A Matter of Distaste

I am an avid reader and have been a fan of words, writing and books ever since I can remember learning to read. I could read anything and everything. I literally devoured books and was a member of as many as 4 lending libraries as a child / teenager.There was very little that did not interest me and I went through the stages of Enid Blyton and Classics  through M&B’s and autobiographies to Best Sellers to non fiction and self help books. Even ” comics” as they were called then,  were a source of joy. Newspapers magazines. I loved reading. Period. The typical Bookworm. 

The whole point of the para above is to say that I love books and could generally see good in almost any form of writing even if it was boring or bad. But the moment I saw this prompt the immediate book that sprang to my mind was a recent one – Fifty Shades of Grey. It was like “immediate” … just no other book came to my mind.  

I read it during one of my sabbaticals from work – annual leave as we call it.  There had been so much hype. Pre-orders being placed. All online stores had been promoting it and I was happy when I got my copy home-delivered.  The day I started reading it, I had my cup of coffee and munchies on my bedside table and settled down in my favorite corner, to my idea of heaven – a much-awaited book, hot-off-the-press, so to speak and uninterrupted reading with music in the background.Ah, Bliss!

I spoke too soon….

I was not taken with the prose or the  language from the beginning of the book, but the situations, the frequent emails and texting  were contemporary and I liked the pace of the book. So I continued reading. There had to be a story and I was eager to munch on it. But once I reached the so-called  erotic pages I was turned off, to say the least. As it is, BDSM is just not my cup of tea. It did not and does not appeal to me at all. However I paid attention to the story line and waited for it to develop. Alas, that never happened! The lead pair seemed as confused as I was.The author did not know what to do with them other than write sex scenes with not much relevance to reality. \

Let me hasten to add that I am no prude. Those who know me would know!  I like passionate romances as any other person on earth and have had my share of reading them –  even raunchy ones and erotica. And liked them.  But these scenes just “left me cold”  to use the words in today’s prompt. I did finish the book but was left with the feeling of having wasted my money and much more importantly, my “me-time”. 

My only consolation was that I did not order the rest of the “Trilogy”!! Thank God for small mercies! 

I saw that the book went on to break all kinds of records, was even given awards et al.It is now being made into a full fledged movie, to be released in Feb 2015. On Valentines Day.  Valentines day has definitely changed  from what I last heard of it. 

I may have made a mistake, but that book just did not appeal to me. Nor to any of my senses. Aesthetic, romantic or erotic. 

Having said that, millions of people all over the world cannot be wrong. So let me add once again yes, there may be something that I missed in the book.

No offence to the writer either. You need courage confidence time and talent to write and publish a book. That is given. And to have it become a world bestseller  – its the stuff dreams are made of.  To me however,  the book was a nightmare.

Happy reading, folks!   

Matters of Taste