Publishers Weekly Names E.L. James Publishing Person of the Year: Good Choice?
SodaHead Living
2012/12/03 07:33:58
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143 votes
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Publishers Weekly selected E.L. James—the author of the erotic “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy—to be its Publishing Person of the Year.
PW’s Rachel Deahl explains, "James, the pen name of Erika Leonard, became the author of the fastest-selling adult series of all time after her erotic trilogy, initially posted online as 'Twilight' fan fiction, became a massive viral hit. The series was acquired by Random House's Vintage unit in March and the books--'Fifty Shades of Grey,' 'Fifty Shades Darker' and 'Fifty Shades Freed' -- have sold over 35 million copies in the U.S. alone (combined print and digital), bringing in more than $200 million in revenue to the publisher. Because the success of the series continues to reverberate throughout the industry in a number of ways--among other things, the money it's brought in helped boost print sales in bookstores and turned erotic fiction into a hot category--we have selected James as the most notable player on the publishing stage this year."
PW’s Rachel Deahl explains, "James, the pen name of Erika Leonard, became the author of the fastest-selling adult series of all time after her erotic trilogy, initially posted online as 'Twilight' fan fiction, became a massive viral hit. The series was acquired by Random House's Vintage unit in March and the books--'Fifty Shades of Grey,' 'Fifty Shades Darker' and 'Fifty Shades Freed' -- have sold over 35 million copies in the U.S. alone (combined print and digital), bringing in more than $200 million in revenue to the publisher. Because the success of the series continues to reverberate throughout the industry in a number of ways--among other things, the money it's brought in helped boost print sales in bookstores and turned erotic fiction into a hot category--we have selected James as the most notable player on the publishing stage this year."
Los Angeles Times writer Caryoln Kellogg wasn’t very impressed with PW’s choice or their supporting explanation. Kellogg argues that James’s influence on the industry has more to with luck and less to do with talent or an effort to reform the publishing world. Not to mention the fact that her ideas are “borrowed” and her prose is “embarrassing.”
What do you think SodaHeads? Is E.L. James a good choice for Publishing Person of the Year?
Read More: http://www.latimes.com/features/books/jacketcopy/l...
Top Opinion
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Jezebel 2012/12/03 08:17:31
I love the series and the author is one of those that I wouldn't mind meeting someday either.
"initially posted online as 'Twilight' fan fiction"
I think that says it all. It's hacky, derivative garbage that for some reason has tapped into the consciousness of lonely women everywhere and made millions. But we're also a society that has seen a program like AMERICAN IDOL become a multi-billion dollar franchise. I guess this was to be expected. I'd like someone to conduct a real survey amongst people that have purchased it to see how many actually like it, and how many bought it out of morbid curiosity.
From what I've read, there are many times where the main character has told 'Grey' to stop, and he kept at her. That's not romantic, that's rape. Any time she said she wasn't comfortable, he pushed it on her until she gave in. Any time she said no, he didn't respect her wishes, and used guilt to get her to doing it anyways, or simply just did whatever it was to her.
This series is making it seems like abuse and even rape are nothing to care for. That 'oh, well, she said no because she just didn't know she wanted it'. It doesn't matter how much it sold in my eyes. What matters is what it's teaching it's readers. It's ok to read sexy and smutty books, but not when they're making light of something like abuse.
The fact that people actually enjoy reading such scenes, such abusive scenes disgusts me.
This book sickens me and I honestly had to stop reading it.