Okay, there was a discussion about this series in the RPG Superstar forum thread Feminine wiles. I think it would be a better idea to discuss the books in question here. Considering the nature of the series, again, a dedicated thread is a better idea.
My personal view is pretty simple: It's not the first literary description of an utterly failed BDSM relationship to make high profile. I am talking about The Story of O, of course. 50SoG can't do much to warp the view of BDSM that O didn't already do.
To be honest, though, the writing is abysmal, and my interest is pretty much nil.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Personally, (and maybe it's the low T talking) I've never seen much of a point in that kind of stuff. "Meh, it's not doing a thing for me."
Then again, I've felt that way about 'ahem' adult movies since I was a teen. "Meh, she's cute, she's not doing it to me, what's the point."
Tangental, When I was a kid and reading the Wild Card books, I became convinced that 'geeks can't write pron'. When I need a copy of Grey's Anatomy to figure out wtf they're doing to each other, I'll just skip over the sex and get back to a fully charged Fortunato blowing the crap out of the Astronomer, thank you very much.
Heh. I agree with you, anatomy books should not be a prerequisite. =)
It began as Twilight fan-fiction.
And it portrays a broken, unhealthy, and honestly dangerous vision of BDSM that quite understandably isn't something that community wants to be viewed by the public at large as standard or accepted.
Blarg.
Indeed. But as I said, it's not the first broken relationship to gain literary significance. The story of O is about as rotten as you can get it, and various interpretations you can make actually make it far, far worse. Now, Pauline Reage was a good writer, and there are literary reasons for the above. The writing in 50SoG is... well, I will just say it could have been slightly better.
BDSM is mostly allergic to putting down a "standard". Even within the community, the idea of standards keeps causing intense disagreements.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Well when you consider who Sadism and Masochism owe their naming to, it's not like there's a long history of quality writing. :-)
I've actually never read either, and was amused/horrified to see the last two of the Beauty series available in my local supermarket chain.
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Hey, Anne Rice did a pretty neat job of extended porn there. =)
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I actualy think this book is pure gold, if you are looking for a good laugh.
For anyone who agrees with me even a little, let me recommand this dramatic reading of the Harry Potter fanfic, "My Immortal", which had me gasp for air between bursts of laughter. I mean that literally, I nearly fenited for lack of oxygen... you need to hear through some episodes before it really gets into the swing of it but oh man is it worth it...
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I mean that literally, I nearly fenited for lack of oxygen... you need to hear through some episodes before it really gets into the swing of it but oh man is it worth it...Was the book flat footed for your sneak attack?
no, but I was born stuipd :)
(actualy not a native speaker so I have an easy way out of this one...)
We have a saying in French that translates roughly as "books that you read with one hand."
Personally, I've always thought that in the case of de Sade it was so that you could hold a bowl to vomit into, but, hey, to each their own...
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You insult my honour! We must fight a duel! Name your weapons!
Galtans - one more effort before you become Republicans!
My revolting valet would also like a word. Go on, Jean-Claude.
"Thankyou, mathter. Regarding 50 Shades, most of the women in the Chateau go absolutely nuts for it - frenzied squealing for 10 minutes non-stop when they thought a trailer for the film had come out. I mean, I like grumble-books a lot, but it's never appealed to me at all - I hated The Story of O, and it struck me as an ultra-pornified version of those Mills & Boon titles like "Monte Carlo Cowboy Surgeon's Lust-Nurse's Christmas Baby". Plus, it's too bloody long."
Citoyen, Jean-Paul Sartre, Intrnet Troll doesn't fight with weapons!
[Beams of lambent green fire shoot out of Jean-Paul's eyes. Alas, he is wall-eyed and they shoot off in different directions]
But, um, where did you say all this squealing happened?
Where I work - wait, what am I talking about? I'm an aristocrat! That is, where I would work, if I ever decided to sink to anything so utterly degrading.
I have a female friend who is quite adorable. I've heard her rant and rave and vituperate against 50 Shades on at least three separate occasions.
Anyway, she's very cute. When it comes to theoretical issues, she's quite vocal about overthrowing patriarchal modalities, but whenever it comes to cattily gossiping about people we know, she's a prim, reactionary harridan.
As for me, I don't see what the big deal is. We goblins mix pain and pleasure all the time.
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The audiobook narrated by Gilbert Gottfried is worth a listen :)
Heheheh... There certainly is no lack of excrement in this genre.
I just can't read the book without laughing. It portrays bdsm poorly and the characters are dsuch over the top parodies of their original twilight versions that I can't take it seriously.
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Ok, I know this is the book thread, but I will admit a curiosity to see how the movie (release date of August 1--poor Guardians of the Galaxy) will fair. I'll admit to making it to chapter 3 before I couldn't take the writing anymore, but how on earth are they going to shoot this? I'll also admit that if it's NC-17 like the speculation says, I'd be interested just to see a mainstream NC-17 movie. If they follow the book, I'll at least know I'll leave the theater laughing.
They are filming it??? Well of course they are...
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I like the Charles Dance version NSFW I'll never look at Tywin Lannister the same way LOL
Gilbert Gottfried, Charles Dance, George Takei, "Morgan Freeman," I don't think I can take all this kinky f@#$ery.
[Pulls out the 120 Days of Sodom]
Now look what you did you upset the poor delicate Jean-Paul. Come back Jean-Paul we won't speak about naughty things like that anymore.