50 Shades of Progress

I recently read that the 50 Shades of Grey series accounted for a full 20% of all books sold around the planet in the first half of 2013!   I've also read many readers' opinions, and it's clear that when you're on top you are a target.   Some say Ms. James' writing is soft.   Like millions of people around the globe, I found myself turning pages.   No, it's not Shakespeare, just as all those TV sitcoms aren't Hamlet.   the 50 Shades of Grey books are entertainment, and they are very entertaining.  

Not long ago, my wife needed something from a Target store.   While she shopped for bathroom and kitchen accessories, I checked out the Book department where I was shocked to find 34 BDSM erotic romance titles!   That's the 50 Shades books plus 31 more.  Now, I don't know what your literary agent has been telling you, but mine insists that people aren't reading much any more.   The shrinking market has resulted in fewer books being published, and shrinking advances.   It seems to me, we all owe E.L. James a huge and enthusiastic "Thank you!" for knocking that old wives' tale right off its moorings.   People are reading, both e-books and print books!   But we also have to recognize the huge amount of entertainment that's available now, from social media to computer sites, sports, TV and video, bicycles and jet skis, snowmobiles and rock climbing, boats and planes and electric trains.   You name it!   Competing with all of that, Ms. James captured about 20% of the world's imaginations, and I think she deserves complete and sincere congratulations!   Well Done!

I'll also say that I've read a number of the resulting flood of BDSM erotic romance books that have come along since, and some are excellent, and some aren't.   

Of course, the other criticisms leveled at the 50 Shades books has been from the BDSM community, and generally indicates that Christian and Anastasia's play is somehow flawed, unrealistic, and even patently wrong.   This from a segment of society that constantly espouses freedom, and especially freedom of expression in the bedroom, playroom, or dungeon.   The stores that sell sex toys are not complaining.   Sales of blindfolds, handcuffs, butt plugs and riding crops have created nationwide shortages!  Memberships in local BDSM clubs has increased significantly.   How cruel some enthusiasts have been, describing the newcomers as "inexperienced" or misguided, instead of welcoming them.   There's a certain segment of society that would complain if it rained champagne!

People are talking about erotic BDSM on Main Streets around the world.   They are sitting down gingerly in restaurants or behind their desks at work, their bottoms red and sore from last night's romantic adventure.   These are good times for the community, and we all owe E.L. James, and the adventuresome folks who put her work out there on the mainstream book store shelves, a great big "Thank you!"   Here's mine.   As my rather domineering mother used to say, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."