'Fifty Shades of Grey' wins popular fiction novel award in UK

It already beat out “Harry Potter” as the fastest-selling paperback of all time, and now “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the controversial erotic novel that has reportedly sold over 60 million copies worldwide, has made its haters cringe again as it took home the title of popular fiction novel of the year at the 2012 Specsavers National Book Awards in London on December 4. According to the National Book Awards website, "Fifty Shades" trumped “Citadel” by Kate Mosse, “Me Before You” by JoJo Moyes, “The Thread” by Victoria Hislop, “1356” by Bernard Cornwell, and “The Rose Petal Beach” by Dorothy Koomson. Previous winners in the popular fiction category include “One Day” by David Nicholls and “The Time Traveler's Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger, both of which have been turned into movies. The novel earned the description “mommy porn” for its alleged popularity with women 30 years old and above. It is perhaps most notable for the inclusion of explicit sex scenes between the protagonist, 22-year-old virgin Anastasia Steele, and 27-year-old businessman Christian Grey, who seduces her and involves her in his sexual underworld of bondage, dominance, submission, and sadomasochism (BDSM). It was followed by two other books, “Fifty Shades Darker,” and “Fifty Shades Freed,” which detail the deepening relationship between the two main characters. Critics have bashed the novel mainly for its poor writing, but some readers have actually felt empowered by the story of Anastasia Steele's sexual awakening. In an earlier GMA News Online article, a participant in a discussion of the book at the second Filipino Reader Conference said that the feeling of empowerment came from reading a new take on female sexuality. The same article said that the “bad guy changes for good girl” theme of the story makes it all the more attractive to its readers. A movie adaptation of the novel is also in the works, with much buzz about who will be cast as the two main characters. Other National Book Award winners The other winners at the National Book Awards include “Ratburger” by David Williams, which won the children's book of the year award, and “Is it Just Me” by Miranda Hart, which won the popular non-fiction book of the year title. TV presenter Clare Balding took home the autobiography/ biography of the year award for her work, “My Animals and Other Family.” Si King and Dave Myers took home the title of food and drink book of the year for “The Hairy Dieters,” while Sue Townsend won audiobook of the year for “The Woman Who Went To Bed For a Year.” Hilary Mantel was named UK author of the year for her novel “Bring Up the Bodies,” Eowyn Ivey was named international author of the year for the novel “The Snow Child,” and Rachel Joyce took home the title of new writer of the year for her book “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.” “A Wanted Man” by Lee Child won as the crime novel of the year, while crime writer Ian Rankin took home the outstanding achievement award. The nominees and winners are selected by the National Book Awards Academy, which includes key players in the British publishing industry. — Amanda Lago/BM, GMA News