that.
Argh!!!!!!
Say whatever you want about the book itself, 50 Shades is a
very specific sub-genre of romance. While many of us would love to see our own
books rise to the success reached almost overnight, it seems, of this book, we
do not all aspire to write a 50 Shades knock-off.
For the record, I write contemporary romance. My books have
various heat levels to them and the amount of sex in the book is totally
determined by how it fits into the story, how my characters develop and
frankly, how well I’m able to write it. But regardless of how hot my books are,
they will never be as hot as 50 Shades.
My upcoming book revolves around the story of Purim, a
Jewish holiday during which we dress up. The fact that there is a mask on my
cover does not in any way mean that it’s being used as a sex toy. At least, not
in this book. Now, if a random reader sees my cover and is intrigued enough to
check out my book, awesome! That’s exactly what a cover is supposed to do. But
please, please, please, do not ask me, with a wink and a smile, if my book is
like 50 Shades of Grey. It’s not and you’re starting to creep me out.
We have an uneasy relationship with sex in our culture. We are bombarded with competing messages, and are restricted in our explorations we can make. We look to artists to deliver forays into the forbidden--and to help us understand why people do wierd things.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ana, and I'd love to have honest discussions with people and break down some of those barriers. But lumping everything together as the same thing is no better than not wanting to talk about things either.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I haven't read the series either. It certainly is the 'talk of the town' lately, though, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt seems to come up in all sorts of conversations.
Agree that lumping all genres together as romance is annoying, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I've not read 50 Shades and have no desire to do so. BDSM novels hold absolutely no attraction for me.
I guess I don't like the stereotyping.
ReplyDelete