Hotel Replaces Bible with Fifty Shades of Grey-USA Today

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Hotel Replaces Bible with Fifty Shades of Grey-By Nancy Trejos, USA TODAY

British hotel replaces Bibles with ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’
By Nancy Trejos, USA TODAY

Click LINK to see full article:  USA TODAY

 

A hotel in the United Kingdom has replaced in-room Gideon Bibles with the soft-porn bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey.

The change was made earlier this month in all 40 guest rooms at the Damson Dene Hotel in the Lake District of England.

The hotel’s owner Jonathan Denby explained his decision in a blog post:
“Tonight millions of women will be curling up in bed with a good book and you can bet your life it won’t be the Bible. More likely than not it will be Fifty Shades of Grey. I haven’t read the book yet – I’m not in the target audience – but I’m told it’s a ripping good yarn and everyone who’s in the target audience loves it. This made me wonder about the sense of providing a book, the Gideon Bible which noone reads, and many dislike, in the bedside cabinet of our hotel bedrooms, instead of a book which everyone wants to read, such as Fifty Shades of Grey.”

Denby bought the hotel from a Methodist group 10 years ago, according to NBC News.

He said he had been considering substitutions for a long time.

“I was thinking originally of putting in a book by Ayn Rand — Atlas Shrugged was my first thought,” Denby told NBC News.

Denby said he did not do it for any philosophical reasons. That hasn’t stopped the local vicar from publicly denouncing the change.

The Rev. Michael Woodcock — parish priest at St. Mary’s Church in Crosthwaite, where the hotel is located — told British media that the hotel’s decision is just a gimmick, according to NBC.

There is also much criticism coming from the United States, where the Gideon Bible is more popular, Denby said.

“People in the States feel much more strongly,” he told NBC. “We’ve had quite a few e-mails quoting the scriptures to us and suggesting that it would be a good thing to put the Bible back.”

Denby said in his blog that he’s not completely giving up on the Bible. “I’ll keep a couple behind the reception desk so that if any guest whose preferred bedtime reading happens to be the Bible finds that they have forgotten to pack their copy, they’ll be pleased to read in the guest handbook that they can borrow a copy from the receptionist.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
1. Did you ever read the bible in the nightstand at the hotel?
2. Do you think you would pick up Fifty Shades of Grey and start reading?

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30 thoughts on “Hotel Replaces Bible with Fifty Shades of Grey-USA Today”

  1. Interesting article, Sandy. I saw it this morning or was it yesterday. lol
    I’m not sure I think this is a good idea, however I do like the idea of a selection of books available for reading. But the worry, I’m sure is people will take it home with them. lol

    • I agree…many people do not read a full length novel in one sitting…especially if they are staying over night in a hotel room. I suspect many copies will go missing……

      hmmm, maybe they will chain them down like they do ‘pens’ in the bank…but that still doesn’t stop people if they really want it….*snort*

  3. If nothing else it is a way to get people to walk through the doors… my thought… if they will steal a housecoat… a book is no big deal… I hope they bought in bulk. 😀

    • Credit cards are always required to book a room…so maybe the hotel will give the people the option of buying the book..if they like it, they just tag it onto the bill.

      Now..the bigger problem comes in if it is well ‘worn’…maybe I would ask for a new copy….lol

  4. Have I read the bible in a hotel no. would I try the book probably if I was just sitting around in the hotel room. I really think a lot of copies would go missing. I don’t think to many bibles are taken. LOL

  5. I saw this article this morning as well. And, no, I have never picked up the bible in the hotels I’ve stayed in. I don’t think that you would be able to tempt with just any book. The way that the media has picked up the 50 trilogy and ran with it will definitely entice people to pick it up. The real question for me: Would I want to pick up a copy of 50 in a HOTEL room??? I think not!! I’d be afraid of germs……….. :/

  6. I have never read the Bible while in a hotel, no. And having just read Fifty Shades I will say yes absolutely I would opt to read it again, hotel room or my own room, lol. I agree hotels should offer a selection of books even if they keep them at the front desk or the snack room.
    And @ Sandy, ewwww!! LOL

  7. ………..this is entirely off the topic of bible’s in a hotel room…..but is it really werid that I have absolutely NO desire to read the 50 shades trilogy, and cannot fathom why it is so popular? Honestly. Cannot believe how crazy people are over this work. It scares me that this is considered phenomenal literature in our world…..

    I mean, we are talking people I went to school with, who used to tease me mercilessly for reading romantic fantasy, and Christine Feehan….are saying this trilogy is the best thing since sliced bread. I am baffled.

    • Like I said, for some reason, the media picked up on it and the rest is history!!! I read them and enjoyed them. Are they phenomenal literature? No. But, imo, it is a great story.

    • To be fair…you have to read it to understand the hype. You may not be interested in it, which is YOUR choice, but you are indisputably surrounded by said hype.

      No, it’s not phenomenal, it involves obsessive and/or aggressive themes that can be considered overwhelming, but Ms. James’ writing is underrated!!! It’s a thoroughly entertaining book. I myself have swoooooned for Christian Grey! 😉

      • P.S. I have never read a bible in a hotel room. I don’t even approve of one being there in the first place. Don’t push religion down my throat.

        P.S.S. Ewwww….sticky pages…. 😀

      • Fifty Shades and the Trilogy…is pure entertainment…it is a love story with a HEA….it won’t win any pulitzers, but it was never meant to…..

        Some people criticize the content..the BDSM…but there is very little…..I have read so many books recently that have jumped on the BDSM bandwagon…and the content is much more graphic than 50….Fifty Shades is tame in comparison to many storylines…

        And to be honest….most paranormal/fantasy and fictional storylines are fluff..they are escapism……nothing too hard to think about…just a book to sit back and enjoy…escape real life and live out someone else’s fantasy….for a few hours…

  8. I have read this trilogy and yes i will read it again but really enough is enough thats all i see on facebook every dang day is something about Fifty Shades . REALLY PEOPLE GET OVER IT , how about writing another Trilogy or something and just let it rest i for one am happy for her but its time to STOP all the Fifty Shade crap.

  9. the issue here is that romance has had its hard core and sexual books for years. this one is no different. except the people reading fifty shades don’t read romance, so this is new to them. lol

    Carmen, as for obsessive or aggressive, other have had it in their books as part of the story. Ward, Kenyon, in parts. just to name a few.

    • You want a little more hard core sex try Lora Leigh’s Guilty series i enjoyed reading them but this does’nt mean it is in my life but to me it’s just all apart of a Love story it just takes a few different turn’s before it gets there .

  10. Wow it really seems like Fifty Shades of Grey is causing a lot of controversy. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with replacing the bible with Fifty shades of grey. Though I don’t know why religious figures are getting their panties in a bunch. So there is sex and bdsm in it? At least that is what I heard about the book…it’s just sex…just because you read about sex shouldn’t mean that you are a sinner of some kind. I personally have not read the book but will soon….the thing is I also have been hearing Fifty shades of grey has been causing a mini baby boom…so who knows….if that’s the case I just may wait to read the book during my honeymoon after I get married! Tee hee!!!!!

  11. Carmen and Sandy, I mean no disrespect. It is only that the reviews I read on this novel, are listing it as the most phenomenal piece of literature ever….while others state that it is utter garbage. I am only trying to wrap my brain around the fact that something written as fanfic originally, with Mr. Grey as “Edward” and the woman as “Bella Swan”–is so highly obsessed over.

    And Sandy, I think you are the only person I have ever heard state that there is not that much sex. *laughing* A friend of mine stated that it was a book to change marriages everywhere. 🙂

    • Not to speak for Sandy, but, a lot of my paranormal romance books I read have more sex and more BDSM than the 50 trilogy had. I have had friends who are not readers read this trilogy and can’t believe how much sex is in them. I’m like, if you think that’s a lot, I can recommend some paranormal romance series for ya!! LOL!!! They do have quite a bit of sex, but no more than what I read on a regular basis.

      I will say that the BDSM in 50 does NOT hold a candle to Vishous’ book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood. 😉

    • Hey Miranda…I take no offense….to anything you said..

      Just people have differing opinions.

      And I didn’t say there wasn’t much SEX..I said the BDSM content wasn’t minimal compared to many other storylines…and less graphic or offensive. The hardline were never crossed…in fact ..CF had a couple of storylines e.g.MaryAnn and Manolito..his sexual preferences and positions…were even a little more…intrusive then some of 50 Shades….

      There was plenty of sex in 50 Shades…but the BDSM was tame in comparison to many other novels etc

  12. Hmmmm very interesting article Sandy. I don’t see why all the commotion, personally I’d prefer a little more reading selection when in a hotel anyways. However, all I can think of is Kelly Ripa’s comment on her show about the book and renting it from the library. Neil Patrick Harris was co-hosting and he asked her about the controversy surrounding the book. Kelly said; “she would not want to borrow an erotic library book that someone else had used– I mean, read.” LOL!!!!

    Thankfully I don’t have to borrow it from the library, my friends bought if for me as part of my birthday present. 😉

  13. As long as it’s part of the disinfecting during housecleaning there shouldn’t be a problem with the book being available in hotel rooms Sandy. LOL!!! Maybe they could supply a box of wet naps in the drawer with the book. 😉

  14. I read the trilogy. I definitely isn’t a true work of erotic fiction. It is actually quite tame compared to many I have read. Like Sandy said, it is a love story.

    But, I would want a new copy in my hotel room…. 😉

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