We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
IN THE SPACE of less than a year, an erotic fiction novel which started out as fan-fiction for Twilight fans is now breaking records set by Harry Potter for the speed with which it’s selling out of book shops.
The trilogy that makes up 50 Shades of Grey has sold 60,000 copies in Ireland since it went on sale at the end of April. The figure could be even higher, as it doesn’t take into account sales on e-readers.
In on example of just how quickly it is selling, 400 copies of the book went on sale in the Eason book shop on Dublin’s O’Connell Street on Thursday – and they were all sold out by lunchtime.
“Bar Harry Potter, we’ve never experienced anything like it,” says Maria Dickenson of Eason.
The novel is already officially the fastest-selling paperback since records began in the UK, and Booktrade, which tracks book sales, says it is also the fastest selling-paper back in Ireland too.
“People have been happy enough to come in and buy it, which is a big change,” says Dickinson. “It’s become a bit of fun, people have a bit of a giggle around it”.
The reason why this particular book has taken off where thousands of others haven’t is partly down to how it spread by word of mouth, and partly down to how it looks, says Dickenson.
“It started in America with women passing it to each other at school gates or in each other’s homes. That’s how people got to talking about it and how it spread so quickly”. She noted:
Often erotic fiction can look seedy but this has an understated, classy cover, and that makes a big difference.
Few mainstream bookshops in Ireland would have sold much in the way of erotic fiction aimed at women before 50 Shades of Grey took off – or, at least, as Dickenson notes, “it would have been hidden under newspapers when someone was buying it so it wasn’t overt” – but the success of the trilogy has changed that.
There has been something of a mini-boom in erotic fiction for women on the back of the success of 50 Shades. “Some books have already been published, some books which have already been published are being repackaged with new looks to appeal to a new audience,” explains Dickenson.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I’m only in my the boozer. I’m half drunk, half high and there’s a strange smell of raw meat off me. What the heck am I doing here reading about baby names for?
We should just use our pps numbers
What the article doesn’t state is that this list was issued by Dept of Foreign Affairs and is a list of the first names of babies who applied for passports. It is not a list of all babies born last year. That is done by the CSO and comes out later in the year. This one means nothing
It clearly states at the top of the graph that the names are from birth certs.
Yes. Birth certs provided for passport applications, not all birth certs issued last year. Those stats aren’t collated until later this year. Google it
Yes. From birth certs provided for passport applications. Not all birth certs issued last year. Those stats aren’t collated yet. Google it. Dept of Foreign Affairs released these ones, that’s your clue.
@Santa Carla: That seems legit at face value. I was wondering why the department of foreign affairs were collating birth cert statistics.
Why are people such sheep when it comes to choosing names?
If they really were sheep,we’d be calling them Wooly and Shaun
When you have a kid call it Enda so
Recently I heard a child being called Noah by his Mother.
The first thing I thought of was ‘where is the flood’
If only Daniel and jack were in reverse
Very soon it will be Mohammed.
Highly unlikely. You’re probably the type who sees the country as overwhelmed with Muslims, when in fact it’s just 1.1% of the population. That’s about 51,000 people out of 4.7 million, and about 4,650,000 people who are not Muslim. That, coupled with the fact that (and this may surprise you) they don’t call all their sons Mohammed, makes it even more unlikely.
But don’t let the facts get in the way of your arsey comment.
On another topic though, I’m sad to see so few Irish names in the lists. None for the boys, and two for the girls. So many nice ones to choose from.
Ah fèck it, there are at least three Irish names for boys. Sunday morning brain is a curse.
@Eamon Mac Gowan: Followed by Abdul,Haifa,Ibrahim,Precious.
Please please please save us from Jack.
It’s been going on 20 years.
1/5 of boys are called Jack.
Its cringeworthy.
It’s awful.
@Tom Burke: Do you know how it started by the way?
Titanic
James Cameron has a lot to answer for
I’d just like to point out that on the Journal’s graph they show lego on the male side. Can’t girls play with lego too? That’s some deep internalised misogyny right there. I knew the Journal was part of the patriarchy! Hell they even use pink and blue. And there’s only two genders!? Sexist and transphobic as ever.
Fyi this is satire just in case I activate Poe’s law
Just wondering how or where the Department of Foreign Affairs comes into it.
It’s not possible to have a list of baby names yet as parent have 3 months to register their kids so a list like this is BS
It’s not the proper CSO list Paul. This is just a list of the names on birth certs for babies who made passport applications last year
Noah and Amelia/Emilia are the best names here
Amelia sounds like some kind of blood disorder…
Yes, but each to their own. I’m guessing that most Emilias are named after the actress’s stage name. The woman who plays Daenerys. I think it would date fast. At least naming a child after a legendary Irish character would mean they or their great-grandchildren could look it up later, while most names from a TV series will seem obscure even one generation on.
Enda is a lovely name. Enda Kenny with be all forgotten about in 5 years time.
It’s a pity his policies won’t be.
AAHH no Enda how many Simon’s
Michelle, surely these are passport related, why else would dept of foreign affairs issue?
my son was born in march 2016,and his name is Thor and that’s not on your list
have your say