I see it as just a craze. Though I honestly don't like the way it presents BDSM relationships, as well as the terrible writing in the book. (Like Vogon poetry levels of bad) I haven't seen the movie.

In terms of how I felt, I felt disgusted, felt as if I shouldn't have been, and wondered if it actually happened. I feel under pressure to reconcile with my mother and act normal, recover my history, be independent, get published, things like that. And I have to pretend everything's normal to...everyone, actually, while I'm getting through this. Mostly I'm trying to be part of people who don't doubt their parents/have someone to run to when they're breaking down. I guess in the end I feel a bit alone at times. I think I've always had a bit of that also as a kid, because I felt awkward about socializing with people (I've gotten better at that though now) and in my teens, I felt kind of different because of my opinions on things. That and that one moment I didn't feel feminine enough thanks to stuff like Gone Girl (that godawful "cool girl" speech, for instance, which boils down to if you don't act like a female stereotype, you're somehow disappointing women. I really do hate that book so much. Amy...she just kind of brings back some unpleasant memories, and for someone who rants about the "cool girl", she really is an unpleasant stereotypical female character herself. And talking about this brings back a good memory between me and my mom, tying it all back, because I ranted about the book to her and we at least had a chuckle over that) and someone else (a woman, for the record) saying that women basically can't watch Internet review shows. And...a lot of other stuff. So I have issues with my own identity (not gender identity, but who I am as a person). I do wish I could fit in sometimes and be like other people.