Now It Can Be Told: Shopping for "Fifty Shades of Grey"

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that "Fifty Shades of Grey" has become “one of the fastest-selling book series in recent memory.”

Recently I mentioned that a friend of mine was one of the purchasers, and that she had funny experience doing so. Some readers commented that my piece was a tease (all in the spirit of the book, of course), and they wanted the full story. I finally pinned my friend down (not literally—really now!) and made her fill me in on the details. Here is my friend (we’ll call her “J”) sharing her Fifty Shades shopping experience:

You know I’ve been hearing about the book quite a bit, and ignoring it. My literary friends say “It is the worst writing ever—don’t read it!” But I have not found a good fluff book for all these short trips we’re taking this summer, so I figured I’d try it.

Having finally determined to read the book, J takes her three sons, all ages 13 and under, on a shopping trip to her neighborhood Barnes & Noble.

I went in there to look for it—that was what I was going to find. I was hoping I could discreetly grab it, that the boys would get their books and I could just shuffle it in. So we go in and it’s right in front. Oh, goodness gracious! I sent the boys back to the children’s section and I picked it up. I was standing there holding it when I saw a friend walk into the store, so I picked up the book next to it and set that on top to cover it. Then I’m walking around thinking I’m OK until I realize that the back cover is showing. So I had to pick up another book and put that under it. Then I realize I’m picking up books I would never read, and if someone asks me what I’ve chosen I won’t know. So I went to the table of summer reading and picked up a some books that appealed to me and started to make a foursome around "Fifty Shades." It looked extremely awkward but I was trying to cover it up.

Then, sure enough, my friend—and her daughter!—come up and start chatting and asking questions: Where am I going and what am I choosing to read? And at this point I’m sweating! Finally her daughter walks away and my friend says, "What’s the other book?” I was shaking and embarrassed but I told her. She just said, “Oh, I put that on my NOOK so no one knew.”