Whether for better or worse, 50 Shades of Grey has solidified its position as the fastest-selling paperback of all time. With its explicit sexual content, many have credited the book’s success to its controversial nature and public curiosity. But does the success of the book say anything larger about our culture in general?
Join McNally Jackson on Wednesday, July 25 at 7:00 PM for a 50 Shades of Grey panel that will discuss the book’s meaning (or lack thereof) as relates to our country’s sexual culture. The panelists will include Erica Jong (Fear of Flying, Sugar in my Bowl), Daniel Bergner (The Other Side of Desire), Ian Kerner (She Comes First, He Comes Second), Melissa Febos 
(Whip Smart), and Roxane Gay (The Rumpus, Salon). Each of these women has a unique point of view on feminism and sexuality, which should make for a lively discussion!
For more information on the event, visit the McNally Jackson website here.
Have you read 50 Shades of Grey? Why or why not? What do you think the book’s success says, if anything, about feminism and sexuality in our society?
I read Book 1 out of curiosity. A short way in, I judged it to be poorly written. At some point later, though, I realized I was hooked. What hooked me were the characters, both major and minor. It’s not a poorly written book; it’s a simply written, good old-fashioned (!?) love story with an interesting supporting cast. I don’t plan to read Books 2 and 3 because sequels rarely reach the same height and I have way too many other books that need reading. But I’m glad to know what all the Grey fuss is about.