Looking to Read 'Fifty Shades Of Grey'? Get In Line

It's affectionately being referred to as "Mommy Porn."

The "Fifty Shades" trilogy, written by first-time author E.L. James has set the literary world abuzz and triggered a stampede of would-be readers to book stores, libraries and E-Book web sites.

According to Director Dianne Giarusso, there is presently a waiting list of well over 600 people looking to get their hands on the "Fifty Shades" books through the regional library consortium to which the TPL belongs. Giarusso said her library has only been able to afford to purchase two copies of each book in the trilogy.

Recently, such frenzies have been driven by teens and tweens for the "Harry Potter," Twilight." and "Hunger Games" series. The target audience for "Fifty Shades" is considerably more ... adult.

"Fifty Shades of Grey" and its sequels, "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades Freed" focuses on the life of 27-year-old playboy billionaire Christian Grey and follows his journey as a "dominant" in the dark, erotic world of bondage & discipline and sadomasochism. She shares much of that journey with his beautiful 21-year-old "submissive" Ana.

Some literary critics have compared "Fifty Shades" to the "blue" novels of the Victorian era. Others say the trilogy evokes images of "9 1/2 Weeks."

"What's unusual about these books is that they are erotica, and that's not something that libraries usually stock," said Giarusso. "It's not especially well written. There's sex and a little bit of plot thrown in."

Whatever recipe James' used, she seems to have struck gold her first time out. She took the unusual step of releasing all three books at the same time and the move paid off.

Driven by a mostly female readership in the 25-59 age group, the "Fifty Shades" owns three of the top four slots on the New York Times Best Seller list for Fiction Print and E-Books combined, as well as all three top slots for Fiction E-books alone.

Giarusso said the buzz generated by the books has been amazing, especially as James is a first-time author.

"We have some authors, like James Patterson, who consistently (generate) a waiting list when they release a new book, but not 600-700," she said.