Fifty Shades of Grey
Welcome to Mamamia’s new FLASH Bookclub. Every so often (you won’t know exactly when – it’s all part of the FLASH!) we’ll be gathering here to talk about a popular book.
Because half the fun of reading a book is discussing it afterwards. Yes? We think so.
First up – we’re talking about Fifty Shades of Grey. This trilogy of erotic fanfiction has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and even beat Harry Potter for the title of the fastest-selling paperback of all time.
You’ve probably seen it in the window of every bookshop and in the handbag of every other woman. It’s been sitting at the top of the iBooks most popular list for longer than the duration of Kim Kardashian’s marriage.
But the true story here has been its massive success as an ebook as millions of women have discovered a discreet way to consume, well, porn.
Here’s the plot outline from the author’s website:
E.L.James, the author of Fifty Shades
When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.
If you’ve read it, you probably have an opinion of it. A strong one. Even if you haven’t read it, you probably have something to say.
We’re looking forward to seeing the movie version, if only just to see who they choose to play Christian Grey (a hot topic of debate in the office). Here are some ideas:
Matt Bomer
As for Anastasia Steele:
Alexis Bledel
SOME BOOKCLUB QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
1. Talk about the genre of erotica fiction and the straightforward and graphic descriptions of sex in this book. What effect did the writing style and playful tone of the book have on these scenes?
2. Discuss the feelings that surfaced as your read about submissive/dominant relationships. Did it pique your curiosity? Did anything shock or offend you?
3. The book is marketed as “steamy erotica for suburban housewives”. Is this accurate? Do you think reading about intense sexual encounters enhances the sexual experience? Of the many sex scenes discuss your favorite or least favorite?
4. Discuss the meaning and significance of the book’s title. What do you think accounts for the overwhelming popularity of this book?
5. For the majority of people, the sex described pushes the limits of normal. With this in mind, were you able to relate to the human condition underlying the experiences? For example, did you understand the desire for this kind of experience and why each character was drawn to this?
6. Anastasia was surprised when she enjoyed and wanted more of the kinky sex. Discuss the implications of this? Do you think guilt or her lack of experience played into these feelings?
7. Did you feel a strong connection to either Christian or Anastasia? Did you find yourself siding with one more than the other?
8. What was your initial impression of Christian? As more of his background and personality was revealed, did your opinion of him change? Did his actions in any way surprise you? What is your favorite Christian phrase?
9. The author does an excellent job of weaving family drama into the story. For example, Anastasia has a strong bond with her stepfather and Christian is strongly attached to Mia and his parents. How important do you think this is to the story in general? How important were these bonds to Anastasia and Christian’s ability to form relationships?
10. Discuss the relationship Anastasia had with her mother? Did her mother offer enough of what is considered traditional motherly support? Was her influence on Anastasia more positive than negative? How do you think her mother felt about Anastasia’s relationship with Ray? Do you think either Anastasia or her mother had any regrets about the way things turned out?
11. There was a wonderful cast of supporting characters in this book. Who was your favorite and why.
12. What actor do you see playing the role of Christian and Ana?
Comments
172 Comments so far
What am I missing. If I hear one more biting of the low lip hands thru the hair. Thinking thinking thinking but still doing whatever looking down at her hands starring in to the eyes I am on page 419. What now. Don’t tell me I have to suffer thru 2 more books and nothing about his early years. I have to suffer thru everything said and did again and again
loading...
Absolutely Matt Bomer and Alexis Bledel. These two are the best for that role. These are the actors I imagined first when I started reading the books and I’m still on the same opinion!
loading...
mia wasikowska & Orlando bloom. Well that’s who I picture when I read it. Although mat bomer & Amanda Siegfried work for me too.
loading...
Just finished reading Lighter Shades of Grey; an e-book just published by Cassandra Parkin and I highly recommend this very funny ‘Reader’s Guide”. I was up all night laughing hysterically and can hardly keep my eyes open this morning but wanted to post this recommendation.
From the Collca website “Building on the viral hit blog-entry, “Fifty Things That Annoy Me About Fifty Shades Of Grey”, “Lighter Shades of Grey” is the perfect snarky companion to this year’s most inexplicable blockbuster.”
Thank you so much to lubelle (comment on 26th June at 3:51 pm) for posting the link to Cassandra’s blog where I discovered this ebook. Seriously if you have a Kindle and you love, hate, have never read or are indifferent to Fifty Shades of Grey please download a sample. It costs about $3 from Amazon and well worth it. I’m buying copies for everyone I know.
loading...
I liked the book. Yes the characters and grammar were not the best or even close to it. But I felt i was able to see everything that was going on as if i was in the scene. And to be quite honest that is why i read!! I want to beleive that i can be part of the story and live it through one of the characters and for that i think the author did a great job. Yes i understand it is just another love story with a happy ending…. but these days when society it’s all messed up and clouded by crime and poverty at least books like this make us dream and believe that in a different universe maybe we could have it all!!!
Don’t be haters!!
loading...
Henry Cavill was the first choice to play Edward Cullen. Since this book came from Twilight fan fiction, I think he would be a great choice. Plus, seeing him without his shirt on would be very easy on the eye.
loading...
I don’t know if this actor is still alive… but Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Christian Grey, anyone? You know, the guy who played Henry VIII in the Tudors.
loading...
I had to have a giggle at this – he would only be in his mid thirties at most surely! I’m sure he’s very much alive.
loading...
Unforunately there’s a bit more to Liz’s comment – he’s been in and out of rehab and attempted suicide last year. I believe he is still with us though – and a brilliant actor if the Tudors is anything to go by
loading...
Emily Rossum or Amanda Siegfeld with brown hair for AS….and the whole way through all 3 books I had nobody else but Ryan Gosling in my head for CG!!!!
This book had a huge impact on me – if not only because I never read anymore and I read all 3 of these in 8 days. I explain it to my husband that I shall now no longer censor myself. If I want to shag, i’ll tell him. If I have something a little naughty to say i will say it!
Although it’s not a master piece of literature, it’s got a whole lot of women thinking, reading, and taking a little more control of their sexuality, which is always a good thing!
It also made me grateful for the amazing connection I have with my husband!
loading...
I think the most powerful attraction of this book is not on a sexual level. It is not about women wanting men to take control. It’s the fantasy about taming the bad boy.
Every girl wants to be made to feel special. And many of us, at some point in our lives, have been attracted to an emotionally unavailable man – the bad boy. We so desperately wanted to be the one that tames this wild man. To be the one who is so special that they are willing to change their philandering ways and settle down. In real life this never happens (not permanently, anyway). But in this book we are able to live out that fantasy through Anastasia. She is the one person who is so special that Christian is willing to make an effort to change – to try “vanilla sex”, to sleep together until morning, to be touched.
I’ll admit it. The details of the sex toys and the graphic sex scenes are a turn on. But why? Articles suggests that “it could be a sign of how difficult people now find it to feel aroused in an era when sex and nudity have become so commonplace.” That’s possibly true. But I also think that we are learning about things that we have never seen before. We’ve heard about S&M, but we assume it is about whips and handcuffs. I would venture to guess that most of us have never heard about butt plugs, nipple clamps, or the balls that you “wear” inside you whilst out for dinner. I know that I wasn’t excited by all of the scenes. Some of them were a little extreme for me. But there were many scenes that were exciting because they were new. This book has provided a wonderful avenue for learning about new things. Porn is too explicit and unromantic. This book presents the information in a palatable and exciting way.
I agree, this is not literary genius. But that’s no reason to be so disparaging. There is obviously a place for this book. I like to think it is going to help a lot of marriages. Women who were lacking a sex drive will definitely find it again. Men will be very happy recipients of this new found libido, and will in turn be more attentive to their partners. The women will feel attractive and loved by their partners. And relationships will be reinvigorated and strengthened.
loading...
exactly what I wanted to write… people need to get a grip seriously, not everything is a Bob Dylan song.. read it, dont read it.. I loved it, but it made me cry.. it wasn’t about the bad boy thing, close, more about wanting to fix a broken man.. people who are bagging it have not obviously gotten to that part of the book or have never had a broken man in their lives (I couldn’t fix mine
). No one says its reality or genius writing – for most ‘mums’ its a bit of something different, at least more people are actually reading now, maybe the bashers can steer them to something else literary or appropriate… but there is only so much Jane Austin and Henry James you can be bothered with, seriously. I have more problem with Jodi Piccoult than 50 Shades………..
loading...
(I’ve only read the first book and about 1/3 of the second)
This is probably one of the worst written books ever published. Characters are totally 2-dimensional (I know she tries with Christian, but it just doesn’t work or feel believable). It’s like reading excerpts from a 13 year old’s diary (except the sex bits of course).
But I LOVED it. Not gonna lie.
loading...
Just finished the first book. I wish wish wish I had read more reviews and actually took them at their word and not wasted my money! It’s seriously not good.
It’s the first book I’ve read in a long time where i just wanted to finish and get back to the real world. Normally I love ‘escaping’ into a novel but this book was really getting me cranky! Not sexy at all, just ugh.
Disliked it big time. For all the reasons already given but particularly for the repetitve ‘breath hitch’ thing and the damned lip biting. Not sexy!
I’ll be skipping the movie, thanks.
loading...
I found this last night and had a giggle. http://cassandraparkin.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/adventures-in-trash-fifty-things-that-annoy-me-about-fifty-shades-of-grey/
loading...
If she uses the word “unbidden” one more time, I’m going to punch myself in the face. Biddenly.
loading...
I could only read half of the first book. Could not justify wasting anymore time on this book. The amount of times she refers to her ‘subconscious’ or someone ‘murmered’ something drove me insane.
Also, this guy is a complete stalker. Just…. Completely ridiculous urgh.
loading...
Alex Pettyfer is Christian Grey for me. Not sure about Ana, only really interested in Christian! Laters baby.
loading...
Anyone but Kristen Stewart! Way to destroy every good character ever written = get her to play it.
Physically, the first male and female on the lists would be perfect I think. But really the whole book is just hard core sex and Ana having orgasms every half a page (lucky Ana!). I think they’d struggle to make it a legitimate movie rather than soft core porn!
loading...
What about the parody ‘Fifty Shames of Earl Grey’. tehehe
loading...
Erotica? You must read Story of O (Histoire d’Oh) by Pauline Reage, and Anais Nin. Those French women sure can sauce things up!
loading...
I pick Kit Harington! http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3229685/
loading...
Christian Bale would be perfect because of American Psycho. But Selena Gomez should not even be considered, nor half the actresses mentioned. They’re young, inexperienced and such an intense movie, although adapted from twilight fan fiction, should at the very least have GOOD acting in it. Leave Selena, Kristen Stewart and the like to unoriginal and expressionless movies.
loading...
I can remember reading some trashy adult fiction book as a young teenager (late 80s) called “Lace” (had to search google for the name, as even that had escaped me). Even then I knew it was a crap plot with terrible writing and I was only reading it for the “thrilling” sex scenes. However, at around the same time I also read “Fanny” by Erica Jong, based on Cleland’s “Fanny Hill” – now that was a romp and a laugh. I didn’t like any subsequent books of hers that I sampled, but I thoroughly enjoyed “Fanny”. Highly recommended 23 years later!
loading...
I reviewed this book way back in early May. I was as diplomatic as I could be because so many people I knew enjoyed it…..by the time I reviewed book 2, I was just calling ‘em as i saw ‘em.
http://flickchick1909.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/fifty-shades-of-grey/
http://flickchick1909.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/fifty-shades-darker-book-2-in-the-fifty-shade-trilogy/
I still can’t bring myself to bother with book 3 yet LOL
loading...
Don’t. Just don’t. You think it can’t possibly be worse than the first two but it really is!
But if you must, turn to approximately halfway into the book then start reading – you won’t have missed anything.
loading...
I’ve read all 3 books. Yes the writing was crap but hey honestly, what do people expect, it was adapted from fan fiction, James never professed to be a professional writer.
What has been interesting to read, has been the observations of the actual BDSM community in relation to the book. They are scathing in their reviews of it and I have to concur, the book is a vanilla/tame version of BDSM and it barely skims the surface.
I also want to touch on the obsessive control that gets mentioned by so many in relation to this series. If you’re brave enough to get into the very depths of BDSM, into it’s guts, then yes obsessive control plays it’s part. Some in the BDSM community, would tell you that obsessive control and BDSM go hand in hand and exist happily next to each other, others will tell you that one cannot exist without the other. I do not agree with that because you can indulge in BDSM without obsessive control coming into it, there are varying levels depending on how far you wish to immerse yourself into it but yes for some, BDSM is all about control.
Lastly at the very core of every BDSM relationship is those two words outsiders looking in never believe exists in a BDSM relationship – mutual consent.
As for who should play Christian? Paul Bettany – hands down, no need to look any further, he fits the bill perfectly.
I think Ana however is much harder to cast but please not the Twilight chick.
I think if the casting isn’t done right, the movie will be as bad as the writing in the book.
loading...
Well (I can’t believe I’ve never read this book but) from what I read this isn’t a BDSM story is it? Sounds like something more Dom/sub….and that’s really about control and nothing else…the fact that there might be BDSM added to it (still haven’t read it ^^) doesn’t change the D/s basis of the relationship does it?
loading...
Hmm I’m not sure you know what BDSM actually stands for?
“The term BDSM was coined as a condensed acronym in the 1990s to combine communities and practices that had a significant amount of crossover – bondage and discipline (B&D or B/D), dominance and submission (D&S or D/s), and sadomasochism or sadism and masochism (S&M or S/M).”
“The Red Room of Pain” covers the bondage and discipline aspect of it. Christians control over Ana covers the Dominance and Submission aspect. And Christians need to inflict pain and Ana’s eventual desire to actually enjoy some form of pain, covers the sadomasochism aspect.
This book was very much trying to be a BDSM story and failed quite miserably at it.
loading...
Oh right, the D stands for dominance/discipline LOL sorry I’m not at all involved in the ….how would you call that … codified? part of this
hope I didn’t offend you ! (so the S stands for submission AND sadism? strange ! )
loading...
No, not offended at all
The D and S both have double meanings
loading...
I’m up to page 112. I want my money back Itunes!!!!!!!!
loading...
You could go to the bookstore and buy Fifty Shades of Grey. Or you could go and find a big doggy doo lying on a nature strip somewhere. They are one and the same.
loading...
Btw Matt Boomer is GAY. I don’t have anything against gay guys but I atleast want my fantasies to be with someone whose actually interested in women.
loading...
He won’t be playing himself in the movie
There are probably a fair few actors who are gay and you wouldn’t even know it if they’re good at their jobs.
loading...
Neil Patrick Harris is one of the best straight-playing gay guys out there! Love Barney.
loading...
I have read the first book and was half way through the second. I actually thought that the books were not a continuation of the same couple. I thought that the Gray character turned supernatural in book 2 or 3 so was disappointed.
I would love to see the movie version but I don’t think some 20 something actors can pull it off. I would love Christian Bale or someone with intensity play Grey.
loading...
Sorry, havent read the books (yet)
but can I say how much I enjoyed the gallery
YUM
loading...
I really tried because I WANTED to be strangely titillated but I couldn’t get past the first few chapters because the writing is SO BAD!!! It’s clumsy, obvious and completely cringe-inducing (‘Yeah, take it baby.’ Just kill me already.)
I’d like to read romantic/erotic fiction that’s well written. Anyone got suggestions?
loading...
The author Lacey Alexander. You can read excerpts on Amazon.
loading...
google Smart Bitches Trashy Books. Great website with honest reviews of romantic and erotic novels.
loading...
Google Literotica – lots of stories on there.
loading...
I’ve read the first one (and god help me, husband is reading it now)… I wonder if Christian’s sexual tastes would have the same irresistible appeal if he wasn’t a Greek godlike billionaire. I wonder, if he worked at Coles and drove a Hyundai, would Ana’s inner goddess have succumbed with quite the same enthusiasm?
loading...
You don’t look very anonymous! I love “worked at Coles and drove a Hyundai.” Yes, he’d just be that creepy, weird guy from Coles.”
loading...
laughed out loud at this and still giggling
loading...
“worked at Coles and drove a Hyundai”
HILARIOUS!!!
(and the answer would be a resounding NO)
loading...
Just wanted to say I like this comment! Funny. Thanks for the chuckle. On a side note, I have been a bit disappointed by the snarky tone of so many Mamamia comments of late, so this one made me extra happy. Have a great day!
loading...
Fifty Shades of Grey started life as a Twilight Fanfic story “Master of the Universe” that was posted on fanfic.net and also (I believe on Live Journal)
James plagerised Stephenie Meyer’s characters as you do when you write fanfic. She then rewrote the story and replaced Bella and Edward and 50 Shades of Grey was Born. I’ve always been uncomfortable when money gets made from fanfic.
This is an interesting blog about the concept when is fanfic not fanfic
http://www.blogher.com/50-shades-grey-when-if-fan-fiction-not-fan-fiction
About the story itself; I feel that it is very badly written. If people are interested in D/s there is a large amount of far better quality writing available free on the Internet, particularly if you aren’t adverse to RPS m/m.
loading...
http://50shadesofsuck.tumblr.com/
This is great.
loading...
On third book. Struggle-town. What a load of bollocks.
loading...
Hahaha I quite enjoyed the series overall, but by the third book all the “inner goddess” and lip biting and the several other things just repeated ad nauseum were really killing me.
loading...
Also on the third book and in struggle town, getting very repetitive!
loading...
Reading the first book, I was savouring the sex. In order to finish the third, I was skipping all the over-descriptive and repetitive sex scenes. I’m sure she copied and pasted a bunch of them from one book to the next. Plot resumes about halfway into the third book, for those who are still persisting.
loading...
I too read all three quickly and back-to-back. I must admit, having not read erotica before, at first I was quite entranced, but after about 200 pages, I found myself skipping the sex scenes and trying to get through the books. Overall, a bit repetitive and not quite believable that someone could change so quickly…
But Matt Bomer and Alexis Bleidel: i think both would be just gorgeous!!!
loading...
I, on the other hand, found myself skipping the story and just reading the sex scenes which says alot to me about the writing as it kills me to NOT read a story methodically. There are plenty of better written erotic fiction there…seek and you shall find!
loading...
Look I enjoyed it but I hated the grammar and the constant use of the words “my sex” FFS Ana it’s your vagina- say it!!! That’s what I wanted to scream and I found it very difficult that she was a virgin.
I preferred book three over book two and I hated hated the story line of her friend Kate ending up with his brother, in fact Kate gave me the shits and I hated her.
Not the best written book out there but still enjoyable and fun to read. Can’t say I liked Ana much though.
loading...
I haven’t read it – but one of my Year 10 students mentioned to me today that she is reading it – she’s probably 15 or 16.
Should I be concerned? This is a serious question – is there stuff in this book that is too much for this age group?
loading...
Way way way too much for this age group in my opinion.
loading...
I wonder if people forget what being a teen is like. I doubt there is too much they aren’t already reading in the BDSM sealed section of Cosmo.
Teens are very clued up about sex. I was equally surprised at the reaction to the recent teenage boys books post. How quickly people forget what it is like to be a curious teen. They know this stuff.
loading...
Agree! My only problem is that the girls might be in for a bit of a let down if they think this is realistic
loading...
oh god I feel sorry for any teen reading this that hasn’t yet had sex they are going to be in for a major disappointment
loading...
It definitely makes being tied up and smacked hard seem very arousing and non-harmful, whereas I think it could actually be very confronting, frightening and confusing* to a young girl. So no, I don’t think it’s appropriate at all.
Also, their sex deliberately has the man being the all-controlling, domineering master and Ana is the ‘slave’ who is constantly doing things she’s not entirely comfortable with to please him. That might be fine for an adult who knows their boundries and is prepared to push them, but could be an extremely dangerous model for a vulnerable young person.
And as someone said below – unless the girl can orgasm basically just by being breathed on, she’s going to be very, very disappointed by sex!!!
* eg “Am I a slut? Am I abnormal? He treated me like his property and without respect so does that mean I’m not worth respecting” etc. Young girls feel that way after sex often anyway (because fo that old ‘slut’ stigma that is hanging around), so adding in degrading or violent elements just makes it worse.
loading...
Thanks. Not much I can do as she is over 16 – but I can make the year advisor aware.
loading...
I’m going to start a petition to have zac efron play Christian grey. Either him or gosling (traditional!). As for Anastasia…maybe Lucy hale.
loading...
I’m a middle aged (well, almost) housewife with three children, so I’m supposedly the target market.
I have to say I didn’t get into it. Boring, and I didn’t find it sexy at all. Maybe because I’m pretty open minded so I wasn’t tittilated by tampons or light bdsm. Also every time she says ‘down there’ I think she means the floor.
I recommend Nikki Gemmell or Belle De Jour for boundary pushing erotica that’s also a good read.
Still, this post and many others are totally justified by the galleries
loading...
I totally agree. Nicky Gemmell’s The Bride Stripped Bare was sensational – my hubby (and everyone who borrowed it) thought so too
Anastasia’s commentary/thoughts drove me nuts – as did the constant mention of her biting her lip!
loading...
The constant ‘oh my’ drove me mental!
loading...
Oh yes – I think I have blocked out the ‘Oh my’.
loading...
I wrote a post on my blog on the use of ‘oh my’ in Fifty Shades – it nearly tipped me over the edge. Who in God’s name says ‘oh my’??? Shockingly bad book – but well done to James for capturing a market and making a bucket load of money!
http://projectedhappiness.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/book-50-shades-of-grey.html
loading...
“Lions and tigers and bears = oh my!”
loading...
I had to stop half way because of the “oh my”!!!!!
loading...
Bride stripped bare was a well crafted novel, not as predictable and much more sexy.
I’m half way through 50 Shades and I’m a bit bored.. I skip through to the raunchy bits. Oh and I agree, the biting of the lip is really annoying.
loading...
I was originally all for Alexander Skarsgaard palying the lead role of Christian Grey, until I say a picture of the first man in the gallery Matt Bomer, that picture SCREAMS CHRISTIAN GREY!
For Anastasia Steele I see Lily Collins as the perfect actress, just a pity her eyes are not blue, but the rest of her is perfect.
As for the books, yes I enjoyed reading them, twice. very easy to read.
loading...
Actually maybe Alexis Bledel but with a wig like Lily’s hair?
loading...
I love myself a good erotic novel. I found this book addictive, hard to put down. Bet the sale in beads went up across adult stores everywhere!
loading...
I haven’t read the books. A few of us were chatting about it in the office today and the only reason any of us want to read is to see what all the hype is about. And the crazy thing is, even though I’ve read a lot of negative comments, I still want to read them!
There is a lot to be said for the importance of books as a shared medium/a means of social connection, because it seems like the real drive behind the book is people wanting to join in on the conversations surrounding it.
loading...
Can you imagine the movie? I don’t know if it would make it past the classification stage.
Terribly written but strangely addictive. My boyfriend has never been happier!
loading...
“Terribly written but strangely addictive.” Yep!
loading...
Hmmm well, I have just read the three books one after another. I am a very fast reader which made it feel like all they did was have sex.Yeah I know, that was pretty much all they did. By God that man can perform He’s ready to go again after about 15 minutes so no wonder Ana needed to sleep, he just plain wore her out!
I found the books pretty much like any other slightly saucier Mills and Boon, not much substance and not terribly well written but still hard to put down, and I do feel like tying my significant other up a bit more now than I did a week ago.I wouldn’t go to see the movie, I rather have what is in my own imagination than what someone else decides the characters look like… although that Matt Bomer is seriously rootable!!!!
loading...
I am a middle aged, stay at home mum of 3 who has been with the same man for 15years. This book was written for me.
I bought it after reading about it on the site and thought I wanted to see what the hype was about.
Like Mia the first book sucked me in, but as Mia says it is every girls fairytale. Rich handsome prince comes in, takes care of you and you have the most amazing sex EVERYTIME, EVERYDAY even more than once a day, (I can’t remember the last time that happened to me). I liked reading book one for the same reason I liked reading Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse a complete contrast to my reality, and something that I didn’t have to think about too much.
I liked the writing of the erotic scenes. The desciptions were graphic but didn’t feel like I was watching porn. When I read one to my husband he did mention that if it was in film it would be X rated, but the writing didn’t make it feel that way. However in other parts of the books the writing style shit me to tears. I felt like I was reading character desciption written by high school English students and any plot that didn’t involve erotic sex wasn’t developed properly; especially in book 3 with the kidnapping, plane crash, stalker, exes, etc.
None of the sex scences shocked me but I enjoyed reading them for reasons listed above, I did have trouble imagining what some of the devices looked like. I really didn’t like the part with the tampon in Book 1 (my prudish side coming out) and the biting, sucking of the toes and feet (I have a foot phobia I think).
I didn’t like the character of Ana. I found her naive and whining. Everybody knows if you tell a guy you love them after 3 weeks he is going to shit, messed up childhood or not; also he wants to take care of you LET HIM, they are rare take them when you can.
Christain wasn’t too bad, he is the type of guy I like, strong, confident; but the story didn’t really explain why he was so damaged; I thought book three would go more into it but a was sadly disappointed. I also felt the storyline of her best friend getting with his brother was a little immature, once again high school english comes to mind.
In all I feel that all 3 books could have been amazing, even with the erotica, but poor character development and storyline made it a disappointing end. I hope they don’t make a movie once they take out the erotic sex its just another teenage love story, but I did imagine Christain like Alexander Skarsgard ( but really I wouldn’t turn any of them down).
loading...
On behalf of high school english students, I resent your generalisation.
loading...
Mum of 3. You should DEFINITELY read the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. Escape reality with hot vampire warrior brothers living in normal and modern America. Told from the male perspective, it’s brutal, sexy and easy to read. The writing is fine and the sex scenes are outstanding. I think there are 9 so far.
You will love them. Great stories.
loading...
I totally agree Black Dagger Brotherhood is great, Fifty Shades of Grey just doesn’t compare. The third book Lover awakened about Zsadist is one of the best romance books I have ever read………and I have read a few.If you are looking for a really great read then pick this book up not Fifty Shades. I like Ryan Gosling and Amanda Syfried….
loading...
I’m sorry – I’m stuck on the loop of the pretty man gallery….
loading...
^^^ yeah im with her!
loading...
Oh yeah, Hugh Jackman and Tom Welling….
Clooney?
loading...
The character is 27, Clooney might be a tad old
loading...
And Zac Efron too beige!
loading...
I have books from the 1990s which are nearly EXACTLY the same; plot, characters, descriptions of what people are wearing, sex descriptions, rich cars, big houses; the works.
The thing that shits me is that it really should have been one book, and the publishers have forced it into a trilogy to make more megabucks. So it drags it all out and makes the writing poorer.
loading...
YES! I am so glad this topic has opened for discussion so I can recommend THIS hilarious link that lists 50 things wrong with 50 Shades of Grey:
http://cassandraparkin.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/adventures-in-trash-fifty-things-that-annoy-me-about-fifty-shades-of-grey/
Eg.
1. We meet our heroine.
“I scowl with frustration at myself in the mirror. Damn my hair – it just won’t behave, and damn Katherine Kavanagh for being ill and subjecting me to this ordeal…Kate is my roommate, and she has chosen today of all days to succumb to the flu.”
A bad start.
a. In the scheme of things, bad hair is not a problem. Please try to be less self-absorbed.
b. I seriously doubt that Kate got flu just to spite you.
2. Anastasia arrives at Christian Grey’s headquarters and takes the elevator.
I walk into the enormous – and frankly intimidating – glass, steel and white sandstone lobby. Behind the solid sandstone desk, a very attractive, groomed, blonde young woman smiles pleasantly at me…[after taking the lift] I’m in another large lobby – again all glass, steel and white sandstone. I’m confronted by another desk of sandstone and another young blonde woman dressed impeccably in black and white.
a. It is not possible to create the impression of luxurious yet understated opulence simply by over-using the word “sandstone”.
b. Maybe you just got in the lift and forgot to press the button.
loading...
C’mon… haven’t you EVER blamed someone for doing something that you know logically they didn’t do to spite you? I’m pretty sure we all have… That part of the story is believable.
Sorry but while I agree that the story was not always well written and at times reading it felt like the equivalent of pulling teeth, the examples you’ve used are quite poor.
loading...
It’s so bad I kept thinking “sandstone” woman. the sandstone woman behind the sandstone desk speaking into a sandstone telephone ……..lol.
loading...
I am a person whose libido definitely responds to the right book but this, while I was glued to it, just didn’t have that effect upon me. Sounds like I am the only one.
loading...
I’m a bit like a lot of the other comments – I couldn’t put #1 and #2 down, but #3 is just hard work! (3 weeks later I’m still persevering!)
But I absolutely love that there is so much hype around a genre of fiction that hasn’t always been so openly talked about (agreed – sensational marketing!). Because really – who doesn’t remember as a young girl re-reading a steamy scene from a Virginia Andrews book (or Cosmo sealed section) under the doona a time or two – or that new feeling the very first time that you did!!
ps. For some steamy reading with a great storyline, I’d go the Bronze Horseman series over 50 Shades any day!! decadence for the ‘inner goddess’!!!!!
loading...
Yup completely agree Bronze Horseman is a winner!
loading...
I haven’t read the book so can’t comment on the quality (or lack thereof) but please, please, please, don’t have Kristen Stewart in the movie. She is so over-rated.
And is it just me or were Christian Bale and Kourtney Kardashian’s boyfriend, Scott, twins separated at birth???
loading...
I think it’s because Christian Bale played a character in the movie American Psycho (Patrick Bateman), that I’m fairly confident this photo came from, that Scott Disick has modelled himself/ his style on.
loading...