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50 Shades of Grey


Katrina1968

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Anyone read this book? I saw it on our bookshelf at the bookstore and its a hot seller. Our local newspaper even did a write up on the series. Here are some Amazon reviews

 

http://www.amazon.com/Fifty-Shades-Grey-Book-Trilogy/dp/0345803485

 

It actually reminds me of a portion of a movie I caught the end of. I wasn't impressed by the movie and after reading the reviews and skimming through the book while at work, I'm not impressed by the book either. I wouldn't say I am a prude but after reading a few excerpts, it gets a bit tiring, don't you think?

 

Anybody read the books yet? Its being marketed as fiction but it should be marketed as erotic.

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Like you I have skimmed through bits of it on Amazon, and can't see the fuss either ! I guess some people like escapism, for that is all that it is, but I prefer real life. Real life to me is not all passion and romance, but watching your partner cut his toe nails, while you watch your favourite TV show (guess what I was doing last night ! )

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They seem to very, very popular lately, both in bookshops here and on online. I see the titles everywhere and from what I gather, it's like Twilight fan fiction but without vampires, or something? They sound gawdawful to me.

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Everyone I seem to work with is encouraging me to read the trilogy, I suppose I can't really judge what they are like without reading them. However, I suspect it's not going to be my type of thing.

 

Andie P x

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I have bought these although I haven't started them yet. There doesn't seem to be much mainstream fiction touching on bdsm, so I imagine they will fill a gap in the market - although the bigger gap is for female dominant/male submissive literature! I will be surprised if they are very extreme.

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I received this book from a co-worker when I was in the hospital. I was glad since I had read some not-so-great reviews of it on Amazon and hadn't wanted to spend my own money on it :giggle:.

 

I'm only up to about chapter 6 so far so the serious kinky hasn't started yet. I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I'm really not impressed with the writing - it's almost like I'm reading one of those teen romance books that I used to read in junior high. The main female character is SO taken with the male's good looks and there's a lot of sentences on not being able to breath and blushing around him. The reviews were spot on with their description of it being 'juvenile.'

 

Also, it bothers me how many parallels there are in this book to Twilight. I know the author used to write Twi fan fiction, but couldn't she come up with something different? I mean, take away the BDSM and add vampires and werewolves and there you have it! Twlilight! Annoying, but I'll keep reading, at least for a little while longer.

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I've been seeing the title all over Amazon and the net. I haven't read it, so I can't comment on it, but I am a bit tired of the hype. (sorry if that seems rude) I read one review that said it wasn't even very well written, not sure about that, because I guess 'well written' is in the eye of the beholder.

 

I'm not into erotica because it's dificult to write about sex and not sound ridiculous. Also (and correct me if I'm wrong) the idea of signing a contract to be basically what amounts to a sex slave turns me off.

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The power of advertising is trying to get a hold on me. I keep seeing these books in shop windows and I think I really must get that. I had no idea what they are about and now reading this thread I know I don't want to read them. I shall just have to keep my eyes closed when I walk past bookshops for a little while :smile:

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I've only read a little so far, but have been sidetracked several times. I suppose that is a product of the fact they don't really grab me, but not far enough in to really say yet. Will report back whenever I do read it.

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Woman who covers my breaks on a saturday is reading this series. She usually reads holy artifact/conspiracy mysteries/aliens built the pyramids type books. She is onto the second one now. She sits there chuckling to herself. I read a review which described it as "mummy porn". I think the big hooha is probably because of hype. The fact it has been banned in some states is just adding to it.

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I haven't read the whole series yet, but I read first book a bit (five chapters, I guess) and it didn't amazed me at all~

The writing is poor. The author doesn't make a statement without being confusing.

 

I guess the big thing around this book is the marketing from Twilight. The fact that was a Twi fanfiction before somehow got a lot of attention. The thing is, the author couldn't improve her writing from fanfiction level to novel level. Also, the erotic content is... I don't know, new? a tabboo? the only way to get attention?

I read a LOT of erotica books - the ones that aren't afraid/ashamed to be called erotica - and this book has the MOST RIDICULOUS way of talking about sex

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I haven't read the whole series yet, but I read first book a bit (five chapters, I guess) and it didn't amazed me at all~

The writing is poor. The author doesn't make a statement without being confusing.

 

I guess the big thing around this book is the marketing from Twilight. The fact that was a Twi fanfiction before somehow got a lot of attention. The thing is, the author couldn't improve her writing from fanfiction level to novel level. Also, the erotic content is... I don't know, new? a tabboo? the only way to get attention?

I read a LOT of erotica books - the ones that aren't afraid/ashamed to be called erotica - and this book has the MOST RIDICULOUS way of talking about sex

 

Sounds like definitely one to avoid then if you have something better to read/do

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  • 2 weeks later...

I was speaking to the proprietor of my local bookshop last week and he said the books are flying off the shelves, so much so that they're hard pressed to keep their stock topped up.

 

The trilogy isn't really on my to read radar.

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I really can't decide if it's clever marketing and hype, or if there are lots of women who have been waiting for 'acceptable' erotica, because that does seem to be the main pull.

 

I think it might be the acceptable erotica theory, everyones talking about its mainstream = social acceptable for those you might never have considered reading erotic fiction before 50 shades of grey.

The book covers themselves give no hint of the erotic content too which IMO is what is really driving the sales forward, you don't have to be embarrassed to read it in public. Well unless they guy sitting next to you on the train knows about it, hence why I bought it in ebook format.

 

I was in my local branch of W H Smiths its there No.1 best seller and they had completely sold out.

Edited by cosychair
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Like you I have skimmed through bits of it on Amazon, and can't see the fuss either ! I guess some people like escapism, for that is all that it is, but I prefer real life. Real life to me is not all passion and romance, but watching your partner cut his toe nails, while you watch your favourite TV show (guess what I was doing last night ! )

 

Maybe not, but I'll take the passion and romance over the toenail cutting any day. :D

 

I received this book from a co-worker when I was in the hospital. I was glad since I had read some not-so-great reviews of it on Amazon and hadn't wanted to spend my own money on it :giggle:.

 

I'm only up to about chapter 6 so far so the serious kinky hasn't started yet. I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I'm really not impressed with the writing - it's almost like I'm reading one of those teen romance books that I used to read in junior high. The main female character is SO taken with the male's good looks and there's a lot of sentences on not being able to breath and blushing around him. The reviews were spot on with their description of it being 'juvenile.'

 

Also, it bothers me how many parallels there are in this book to Twilight. I know the author used to write Twi fan fiction, but couldn't she come up with something different? I mean, take away the BDSM and add vampires and werewolves and there you have it! Twlilight! Annoying, but I'll keep reading, at least for a little while longer.

 

Honestly, I don't see the writing is any more trite than some of the "popular" so called straight romance novels, and no worse than (for example) the Harry Potter series. IMO

 

Based on the reviews I've read here and on Amazon I don't think I'd bother with it.

 

Kind of makes you wonder about the Hype Machine, though, doesn't it?

 

What do you guys mean "the Hype Machine", I must ask.

 

 

I really can't decide if it's clever marketing and hype, or if there are lots of women who have been waiting for 'acceptable' erotica, because that does seem to be the main pull.

 

It's funny to me, I don't really understand why erotica should not be acceptable. I understand what you're saying Michelle, but I find it strange that a genre should be considered unacceptable to "nice" people. Nice people make love, have sex lives etc.

 

It's always been a bit confusing to me why it is considered ok to have people in films chopping each other up in a most bloody fashion, but unacceptable to have people making love on screen.

Edited by pontalba
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It's funny to me, I don't really understand why erotica should not be acceptable. I understand what you're saying Michelle, but I find it strange that a genre should be considered unacceptable to "nice" people. Nice people make love, have sex lives etc.

 

I guess there is a (slowly disappearing) stigma attached to sex for women. I think society is still coming to terms with women coming out of the kitchen and embracing their sexuality, which is ridiculous, because the market is obviously there for it (and I'm not just talking about erotic fiction).

 

It's always been a bit confusing to me why it is considered ok to have people in films chopping each other up in a most bloody fashion, but unacceptable to have people making love on screen.

 

Absolutely! 'Make love, not war.'

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I think only women can write about sex well anyway. When a guy writes about sex it is " He does this there and then then they did that.." It is not erotic in any sense. Just using her as an example, but I bet if Ali Smith wrote about sex it would feel like the reader was actually there!.

I think erotica is OK, same as any other genre, so long as it is good writing that's what counts.. I am getting very intolerant now of bad writing..life is too short! :readingtwo:

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Who knew my first post would be on this book. I've finished about 70% of the first book having purchased it despite the poor reviews from other customers and the reception/criticism it received from various newspapers. I simply had to find out why this book was creating such a buzz.

 

The only thing I can fathom for the success of this series is the BDSM aspect of it (or excellent marketing strategies). As mentioned before by other readers, the main protagonist is not a character that one can easily identify with and honestly, not a very likable creature. The male, an unbelievable hero as a 27 year old billionaire who's a proficient pilot, feeding the hungry, 'control freak', dominating man.

 

The writing is juvenile and at times, painful (no pun intended to the BDSM aspect). While I intend to complete the first book, I've no intention of purchasing the second and third of the series. This is one of the few books I've had to choke down, typically I devour a story, completely immerse myself in the world the author creates. I adore finding a good storyteller, a wordsmith, someone who has the talent to build worlds so colorful that you live the story. You will not find that with E.L. James. Sorry.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of erotica, I'm a fan of BDSM. Shades of Grey may be a good choice who's unfamiliar with both, however, I'd not recommend it.

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Hi RaeLea, welcome to the forum. I know it's a completely different Genre,and out of the blue, but I wondered what you thought of Janet Evanovitch? Or who would you recommend as a good wordsmith?

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I think only women can write about sex well anyway. When a guy writes about sex it is " He does this there and then then they did that.." It is not erotic in any sense. Just using her as an example, but I bet if Ali Smith wrote about sex it would feel like the reader was actually there!.

 

I agree. Any kind of sex is, in my opinion, difficult to write about without making it cliched or unconvincing, at least to me. And as far as I'm concerned, no man has been able to write about it in a way that doesn't make me roll my eyes or blush in embarrassment. So in that respect I think these books might be great.

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I'm prudish I'll admit but not as prudish as I could be. It just seems to me its not sex that is the issue its the need for the violence that's attached to it. I don't go for that "hurts so bad its good" nonsense. Making love is between two people that have a deep and loving relationship. Sex is between two people that are sexually attracted to each other and aren't necessarily looking for long term commitments. Sex and pain is just a deviant that I can't latch on to but to each his creepy own! :P

 

I did find it embarrassing when this 60ish year old lady came into the store and bought the book. She looked so uncomfortable and said she was getting it for her daughter. Her daughter would read it and then tell her about it or she would read it herself. I'm like "wow, I know all there is to know about my daughter but I'll be damned if I want to know THAT part of her nature!" And yes, I said that to her. If your too embarrassed to buy it then don't buy it and try to make excuses.

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I haven't read this book and have no intention of doing so (it sounds awful) but I guess everyone has their own comfort level when it comes to this sort of thing. I'm with you Katrina, I find BDSM kinda creepy. I have no problem with eroticism but there is a big difference in my mind between what is tastefully erotic and what is downright porn.

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