Fifty shades of grey forcing Bible to take a back seat: Enterprising hotel manager replaces Gideons bible with copies of the racy novel



It is the erotic thriller that has had blushing women rushing to the book store for their fix of 'mummy porn.'

With sales totting up to 1m books and ebooks per week and the author herself netting approximately £862,069 per week for the 20 million copies sold worldwide, it seems that Fifty Shades of Grey is the novel of the year.

One hotel manager certainly thinks so and he is swopping the Gideon bible, famed for being available in hotel rooms around the world, for copies of the book.

Manager of Damson Dene Hotel, Wayne Bartholomew replacing copies of the Gideon Bible with copies of racy best-seller Fifty Shades of Grey

Wayne Bartholomew, Damson Dene hotel manager and star of Channel 4’s first ‘The Hotel’, is making the exchange today for the benefit of guests and in response to the online chatter from his 3,210 Facebook Fans.

'Fifty Shades of Grey is all that people are talking about at the moment, but I know that some are too shy to buy it for themselves.

I thought it would be a special treat for our guests to find it in their bedside cabinet and that includes the men too.

They are as desperate to get their hands on a copy as the women.'

Whilst we are swopping one best seller for another the similarities don’t end there. The Gideon bible is full of references to sex and violence, although it’s written using more formal language, so James’ book is easier to read.

E. L. James nets herself £862,069 per week for the novel which has gripped the nation

'We’ve decided to designate one of rooms in the hotel into the "Red Room". Guests will have fun finding out what delights await them there' says Wayne.

The Gideon bible will still be available at the reception desk for any guests who request it.

Wayne’s bedside book substitution has the blessing of his boss, the well spoken, silk tie wearing hotelier Jonathan Denby.

The Bible Society remain adamant that the sacred book will stand the test of time, Rachel Rounds said: 'Whilst 50 Shades of Grey is in vogue this summer, we doubt that in 2000 years’ time people will still be talking about as they do about the Bible - an enduring book which has stood the test of time and is still the world's best seller.



The Bible is a great read. It contains stories which feature sex and violence, as well as comedy, tragedy, poetry, and prose. Its themes are eternal; they still speak directly into people's lives centuries after it was written.



There really is no comparison between it and this novel.'

