Pardon me, do you have any Poupon Grey? From thoughtful essay to through skewering this next review takes a look at Fifty Shades Of Stupid: The Real Man's Guide To The World's Stupidest Book by Poupon Grey. If you've read my review for A Million Shades Of Green: The Real Story Behind Fifty Shades Of Grey then you already know that that essay was actually written by an action-thriller author, Sean Black. The funny thing is this essay/review is written by another author who usually writes "A Man's Man" type of stories, for you see "Poupon Grey" is actually a pseudonym (chosen exclusively to skewer Fifty Shades Of Grey with) being used by one Warren Murphy. If you have no clue who he is Warren Murphy is the co-author and creator of the long running Destroyer book series, and its rough and rugged central hero Remo Williams. (And that would be the Remo Williams in the books and not the sad adaptation that made it to the screen.)
To say that I immensely enjoyed this little piece would be an understatement. Grey/Murphy takes trashing Leonard and her book and makes it into an art form. The only thing I can say that I hated about it was that it was too short, and I can only but hope that someday Murphy will be brave enough to trudge through Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed and then resurrect Poupon Grey twice more to give them what they deserve.
Grey/Murphy provides such hilarious observations as:
"To get a better sense of the book, it might be better to read one page of it while vomiting and sticking a fork in your eye, because Fifty Shades is, quite possibly, the worst-written book you're ever likely to find, even in the dismal, dumb, unliterary world of porno fiction."
And when commenting on Christian Grey's life aside from bondage, as in how Leonard never really indicates exactly what he does at his multi-bazillion dollar conglomerate, Murphy speculates that:
"It would seem, therefore, that E.L. James' research and preparation for writing this book consisted of only one thing, daydreaming about the characters in the book Twilight."
LMMFAO!
Best of all, however, is when he turns his attention to that area that scares us all, Anastasia Steele's massive whisker biscuit:
"There is a lot of mention of Ana's pubic hair. When given the image of a college senior, who's a virgin, sporting a massive bush, we think of an awkward, hideous, greaseball with zero social skills and no friends. You know, a young sex author in training."
Wait a minute, was he describing Anastasia Steele, or young Erika Leonard with that statement?
LMMFAO!
Despite the fact that this is such a short work it is well worth the $0.99 price, and believe me I haven't even scratched the surface because Fifty Shades Of Stupid is hilarious from start to finish. Mr. Murphy, I salute you, and I give this little essay Six Stars, and believe me it's worth every one.
Here is where you can get your copy of Fifty Shades Of Stupid: The Real Man's Guide To The World's Stupidest Book:
Be sure to check this one out, and keep a clean pair of underwear handy (and no it won't be because your "Inner Goddess" is weeping with joy either. Hhehehehehehehe.)
Well fright fans, fiends, freaks, perverts and sickos, I know it's been a while since I've done a review, and this first one up is somewhat far from the normal fare reviewed here, however it does fit with the theme of the next few reviews to come. Instead of a book, short story or collection this time up it is an essay A Million Shades Of Green: The Real Story Behind Fifty Shades Of Grey by Sean Black. I had initially expected this to be an unfair skewering of my least favorite book and author, however Black, whose own normal forte is action thrillers, composes a very well written, researched and thoughtful piece.
In this essay Black goes back and delves into the origins of the "book", fan fiction (what it is, why people write it and how several "legitimate" authors feel about the subject), and probes into some of the questions surrounding "pulled" fan-fics and what sort of trends may follow. It's a quick and easy read, and I think written on a level that a majority of people not involved in the worlds of writing and publishing can understand. Black does an excellent job with the subject matter within the span of 25 or so pages, and I feel he does his best to take a thoughtful look at the Fifty Shades phenomenon. Although I did not agree with all of his ideas in regard to "pulled" fan fiction Black still delivers a very well written essay, and that alone is enough to make me wonder what his own fictional works are like.
Perhaps the main drawback to this little essay is that it is somewhat dated, initially written within the first few months of Fifty Shades Of Grey taking off. However, even in that Black delivered a little piece of humor in an otherwise serious and thoughtful piece, when he mentions Anne Rice and her abject hatred of fan fiction. Of course you remember her, maybe. she was big a long time ago until one of her books was made into a movie and it bombed because it didn't have Tom Cruise in it. If you don't I'll remind you that just a few months ago that she was praising E.L. James (a huge writer of fan fiction... I'll leave whether that was a pun or not up to you), coincidentally just in time for the re-issuing of her erotic "Sleeping Beauty" series.
Yes, Anne Rice, it's safe to say I think you can pretty much go fuck yourself, and back into that little hovel you've been in down in New Orleans since 2002, churning out shit your true fans keep buying only because it has your name on the cover.
Oh, the irony! If only Erika had picked Lestat de Lioncourt instead of Edward Cullen. Then "Master Of The Damned" would have never seen the light of day. Hhehehehehehehehe.
But anyway, I'm getting away from Black's essay, which, again even if it is slightly dated, is a great little read, and that's why I'm giving it Five Stars. The essay itself has been pretty much ignored on Barnes & Noble and has mixed reviews on Amazon, though reading most of the negative reviews on Amazon it becomes apparent that a majority of those who hated the essay did not even bother to read it, as they accused him of attacking Leonard, which he did not, as he took a fairly neutral and thoughtful look at the entire picture.
P.S. - Bunker Bitches, attacking Erika Leonard and her shitty pieces of fan fiction is my thing.
Here is where you can get your copy of A Million Shades Of Green: The Real Story Behind Fifty Shades Of Grey:
Well fright fans, fiends, freaks, perverts and sickos, the first one was so fun I decided to do another, and it's even longer. Hhehehehehehehe. Two videos leading up to a written blog post? Well just watch and it will become apparent why I write and do not publicly speak. However, it's still better than the guy in his comic book store (a.k.a. HIS MOM'S BASEMENT), holding the wiggly dog as he fumbled for 20 minutes to say two sentences about Power Rangers: SUPER MegaForce.
More laughs ahead, even a sad one for me as a tongue fumble during the "Corrections" section makes Doctor Paul Bearer Day (October 30), sound as if it takes place on Halloween (October 31).
Yes, again, it is why I write.
So, enjoy this second treat for the eyes and ears, such as it is, and look forward to the release of the actual post on Monday, September 17, 2012.
Why all the fuss?
Well, once you get to near the end of the post you'll know why I've put to much into it.
