Because the characters were originally Edward Cullen and Bella Swan. The story was Twilight FanFic, which is probably why everyone got all moist and googly-eyed over it to begin with.

When the opportunity arose, E L James removed "Master of the Universe" (the original title) from the FanFic site, changed the names of the characters, sold the rights to a publisher, and laughed all the way to the bank. less

I wouldn't recommend it. For two main reasons: First - the sex scenes are really quite bad (I've read far better on here). The BDSM is stereotypical and unrealistic. Second - it started out as Twilight fanfic. There's a cardinal rule in the fan fiction community, and that's to not make money off of your work, and this book skirts that rule to a very uncomfortable degree. less

I read about Fifty Shades of Grey today and I am curious. So far I've seen it likened to Eat, Pray, Love and Twilight just with lots of extra porn. Has anyone here read it? Plan to read it?

There is more information on the Huffington Post website. less

Also, I think that part of the reason why it's so popular is because of how the sex evolves in the story. Christian Grey is one hell of a kink, but gets mellowed out by Ana, who is willing to try (insert yourself into the shoes of the character, most of the pple reading who is new to kinky thing), but ultimately rejects his most kinky desires. She helps to fix his psychological problems which made him so desperately kinky, then they do things that are pretty kinky, but not scary kinky for the shocked inexperienced people reading following the story. It's that idea that she "fixed" him, diluted his darker desires. Why can't he just be hella kinky? less

I wouldn't recommend it. For two main reasons: First - the sex scenes are really quite bad (I've read far better on here). The BDSM is stereotypical and unrealistic. Second - it started out as Twilight fanfic. There's a cardinal rule in the fan fiction community, and that's to not make money off of your work, and this book skirts that rule to a very uncomfortable degree. less

The fan fic thing; is that like, a law?

I don't have any plans on reading it, I've got plenty of good erotica already.

But, if someone was able to take the time they... spent on writing fan fic and actually was able to get published and make money from it I say more power to them. At least it's worth something to some people.

I don't understand the whole fan fic thing at all, but I think if someone gets published, even if I don't personally like the genre, they probably did a decent job. They made some money off of a hobby. I don't see a problem with that.

I'm just not interested in reading it. It's not because I think I'm too oh-so-hip as to NOT be able to enjoy what 'the masses' like, because I'd be a hypocrite, I LOVE Stephen King. Many people hate his work (having never read it) because he appeals to the masses. I just haven't fount this particular book intriguing enough. I'm not one for "romance" novels in any form.

But, I refuse to dis a book I haven't personally read. less