Fifty Shades of Grey this.. Fifty Shades of Grey that..
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Not even proud to say this, but **** my life I've read all THREE. Now, before anyone calls me a hypocrite, I'm one of those people that when I start reading a story, I have to know how it ends, so it really didn't help me when every damn book finished in a cliffhanger, not to mention I'd heard mixed reviews and wanted to know just how BAD this book was through my own experience, and not just something some critic said on Amazon.
That being said, the writing is absolutely APPALLING in EVERY sense, particularly in the first book, where at times it's downright embarrassing. I don't even mean embarrassing because of all the kinky sex, I mean embarrassing because the main character has set women back about 100 years, right up there with things like Bella Swan and the sandwhich. Anastasia is supposedly a university educated 21 year old, you'd think she'd be able to refer to her vagina as something other than "her sex" and do the sane thing and run for the hills when the control freak that is Christian Grey presents her with a CONTRACT dictating their sex life (oh yes, believe it or not, this crazy fool even wants to tell her when and how she waxes). I'm sure my fellow ladies will see why they'll have a hard time relating to Miss Steele. The girl can't even form a proper sentence without gushing about just how "damn sexy!" the guy is, despite the fact he's a neurotic sadist (as he himself puts it). It made me want to smack her with a frying pan.
Now, by all means, I am not telling anyone what to read and not read, and if you want to see what I mean, go on and read it. It sort of scares me a bit that THAT'S the type of literature mums are attracted to now a days. If that's the case, god deliver us from this evil called middle age, amen.
That being said, the writing is absolutely APPALLING in EVERY sense, particularly in the first book, where at times it's downright embarrassing. I don't even mean embarrassing because of all the kinky sex, I mean embarrassing because the main character has set women back about 100 years, right up there with things like Bella Swan and the sandwhich. Anastasia is supposedly a university educated 21 year old, you'd think she'd be able to refer to her vagina as something other than "her sex" and do the sane thing and run for the hills when the control freak that is Christian Grey presents her with a CONTRACT dictating their sex life (oh yes, believe it or not, this crazy fool even wants to tell her when and how she waxes). I'm sure my fellow ladies will see why they'll have a hard time relating to Miss Steele. The girl can't even form a proper sentence without gushing about just how "damn sexy!" the guy is, despite the fact he's a neurotic sadist (as he himself puts it). It made me want to smack her with a frying pan.
Now, by all means, I am not telling anyone what to read and not read, and if you want to see what I mean, go on and read it. It sort of scares me a bit that THAT'S the type of literature mums are attracted to now a days. If that's the case, god deliver us from this evil called middle age, amen.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by amyelizabeth2681
Not even proud to say this, but **** my life I've read all THREE. Now, before anyone calls me a hypocrite, I'm one of those people that when I start reading a story, I have to know how it ends, so it really didn't help me when every damn book finished in a cliffhanger, not to mention I'd heard mixed reviews and wanted to know just how BAD this book was through my own experience, and not just something some critic said on Amazon.
That being said, the writing is absolutely APPALLING in EVERY sense, particularly in the first book, where at times it's downright embarrassing. I don't even mean embarrassing because of all the kinky sex, I mean embarrassing because the main character has set women back about 100 years, right up there with things like Bella Swan and the sandwhich. Anastasia is supposedly a university educated 21 year old, you'd think she'd be able to refer to her vagina as something other than "her sex" and do the sane thing and run for the hills when the control freak that is Christian Grey presents her with a CONTRACT dictating their sex life (oh yes, believe it or not, this crazy fool even wants to tell her when and how she waxes). I'm sure my fellow ladies will see why they'll have a hard time relating to Miss Steele. The girl can't even form a proper sentence without gushing about just how "damn sexy!" the guy is, despite the fact he's a neurotic sadist (as he himself puts it). It made me want to smack her with a frying pan.
Now, by all means, I am not telling anyone what to read and not read, and if you want to see what I mean, go on and read it. It sort of scares me a bit that THAT'S the type of literature mums are attracted to now a days. If that's the case, god deliver us from this evil called middle age, amen.
That being said, the writing is absolutely APPALLING in EVERY sense, particularly in the first book, where at times it's downright embarrassing. I don't even mean embarrassing because of all the kinky sex, I mean embarrassing because the main character has set women back about 100 years, right up there with things like Bella Swan and the sandwhich. Anastasia is supposedly a university educated 21 year old, you'd think she'd be able to refer to her vagina as something other than "her sex" and do the sane thing and run for the hills when the control freak that is Christian Grey presents her with a CONTRACT dictating their sex life (oh yes, believe it or not, this crazy fool even wants to tell her when and how she waxes). I'm sure my fellow ladies will see why they'll have a hard time relating to Miss Steele. The girl can't even form a proper sentence without gushing about just how "damn sexy!" the guy is, despite the fact he's a neurotic sadist (as he himself puts it). It made me want to smack her with a frying pan.
Now, by all means, I am not telling anyone what to read and not read, and if you want to see what I mean, go on and read it. It sort of scares me a bit that THAT'S the type of literature mums are attracted to now a days. If that's the case, god deliver us from this evil called middle age, amen.
I am reading the first book atm and I think that you need to be a bit more objective. their relationship isn't a conventional relationship. he has made that clear at the beginning and she knows what she is getting into. the dom/sub concept is one that is quite well known and some people do lead relationships like that. I think you are overthinking the relationship in the context of what you know. he wanted a sexual s+ m relationship at the beginning and not a conventional emotional and sexual relationship.
As for the comparisons with bella, the story is developed from twilight fan fiction so that is not quite surprising. As for Ana being unrelatable. there will be many girls out there who are just as inexperienced and will fall into a relationship and want to please their boyfriends because the attraction is something that is new and exciting for girls who are in that position. they like that feeling of being liked and adored and sexually attractive to someone else. why is that so hard to relate to? and they want to continue the relationship because they like that feeling it gives them and don't want it to end. and she is just besotted. any girl who has never had a relationship before and finds herself attracted to someone for the first time will feel like that.
Original post by hali0112
I am reading the first book atm and I think that you need to be a bit more objective. their relationship isn't a conventional relationship. he has made that clear at the beginning and she knows what she is getting into. the dom/sub concept is one that is quite well known and some people do lead relationships like that. I think you are overthinking the relationship in the context of what you know. he wanted a sexual s+ m relationship at the beginning and not a conventional emotional and sexual relationship.
As for the comparisons with bella, the story is developed from twilight fan fiction so that is not quite surprising. As for Ana being unrelatable. there will be many girls out there who are just as inexperienced and will fall into a relationship and want to please their boyfriends because the attraction is something that is new and exciting for girls who are in that position. they like that feeling of being liked and adored and sexually attractive to someone else. why is that so hard to relate to? and they want to continue the relationship because they like that feeling it gives them and don't want it to end. and she is just besotted. any girl who has never had a relationship before and finds herself attracted to someone for the first time will feel like that.
As for the comparisons with bella, the story is developed from twilight fan fiction so that is not quite surprising. As for Ana being unrelatable. there will be many girls out there who are just as inexperienced and will fall into a relationship and want to please their boyfriends because the attraction is something that is new and exciting for girls who are in that position. they like that feeling of being liked and adored and sexually attractive to someone else. why is that so hard to relate to? and they want to continue the relationship because they like that feeling it gives them and don't want it to end. and she is just besotted. any girl who has never had a relationship before and finds herself attracted to someone for the first time will feel like that.
I did try to be objective, hell, I was so objective I read all three, and I will even admit that if it didn't have SOME sort of appeal, I wouldn't have. However, that being said, I can also say its one of the only main characters I've actually downright disliked, and perhaps you're right, some women can relate to Ana, however I didn't, and it somewhat bothers me that this type of heroine would have so much appeal. What happened to the days when we would see strong women in literature? I'm sorry, but it's difficult for me to find appealing someone who was so unable to think for herself at times. If anything, the female heroines we should hope for should be more akin to Katherine Kavanagh instead of Anastasia Steele.
Perhaps what bothered me the most wasn't the relationship itself, but just how badly expressed it is through the author. Yes, inexperience happens, but it seemed to me like Ana's thought processes were more akin to a 12 year old with her first crush than a 21 year old who's attempting to have a go at her first sexual relationship. Yes, she's innocent and inexperienced. Of course we've all been there, but I'm pretty sure a look into our thought processes would show they're a bit more refined then all the "Ooooohhhsss and Aaaaaaassss" this girl goes through in the span of the first book. If anything, I'm slightly offended that a middle aged woman like E.L. James seems to think that THATS what's going on in the brains of girls like us. But I digress.
Simply, it made it cringeworthy to read, again not because of the disturbing essence of their relationship, but again just how BADLY it's written. I would give the book more credit if it'd been better written, because the premise of Ana and Christian's relationship is the sort of psychologically twisted thing which would make a good book, however, it was unfortunately reduced, from something that could have been genuinely stimulating to what's being referred to as "mummy porn".
Alas, I respect your opinion and anyone who enjoyed the book, like I said before, who am I to tell people what to read and not read? I am simply giving my opinion of the book, an opinion which I had enough sense to formulate on my own after reading the entire series (not just a few chapters and then trash people's opinion without a clue into the story, as I'm sure there are plenty of people on this thread that will) and MY personal conclusions. Not everyone will agree of course, and I'll get negs from die hard fans of the book, but that's what forums are for
(edited 11 years ago)
Twilight fanfic and atrocious writing aside, the lead female seems so immature, such low confidence and zero self worth, I couldn't believe what I saw! It also saddens me that so many women want a man like CG. Screwed up, stalking, manipulating and intensely controlling. But oh, everything is okay because he is hot and has nice eyes 
The smut doesn't even save it, even that is unrealistic and low quality, you can find much better for free floating around the net.
Oh and the toothbrush thing alone was repulsive enough to put me off ever touch a copy of the book.
The smut doesn't even save it, even that is unrealistic and low quality, you can find much better for free floating around the net. Oh and the toothbrush thing alone was repulsive enough to put me off ever touch a copy of the book.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Girlinstatic
Twilight fanfic and atrocious writing aside, the lead female seems so immature, such low confidence and zero self worth, I couldn't believe what I saw! It also saddens me that so many women want a man like CG. Screwed up, stalking, manipulating and intensely controlling. But oh, everything is okay because he is hot and has nice eyes The smut doesn't even save it, even that is unrealistic and low quality, you can find much better for free floating around the net.
Oh and the toothbrush thing alone was repulsive enough to put me off ever touch a copy of the book.
The smut doesn't even save it, even that is unrealistic and low quality, you can find much better for free floating around the net. Oh and the toothbrush thing alone was repulsive enough to put me off ever touch a copy of the book.
I'm so intrigued by this ...
I've just started reading it, from the title I thought it would be intellectual and I didn't really look into it. It does seem a bit copyright of Twilight (89% to be precise - according to sources on the internet) which at first dissuaded me from reading more. But now I hear that there's a lot of sex? Well, to me that's not a bad thing, internet porn is rubbish, so maybe this will be an improvement.
This kind of stuff - think something like Tipping the Velvet - is popular because it's seen to be 'high-class' porn. The reason people like it so much is that all the middle class Guardian reading, cous-cous eating, yummy mummys of Islington - would wouldn't be seen dead with any other kind of porn - can read it but still feel good about themselves because it's 'literary'.
I'm watching a film adaptation of Julius Caesar right now, and that's what people should be doing more. I've nothing against trash - I liked the Da Vinci Code not in spite of but because of it's sheer hilariousness - but unfortunately the literary world is pretty **** right now. Look at the bestseller lists, they're topped by things like Jeremy Clarkson's latest 'I'm a dickhead, and proud of it' rubbish, or by the latest Vampire bonkfest. Readers of the world, read some ****ing Dickens or Milton! You have nothing to lose but your own Oprah book club crassness.
I'm watching a film adaptation of Julius Caesar right now, and that's what people should be doing more. I've nothing against trash - I liked the Da Vinci Code not in spite of but because of it's sheer hilariousness - but unfortunately the literary world is pretty **** right now. Look at the bestseller lists, they're topped by things like Jeremy Clarkson's latest 'I'm a dickhead, and proud of it' rubbish, or by the latest Vampire bonkfest. Readers of the world, read some ****ing Dickens or Milton! You have nothing to lose but your own Oprah book club crassness.
(edited 11 years ago)
It's so hyped up that I don't know whether to believe if it's actually good or not. From what I have heard it's a newer version of Mills & Boon...
Original post by geetar
This kind of stuff - think something like Tipping the Velvet - is popular because it's seen to be 'high-class' porn. The reason people like it so much is that all the middle class Guardian reading, cous-cous eating, yummy mummys of Islington - would wouldn't be seen dead with any other kind of porn - can read it but still feel good about themselves because it's 'literary'.
Haha, so much this.
The irony is it's extremely cheap porn. Just wrapped up in a nice little velvet box. And of course, it's more directed at a female audience thanks to emotional stimulus rather than purely visual.
Sounds like teen girls reading it to try and appear edgy, bet if you showed them Holly Michaels getting ****ed and jizzed on by 10 guys they'd recoil in disgust though. Loads of girls on my news feed have felt the need to announce to everyone they are reading it, when did society lose the ability to think for itself?
Original post by Jono404
Sounds like teen girls reading it to try and appear edgy, bet if you showed them Holly Michaels getting ****ed and jizzed on by 10 guys they'd recoil in disgust though. Loads of girls on my news feed have felt the need to announce to everyone they are reading it, when did society lose the ability to think for itself?
It never gained that ability lol. We're a pack animal, remember?
Until a few days ago I was convinced it was vampire porn. Cue me asking the missus if she's enjoying her vampire porn, only to be told "It's not vampire porn!" thinking she meant its not really all that sexually graphic. Turns out its not about vampires at all.
Original post by fifi*
the writing is just tragic, its a truly horrific piece of literature.
but i do so wish that christian grey existed. every girl does!
but i do so wish that christian grey existed. every girl does!
Wait...what?
Every girl wants a neurotic sadomasicist?
Original post by fifi*
but i do so wish that christian grey existed. every girl does!
but i do so wish that christian grey existed. every girl does!
From the synopsis he basically sounds like a ****, and it sounds like a book that reaffirms my view that women are far and away shallower than men.
Anyone heard of Mills and Boon? I'm guessing this is something like that. If so, I doubt I'd read it. I am proud to say, I have never completely read a Mills and Boon novel 
They are extremely boring.
They are extremely boring.
I've been reading it as I'd heard how crap it was so I had to witness it myself and honestly it is absolutely dire.
The concept is fairly good, and if given to a competent writer who researched into it properly and actually knew how to write it could actually be a fairly decent book but unfortunately, in the hands of E L James it is terrible ¬_¬ I don't like to tear people down on things like writing because I'm aware of how I'd feel if someone insulted my work, but there are some things that are so blatantly rubbish you're not sure why it was even published.
This was actually originally a Twilight fanfiction, if you've read the series you'll see how some events in FSOG are actually just slightly edited versions of events in the Twilight series.
The concept is fairly good, and if given to a competent writer who researched into it properly and actually knew how to write it could actually be a fairly decent book but unfortunately, in the hands of E L James it is terrible ¬_¬ I don't like to tear people down on things like writing because I'm aware of how I'd feel if someone insulted my work, but there are some things that are so blatantly rubbish you're not sure why it was even published.
This was actually originally a Twilight fanfiction, if you've read the series you'll see how some events in FSOG are actually just slightly edited versions of events in the Twilight series.
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