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News & ArtsWednesday, August 8, 2012
Books Newsflash: British People Like Dirty Sex Better Than Harry Potter
Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 2:05 PM
And just four months after its publication in book form [in the UK], Fifty Shades of Grey is outselling Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books, say experts.
EL James’s erotic novel, released as an e-book last June and in book form in April, has sold 5.3million print and digital copies, according to publishers Random House.
Combine that with the news that some hotel chains are replacing the bedside Bibles with copies of Fifty Shades of Grey, and I think the consensus is clear. Ladies and gentlemen, we have our new Bible. Who's going to wear the funny hats and start insisting that couples who don't do S&M are an abomination in the eyes of E.L. James?
5
Of all the erotica to hit the mainstream, why was it this kink-shaming, rape-condoning, misogynistic POS?
6
@1 Da Vinci Code is infinitely more readable. Sure, it wasn't *good*, but at least it didn't make me stabby the way the insufferable characters and pathetic excuse for writing in 50 shades did.
7
Every time one of these stories about the massive popularity of 50 Shades of Grey pops up, I think "twilight fanfic twilight fanfic twilight fanfic" and start to want to vomit.
8
What is happening? Why is this book so popular?? If I didn't know better, I'd say this was the very first book to be an erotic novel. But, no. Is this one of those books where "you have to read it to get it"? I'm actually just more pissed that it's outselling my beloved HP books. I mean, C'MON.
9
some hotel chains are replacing the bedside Bibles with copies of Fifty Shades of GreyReplacing one shitty book with a different shitty book is not an improvement.
10
It's pretty much "Twilight" for sexually-repressed adults instead of sexually-repressed pre-teens.
11
If Twilight fan-fic erotica is outselling our beloved Harry Potter, then there can be only one answer. Harry Potter fan-fic erotica.
12
Yes, both those perverse Brits still have major problems with "pre-existing conditions" ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/aug/08…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/aug/08…
14
Seriously, though, the only reason this book is so popular is because pop media outlets can't shut their gaping fucking mouths about how INCREDIBLE it is that so many people want to read some shitty smut.
It's word of mouth, you guys. People buy the book because they're hearing about it EVERYWHERE and they want to see what is up. You notice how you see the book all over the place but you never hear anyone say they liked it? It's all just prurient curiosity. If we stop talking about it, it will go away. In ten years no one will even remember it.
It's word of mouth, you guys. People buy the book because they're hearing about it EVERYWHERE and they want to see what is up. You notice how you see the book all over the place but you never hear anyone say they liked it? It's all just prurient curiosity. If we stop talking about it, it will go away. In ten years no one will even remember it.
15
Okay let me ask: is it outselling the HP novels in terms of all-time sales or just current sales? Because one is very different and much more significant than the other.
If its the former then it is a testament to how the majority of our race is well below average intelligence. If its (far more likely) the latter? Do you mean to tell me some books that are years old (in fact the original Harry Potter is over a decade old at this point) aren't selling as well as an overhyped book that JUST went on sale for the first time in Brittain?! STOP THE PRESSES!
So yes- either this is depressing news or no news at all. So tell me: which is it?
If its the former then it is a testament to how the majority of our race is well below average intelligence. If its (far more likely) the latter? Do you mean to tell me some books that are years old (in fact the original Harry Potter is over a decade old at this point) aren't selling as well as an overhyped book that JUST went on sale for the first time in Brittain?! STOP THE PRESSES!
So yes- either this is depressing news or no news at all. So tell me: which is it?
16
@15: "Okay let me ask: is it outselling the HP novels in terms of all-time sales or just current sales? "
Current sales, of course. Who cares?
Current sales, of course. Who cares?
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