Amazingly, it will soon be 4 years since the original publication on 11th June 2011 of Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. It was a publishing sensation, setting a record in the United Kingdom as the fastest-selling paperback of all time. Together with the second and third volumes, Fifty Shades Darker (2012) and Fifty Shades Freed (2012) it has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide in 52 languages. Many reviewers were gagging in their enthusiasm. The experience was ‘akin to standing on a tropical shore ankle deep in soft wet sand as wave after wave of warm water broke joyously upon the strand’. The firmament seemed to loose itself from its hinges and spiral deliciously out of control. Fortunately the masterful Christian Grey is always there to make sure things don’t get out of hand. Such were the literary pleasures on page after page. It has been a long time coming but we’re all now to be treated to the film version (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2322441/?ref_=nv_sr_1). The release date is a tantalisingly short 4 weeks away on 13 February 2015. Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan play the contortionists of intimacy. Jennifer Ehle also graces the film. She came to prominence with performances such as Calypso in The Camomile Lawn (1992, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103381/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_38 ) and Lizzie Bennett in Pride and Prejudice (1995, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_30)
E.L. James effectively opened a floodgate for the genre (known to librarians as BDSM erotic fiction). Since then the material has gushed forth. One high watermark was On Dublin Street (17 Jan. 2013) by Samantha Young. In this mind blowing tale of sexual chemistry Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. He knows she has a past, one that has made her skittish about getting into a relationship, so he proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.
(other restraints are more to his taste) But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, Braden decides he won’t be satisfied with just scorching passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her…down to the very soul. Will he succeed in laying all her secrets bare? Will Jocelyn remain haunted by fear or be freed by passion? Enquire at your local library or available at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dublin-Street-Samantha-Young/dp/1405912987/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420625285&sr=1-1&keywords=on+dublin+street
Get in the mood by listening to the special selection of music made by E.L. James entitled Fifty Shades of Grey: The Classical Album. Available at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fifty-Shades-Grey-Classical-Album/dp/B008PZ69T8/ref=sr_1_1/275-0107090-2778627?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1420629784&sr=1-1&keywords=fifty+shades+of+grey This includes the late 16th century motet for 40 voices, Spem in Alium, by Thomas Tallis. It is a piece which builds gloriously layer by layer over 10 minutes to one of the most satisfying conclusions in all music. Set up the hot chocolate, curl up on the sofa and enter the exotic, compulsive world of Samantha Young’s Dublin Street.
416 pages in Penguin paperback edition.
17 January 2013
ISBN 978-1405912983
Samantha Young