 Annie Page, from Darien, sips a Martini and begins reading "Fifty Shades of Grey" on the first day paperbacks arrived at RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison Tuesday (MICHAEL McANDREWS, Hartford Courant / April 3, 2012) |
There was some afternoon delight going on in Madison as the curious and the fans of the new erotic novel "Fifty Shades of Grey" gathered inside R. J. Julia Booksellers to grab their copy of the steamy novel that dropped on American bookstore shelves Tuesday.
"I can't wait to get home and read this," said 36-year-old Jenny Radcliffe, while sipping a martini at the reception the bookstore organized to welcome the English author E. L. James's paperback that has people panting. "It sounds so romantic and so sexy," smiled the New London resident about the bestselling novel tracing a couple's dominant/submissive relationship. "I already have two girlfriends who are begging to borrow it when I'm done and honestly, they can wait. My plan is to go home, shut my phone off, put on sweats, read away and enjoy."
The provocative novel tells the tale of rich, young billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele. Dubbed mommy porn, it has been described as explicit, passionate, sexy, naughty, dirty and trashy. But for many who turned out, that is exactly why they couldn't wait to plunk down their $15.95
"It's a dirty book, who doesn't like a good dirty book," said Kate McGrath of Middletown. "I don't consider it degrading or stupid or shallow at all," she said when asked about complaints that the relationship between the main characters degrades women. "Please," said the 41-year-old mother of three. "We live for this stuff. It's fun and honestly, I got the feeling the woman in that book is a lot more in control than people think."
Among the first to arrive to purchase a copy of the book were married couple, Don and Wendy Spillane of Guilford.
"I was the one who told her about it," said Don Spillane as his wife paid for the titillating love story that is part of a trilogy by James, an English television executive-turned author.
"I'm just reading it as entertainment," piped up his wife of 24 years.
"I'll let you know how it goes," kidded her husband as the two headed home.
Lois Meyers and her best friend, Arlene Paul, just happened to stop by the bookstore, not really planning to buy the book.
"I want to hear what people have to say about it while we are here," said Meyers who said she remembers books like" Lolita," and "Portnoy's Complaint" that were considered scandalous and racy in their day.
"I think it's just another book like that," she said as she and Paul decided to buy one book and share it.
The hype at the bookstore was ratcheted up when a crew from the ABC show"20/20" showed up to film a segment on the book and the reactions of readers as they bought the first copies.
"I just hope I don't end up being scandalized," joked Jill Sweet, 48, who also works part-time at the bookstore and was one of the people who was interviewed by the TV crew. "Actually I live with my mom and when I told her about the book she said she might read it, too!"
Full story at Hartford Courant.
"I can't wait to get home and read this," said 36-year-old Jenny Radcliffe, while sipping a martini at the reception the bookstore organized to welcome the English author E. L. James's paperback that has people panting. "It sounds so romantic and so sexy," smiled the New London resident about the bestselling novel tracing a couple's dominant/submissive relationship. "I already have two girlfriends who are begging to borrow it when I'm done and honestly, they can wait. My plan is to go home, shut my phone off, put on sweats, read away and enjoy."
The provocative novel tells the tale of rich, young billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele. Dubbed mommy porn, it has been described as explicit, passionate, sexy, naughty, dirty and trashy. But for many who turned out, that is exactly why they couldn't wait to plunk down their $15.95
"It's a dirty book, who doesn't like a good dirty book," said Kate McGrath of Middletown. "I don't consider it degrading or stupid or shallow at all," she said when asked about complaints that the relationship between the main characters degrades women. "Please," said the 41-year-old mother of three. "We live for this stuff. It's fun and honestly, I got the feeling the woman in that book is a lot more in control than people think."
Among the first to arrive to purchase a copy of the book were married couple, Don and Wendy Spillane of Guilford.
"I was the one who told her about it," said Don Spillane as his wife paid for the titillating love story that is part of a trilogy by James, an English television executive-turned author.
"I'm just reading it as entertainment," piped up his wife of 24 years.
"I'll let you know how it goes," kidded her husband as the two headed home.
Lois Meyers and her best friend, Arlene Paul, just happened to stop by the bookstore, not really planning to buy the book.
"I want to hear what people have to say about it while we are here," said Meyers who said she remembers books like" Lolita," and "Portnoy's Complaint" that were considered scandalous and racy in their day.
"I think it's just another book like that," she said as she and Paul decided to buy one book and share it.
The hype at the bookstore was ratcheted up when a crew from the ABC show"20/20" showed up to film a segment on the book and the reactions of readers as they bought the first copies.
"I just hope I don't end up being scandalized," joked Jill Sweet, 48, who also works part-time at the bookstore and was one of the people who was interviewed by the TV crew. "Actually I live with my mom and when I told her about the book she said she might read it, too!"
Full story at Hartford Courant.