Yes, the smex (it IS a good term) made me squeamish, but I concede that that is all on me. It’t not bad if that sort of stuff is arousing to someone else, not at all. The parts that stood out to be the most, in terms of what I had issues with, were the times Ana was afraid of what Christian would do to her, even if there wasn’t always follow through – and not in terms of the bedroom stuff. Just in terms of, she was afraid of his response. I did feel the same about Edward, too. More and less so – more so because it was for teenage (and younger) girls, less so because it was much more implied.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – read it. To me the difference is that the violence in those books was never written in a way that made it anything less than appalling. But, for the record, I really didn’t enjoy reading that, either.

I full admit to be very squeamish and sensitive to these themes, though. More so than most people. And I certainly don’t think it’s wrong for people to enjoy these books in the way they’re meant to be enjoyed.

And I think that the books popularity stems from the fact that it has a decent narrative attached to it. NOT from the violence aspect of it if you see it that way. From my understanding, other smut has very little interesting plot points, but this one is an actual story. Based on another very popular story, which by they way also had many many people crying foul over Edward’s controlling/protective/seen as abusive tendencies. So I guess what I think is that just like adults consenting to whatever fun they have in the bedroom/playroom/livingroom, this book is hopefully being read by adults consenting to the fact that it is Fiction. To be read for entertainment.

Incidentally, I’d love to know your thoughts on the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series and why THAT kind of violence against women in literature is OK.

Anyway, not trying to pick a fight. You’re just the first one of my friends who has taken such a strong stance on the book. And it piques my interest

Thanks for sharing.

It made me want to like the books, so I could be all “rah-rah girl power, girls (and moms!) can like sex, too! Even if I don’t want to talk about it because AWKWARD!”

And if the, erm, rough stuff (?) was confined to the consensual sex, then that would have been OK. I mean, not my cup of tea, so to speak, but whatever. But it was the entire effing relationship. Ugh.

Anyway, yes, creepy. I agree.

As a side note, I recently read and loved Between Shades of Grey and recommended it to a friend at church…who misheard and thought the priest’s wife was recommending 50 Shades to her. haha! Fortunately we’re good enough friends that she checked back in with me.

P.S. I finally read the Twilight series last week and *embarrassed cough* liked it well enough. Okay, confession over.

So I think the violence aspect did it. Which is kind of creepy.