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Community Corner

Fifty Shades of Embarrassment, Guilt and Regret

Popular book draws attention and some level of shame to many who read it. More importantly, what impact does it have on today's youth?

All I can say is thank goodness for eReaders.

As part of a monthly book club, it was inevitable that the ever-so-popular “Fifty Shades of Grey” was destined to be a book of selection. After all, it’s the talk of the town these days.

My great-aunt has even told me she’s read it. Awkward!

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I had mixed feelings on this, much as I did when the Harry Potter wave hit. I had no interest in Harry or his sorcery, but felt intrigued by all the commotion. I suppose that’s how books become best sellers.

People talk. People gawk. People read. Only the "Fifty" series has actually surpassed the "Harry" series and is now the world's fastest-selling paperback of all time, currently at 40 million copies, per Wikipedia.

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Only a few chapters into this book does one realize that it has nothing to do with a color and everything to do with emotional and physical abuse, money and power. I knew it was controversial, but I never imagined the level of profanity, abuse and S&M that would be involved.

A friend of mine told me she skipped borrowing a free copy at the library and decided to invest in the eBook simply for the sake of being able to read it during her daughter’s dance class.

There was no WAY she was going to be seen with that book in her hand in public, she confessed.

As it seems, holding a copy of this book could be compared to flipping through a Playboy magazine in many senses. Although Playboy might not be quite as graphic.

Middle school students have been seen walking the halls and passing a heavily duct-taped version of it around. This is disturbing in so many ways.

Gee, and some thought “Catcher in the Rye” was risqué.

Here I am, a full-fledged adult, a parent, a wife, a woman, and I’m having feelings of embarrassment and guilt at the fact that I’ve read such smut.

What on earth is the effect it has on a seventh grader?

If a teachers sees this, what is their responsibility? Should they be held accountable for contacting the parents? Perhaps some parents are OK with their child reading this sort of thing. Whose job is it?

I contacted a local bookstore and asked if there were any policies regarding books of this nature. Video games and music have ratings and restrictions. Surely a book so raw, so explicit, so pornographic would have restrictions. Minors can't purchase a Playboy, right?

“Well,” the anonymous employee clarified, “We don’t display it near the children’s section.” … Well, thank goodness for THAT!

However, a person of any age has the legal right to make this purchase. Mind-boggling.

These naive adolescents are just beginning to learn about relationships, life, and love. They are so impressionable.

Could a book like this start a new generation of sexually confused adults? Will young women find it enthralling to become involved in controlling and abusive relationships? Or is it just one of those things that will slip in and out of their innocent minds without any true effect?

As a parent I have major concerns about the direction in which our society is going and the acceptance of such immorality.

After reading this book, I feel like I’m in need of a good spanking … oh wait. 

See what I mean?

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