Holiday reading: The Fifty Shades effect

 

THE FIFTY SHADES EFFECT

How Three Little Books Are Changing Relationships Around the World

The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E.L. James has the world all hot and bothered. The books, which revolve around the explicit relationship and sadomasochistic encounters between dominant billionaire Christian Grey and young, naïve Anastasia Steele, are worldwide bestsellers. And they’re changing the way women and men approach erotic fiction and their own relationships.

 

SETTING RECORDS WORLDWIDE

Trilogy Tops Bestsellers of 2012

Since the early part of 2012, the Fifty Shades trilogy has dominated the Amazon.com bestsellers list. Rights to the books have been sold in 37 countries, and a movie deal was in the works by March.

Amazon.com Bestselling Books of 2012 (So Far)

1. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
2. Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James
3. Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

 

Fifty Shades Dubbed Bestselling British Book Ever

Since the three-book series was published it has sold more than 31 million copies worldwide. The author, E.L. James, recently became the bestselling author of all time on Amazon UK and is setting other major records.

>> Fifty Shades of Grey is the bestselling book of all time on Amazon’s UK site, beating sales of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by two to one.

>> The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy has already outsold the 7-book Harry Potter trilogy on Amazon’s UK site.

>> In June, the book became the fastest paperback in the UK to reach 1 million sales; it took just 11 weeks.

 

THE FIFTY SHADES EFFECT ON WOMEN AND MEN

Women Warm Up to Erotic Fiction

According to a Dotty Bingo poll of 400 women, nearly all women admit to reading erotic fiction, and more than 2/3 want to read more.

>> 91% of women polled had read at least one erotic book.
>> 68% of women said they’d like to read erotic fiction more often.

Women Reflect on Their Own Relationships

That same poll found that many readers of the Fifty Shades trilogy are relating the books’ contents to their own lives.

>> 44% of women prefer reading about sexual adventures over taking part in their own sex lives.
>> 43% of women say books such as Fifty Shades of Grey make their love lives seem boring.

Men Struggle to Keep Up

So how are men handling the popularity of the erotic trilogy? A survey of 500 males by ECigaretteDirect.co.uk revealed they’re a bit intimidated.

>> 34% of men encouraged their partners to read the books.
>> 55% of men say they felt more pressure in the bedroom after their partner read the novels.

 

OTHER EFFECTS OF THE POPULAR TRILOGY

From new experimentation to newborns, the Fifty Shades trilogy is linked to a host of other cultural shifts.

Women Search for Their Own Christian Grey

SeekingArrangement.com, the world’s largest “sugar daddy” dating website, credits the trilogy with a surge in new members as women seek their own version of the books’ lead character, wealthy Christian Grey.

Experts Predict Fifty Shades Baby Boom

Pregnancy and parenting websites expect the popularity of the Fifty Shades trilogy to spark a baby boom. Linda Murray, global editor in chief of BabyCenter.com, says the books are acting like an aphrodisiac for women.

Trilogy Changes Bedroom Habits

Antics in the books are inspiring couples to try new things. 43 per cent of respondents to a SeekingArrangement survey say they’re now more likely to use handcuffs and 47 per cent would like to experiment with blindfolds and bondage.

 

SOURCES: AMAZON.COM, AMAZON.CO.UK, NEW YORK TIMES, DOTTY BINGO, SEEKINGARRANGEMENT.COM, DAILYMAIL.CO.UK, FEMALEFIRST.CO.UK