Braintree district: Women hot under the collar for Mr Grey (From Gazette)

Braintree district: Women hot under the collar for Mr Grey

9:52am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in Halstead By Carri-Ann Taylor, Reporter

WHIPS, handcuffs and the red room of pain, Braintree readers have gone mad for erotic novel, Fifty Shades of Grey.

Copies of E.L James’ cult book have sold out at the town’s supermarkets and bookshops and lenders at Braintree Library have been told to expect a wait of months before they get their hands on the novel.

The book follows the story of university graduate Anastasia Steele as she embarks on a kinky affair with sexy and mysterious billionaire Christian Grey.

Essex Libraries have 69 copies of Fifty Shades of Grey but all are currently on loan.

The waiting list exceeds 600.

County Councillor, Jeremy Lucas, member for customer service, environment and culture, said: “We have ordered an extra 40 copies. of Fifty Shades of Grey.

“All existing copies are on loan and the waiting list exceeds 600 - it is the biggest waiting list we have had for any book except the Harry Potter titles.

“All copies will be made available to everyone on the waiting list, regardless of where the borrower is from, so all 109 copies will be available to all Essex residents.”

The novel is succeeded by two further raunchy novels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.

On Saturday, WH Smiths in George Yard sold out of its delivery of 37 copies of Fifty Shades Darker in half a day.

Shop supervisor, Maureen Green, said: “The books absolutely fly off the shelf when they come in.

“I have not read it myself but everyone has been saying how good it is.”

Lin Sterling, Hard Lines Manager at Tesco in Market Place, Braintree said the books are selling “like wildfire.”

She said: “As soon as we get them in they just sell out.

“I have never known a book sell so intensely, its been like this for three weeks now.”

Commenting on Facebook Times reader, Tasha Flemming said: “It’s the Mr Grey character that keeps people hooked.

“He is a dark, mysterious and tortured character I thoroughly enjoyed all three novels.”