disappointed

[RipFoster]

Just to follow up, the book club seemed to enjoy it. I skimmed through it. Wasn't as awful as I expected but didn't hold my interest either

[Guest]

Just to follow up, the book club seemed to enjoy it. I skimmed through it. Wasn't as awful as I expected but didn't hold my interest either

Are you really sure it's 50 Shades of Grey? I just don't see Mormon ladies enjoying it. I mean, first of all, it's about a woman who finds that she likes to be subservient - one thing that LDS is a bit sensitive about because of all the anti-LDS stuff out there telling us LDS women are suppressed by the LDS men or whatever, one thing we LDS women don't want to called is subservient unless it's to God... and then there's the S&M stuff which would be very abhorrent to any LDS group.

Well, I can't really say. I haven't read the book and have no intentions of reading it.

[Bini]

Just to follow up, the book club seemed to enjoy it. I skimmed through it. Wasn't as awful as I expected but didn't hold my interest either

I have heard this too, actually.

The book, for obvious reasons, is not recommended material for LDS. That said, I have read many reviews saying that it's not as smutty as people envision it to be. Just a lot of poorly written, love scenes, and apparently a spanking scene - but otherwise, people said it was really not that big of a deal.

[Wingnut]

Are you really sure it's 50 Shades of Grey? I just don't see Mormon ladies enjoying it. I mean, first of all, it's about a woman who finds that she likes to be subservient - one thing that LDS is a bit sensitive about because of all the anti-LDS stuff out there telling us LDS women are suppressed by the LDS men or whatever, one thing we LDS women don't want to called is subservient unless it's to God... and then there's the S&M stuff which would be very abhorrent to any LDS group.

Well, I can't really say. I haven't read the book and have no intentions of reading it.

On the flip side, the subservient role (in life, not related to sex specifically) is one that many LDS women embrace, because it's all they've known, and that's how it's "supposed" to be. I also don't doubt that there are many LDS women who have been taught by their mothers to submit themselves to their husband's wishes in the bedroom.

[Guest]

I would guess that most LDS women weren't taught anything about the bedroom.

[Vort]

I would guess that most LDS women weren't taught anything about the bedroom.

Except how to clean it. :)

[Guest]

Except how to clean it. :)

I clearly missed that lesson.

[Backroads]

So the book came up in conversation with the husband this morning. He has two female coworkers who are reading it. There was an Oatmeal blog post about the Twilight books, comparing them to a pair of Pants a girl can put on to put herself in the book. After asking a coworker briefly about the book, my husband brought up the pants analogy (and apparent made her mad).

My husband was still more or less clueless about the book, so I explained how it was originally Twilight fanfiction.

He felt that fact made the Twilight Pants analogy even more appropriate.

I think he's right. From the sounds of it, the book does sound like pure escapism for women. Which I suppose ISN'T wrong in and of itself.

But I'm still going to mock the book.

Edited August 15, 2012 by Backroads
Major typo that seriously affected discussion.

[beefche]

Aren't all books of fiction "escapism" to some degree? So are movies of any nature. Why is escapism wrong?

[MrShorty]

I don't know that escapism is wrong, but don't we teach that escapism involving any kind of explicit depiction of sexual activity is wrong? I skimmed the book on google books to make sure I knew what I was talking about, and 50 shades contains several pages of explicit sexual activity.

This is where I spun the "double standards" thread off of this one. If a man were at a computer looking at pictures/video of the same explicit activity, we'd slap a scarlet "porn addict" on his shirt and drag him in to confess to the bishop. But here, we say, "it wasn't so bad." "They enjoyed it" and that's ok. and so on.

Sorry for the rant -- I think I sound like someone who has an ax to grind.

[classylady]

Late to this, but I've heard about it in my geekier forums. Sadly enough, I write fanfiction... but I can't fathom this getting published! From what I hear, it's the material rather than the writing that makes it sell.

Though I have a basic understanding of just what is in the book, all I can imagine is the horrible fanfiction I've seen around and it makes me laugh.

Sorry, I have no clue as to what fanfiction is. Please enlighten me.

[Bini]

Sorry, I have no clue as to what fanfiction is. Please enlighten me.

Fanfiction is when a fan writes fiction after an existing piece of work from a story or movie but sometimes, it is also written after a celebrity figure or figures, such as One Direction. I've read quite a few pertaining to various genres. My sister, who is major nerdy/geeky, is a well known Harry Potter and Smallville fanfiction writer. Who knew a lawyer had so much idle time, eh? LOL

Back to topic, I don't think anyone (at least I'm not), disagrees that 50 Shades of Gray is inappropriate. My point, was that in the world of erotic writings, this book was nothing particularly special. Many many readers that read it, were very verbal about it. I think what happened is that because this book got a B from erotic readers as "meh, okay", that some LDS women got the idea that maybe it isn't that raunchy. So to clarify, for NON-members and those that are erotica readers, this book fell short and flat, per many reviews now that are online. For LDS that live by the Law of Chastity, there is no question it isn't appropriate for us to read. I was hoping what I posted earlier made sense but it was murky somewhere along the lines..

[beefche]

I don't know that escapism is wrong, but don't we teach that escapism involving any kind of explicit depiction of sexual activity is wrong? I skimmed the book on google books to make sure I knew what I was talking about, and 50 shades contains several pages of explicit sexual activity.

This is where I spun the "double standards" thread off of this one. If a man were at a computer looking at pictures/video of the same explicit activity, we'd slap a scarlet "porn addict" on his shirt and drag him in to confess to the bishop. But here, we say, "it wasn't so bad." "They enjoyed it" and that's ok. and so on.

Sorry for the rant -- I think I sound like someone who has an ax to grind.

Well, yeah. But, to say "escapsim" is wrong and that we teach against that is just false. We teach to monitor reading, viewing, other means of entertainment or learning to things that are moral and of good worth.

My issue is that if we are going to say escapism is wrong, then every single one of on this board is wrong--because the internet and forums are a type of escapism. Now, if you want to say that while escapism is ok, in and of itself, but you have to be careful what you are doing, reading, seeing in your escapism, then I can agree with that.

[Bini]

Well, yeah. But, to say "escapsim" is wrong and that we teach against that is just false. We teach to monitor reading, viewing, other means of entertainment or learning to things that are moral and of good worth.

My issue is that if we are going to say escapism is wrong, then every single one of on this board is wrong--because the internet and forums are a type of escapism. Now, if you want to say that while escapism is ok, in and of itself, but you have to be careful what you are doing, reading, seeing in your escapism, then I can agree with that.

I'm not sure this is what MrShorty is saying. I could be wrong, though.

I'm reading him saying that certain types of escapism is wrong, not all escapism, such as using pornography to escape one's reality and avoid resolving aspects of their own relationship. Now that I've typed that, I think if escapism turns into an addiction of any kind (be it porn or video games), and takes us away from building and enriching our relationships with family and the Lord - that is never a good thing.

[Backroads]

I'm so sorry... that was a typo. I have absolutely nothing against escapism. I hope that clarifies my stance.

This is rather awkward now...

[annewandering]

RipFoster, do you know for sure that your wife's book club is reading E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey? Because it appears that people are confusing another book with that one. There is a book with a similar name called, Between Shades of Gray that seems to be getting some notice too; but it is a different story entirely.

Book boost: ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ helps sell ‘Between Shades of Gray’ - Books - Macleans.ca

M.

There is another book called Shades of Gray that is by Kay Hooper, one of my very favorite serial killer book authors, who also writes romances. Havent read this one yet but I do love the Bishop series. Oh she also wrote the Wizard in Seattle book, which while I enjoyed it ,was an Atlantis book which I tend to avoid at all costs and not nearly as interesting as the Bishop series.

Kay Hooper has sold over 13 million books, if I remember right, so she isnt really in need of upping her popularity with a copycat named sleazy book.

[Backroads]

I have "Between Shades of Gray" in my reading pile. I'm excited to read it.

[annewandering]

I have "Between Shades of Gray" in my reading pile. I'm excited to read it.

That book does sound interesting.

Do you think this is a bit like Anne Frank? I would be very interested in a review when you finish it. :)

[Backroads]

I obsessively review every book I read. I'll be glad to post my review here.

[annewandering]

I obsessively review every book I read. I'll be glad to post my review here.

lol I have never considered reviewing any I read. Does it slow you down?

[Backroads]

lol I have never considered reviewing any I read. Does it slow you down?

Not in the least. I'm a pretty fast reader as it is, I usually don't have to think about what to specifically critique while I read, and I like spouting my opinions on books.

My mom thinks I should find a way to do it professionally, though I don't think many of my reviews sound professional. But it's fun to do. I use Shelfari to do it.

And I wrote so many reviews on my Amazon account they invited me to join the Vine program which I means they give me free stuff to write reviews on.

[Backroads]

Here's a great little anecdote pertaining to 50 Shades of Gray.

[Wingnut]

Here's a great little anecdote pertaining to 50 Shades of Gray.

Lol. I came across an amusing review of 50 Shades on Goodreads this week. I won't link to it here because it's got quite a bit of profanity, but the reviewer kept referring to how poorly written the book was overall, and how cliche it really was, that she had to slog through it to finish, and by the time she reached the end of the third book, she breathed a sigh of relief.

[Backroads]

All right, here is my review of Between Shades of Gray. This is an historical fiction novel for young adults and is NOT the same thing as 50 Shades of Gray.

I rated it 4/5 stars.

This book is a satisfying and powerful addition to that genre of YA novels that touch on such tragedies of wartime casualties and sufferings, and I believe it's success among adult readers as well is well-deserved.

In simple and clear prose, Sepetys tracks the journey of Lina and her family from their home to their final destination in Siberia, testifying of a period of history that does not get the attention it deserves. Lina is a fine narrator, keeping her emotions in check and her focus on the people around her. Which makes for a serviceable narration, though some readers might prefer more drama and feelings from Lina. However, the even-handedness of this telling might just be what makes it so powerful. There are few efforts to pull tears from the reader--it's all very "told like it is".

Though direction emotion might have been the wrong way to go, I still found myself wishing for a little more. The harsh situations of these people are clear, but the characters are less than three-dimensional and I wanted to get to know everyone just a bit better. With all due respect to Lina, all I really knew of her was that she could draw. The lack of setting was also disappointing--I felt more detail of the places mentioned would have gone far. The book goes far with its focus on events, but there is a certain richness missing.

Still, this book does credit to its importance in telling a tale of suffering. The writing and story are engaging, the suffering and humanity keep one reading, and all of it truly does speak to the heart.

Edited August 27, 2012 by Backroads