[minimarshmallow]

My brother's girlfriend got given a copy and we both had a read of the first couple of chapters. We haven't gotten to the 'erotica' (and I use the term lightly, from what I've heard) yet, but if it stays at this level, I'm not sure I'll carry on much longer.

[KingMessi]

(Original post by F Ellen)
I do wonder why people make excuses for this book because it's not "intellectual literature".

It's like people think there are only two types of literature: "intellectual" and "badly written crud". Total nonsense. There are plenty of novels that, though not exactly Austen or Bronte, are perfectly enjoyable and well written. The Harry Potter books for example, are fantastic (IMO) but not what one would consider intellectual reading, and that's fine.

No, Fifty Shades isn't intellectual. That doesn't give it an excuse for being crap.

This. Just, this. In society today we see a kind of 'reverse snobbery' in all kinds of fields - music, films, TV - in which it becomes almost 'cool' to like something because it appeals to the lowest common denominator - you know, Big Brother, Wiley, Skepta - and to then say something along the lines of 'Well, I want something I can read/listen to/watch, not that dull classic nonsense' as though there's something inherently special about not liking what's widely accepted as excellent writing.

As you say, Fifty Shades sounds (I haven't read it) crap, and it's not crap because E.L. James wanted to write something that appealed to the masses. It's crap because she can't write. And, once again, as you so rightly say, a novel doesn't have to be written in Nabokov's prose for it to be a good read.

[. . .]

(Original post by minimarshmallow)
My brother's girlfriend got given a copy and we both had a read of the first couple of chapters. We haven't gotten to the 'erotica' (and I use the term lightly, from what I've heard) yet, but if it stays at this level, I'm not sure I'll carry on much longer.

Apparently it gets more intense (erotica wise) as you go along. (Never read it and don't intend to but it's what I've heard people say).

[minimarshmallow]

(Original post by . . .)
Apparently it gets more intense (erotica wise) as you go along. (Never read it and don't intend to but it's what I've heard people say).

She's left it here by accident (or maybe not) so I might give it a couple more chapters, but I'm finding myself bursting out laughing at how pathetic some of the 'writing' is. It's worse than Twilight.

[Starrstruck]

(Original post by Miracle Day)
It's seriously all I'm hearing about.. people who've shown no remote interest in reading are now reading this? And when I've asked what it's about the response has been "It's a porn book".

What is the hype?

Sex sells. It's as simple as that.

[. . .]

(Original post by minimarshmallow)
She's left it here by accident (or maybe not) so I might give it a couple more chapters, but I'm finding myself bursting out laughing at how pathetic some of the 'writing' is. It's worse than Twilight.

I bet it's not even that bad. People just like exaggerating.

Actually I just googled fifty shades of grey excerpt. Oh God!

[EarthGirl]

(Original post by Dr Awesome)
Why do females read/write such rubbish books?

All females?Even J.K Rowling?

There are many brilliant females writers, and many that are not so brilliant. Exactly the same could be said about male writers.

[. . .]

(Original post by EarthGirl)
All females?Even J.K Rowling?

There are many brilliant females writers, and many that are not so brilliant. Exactly the same could be said about male writers.

The writing style of that wasn't that great if I'm being honest.

[minimarshmallow]

(Original post by . . .)
I bet it's not even that bad. People just like exaggerating.

Actually I just googled fifty shades of grey excerpt. Oh God!

So far, it's boring tbh. But it's not bad to the point of being brilliant, at least not yet. I'm holding out for that!

[Pensivedore]

(Original post by . . .)
The writing style of that wasn't that great if I'm being honest.

For a book (or books) aimed at children, the writing was not bad at all.

(Original post by Dr Awesome)
Why do females read/write such rubbish books?

How about Margarat Atwood? Sylvia Plath? Dodie Smith? These are all great female writers and there are MANY more that I haven't mentioned.


Some male authors also write rubbish books. The quality of the book is not determined by the author's gender.

[. . .]

(Original post by Pensivedore)
For a book (or books) aimed at children, the writing was not bad at all.

How about Margarat Atwood? Sylvia Plath? Dodie Smith? These are all great female writers and there are MANY more that I haven't mentioned.




Some male authors also write rubbish books. The quality of the book is not determined by the author's gender.

I wasn't trying to say that females writers are bad and that male writers are better.
I must admit I did enjoy reading the Harry Potter series but the writing style wasn't to my liking.

[tradingmyheartforyours]

Guys, type in 'Fifty shades of red, white and blue' into Facebook. It is much better than the original

[Pensivedore]

(Original post by . . .)
I wasn't trying to say that females writers are bad and that male writers are better.
I must admit I did enjoy reading the Harry Potter series but the writing style wasn't to my liking.

Oh sorry, I just realised that part of the reply was intended for Dr.Awesome and also just realised that all you said was the thing about the HP books . My apologies.

[Kruz]

I saw a year 11 girl reading it on the bus, when I caught her reading it she tried to hide it

[IlexBlue]

There are so many things wrong with this series, ranging from the guy tracking her cell phone and basically being an abusive creep, yanking her tampon out to have period sex and having and describing kinky whip sex while heavily pregnant (and going "oh lol look the baby likes sex too lolol" WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL) that I don't even know where to begin. If you like this book for any reason - even "hur it's crap i know but it's just so gosh darn interesting!" because it's just not - you are a pleb. No excuses.

But I will say this: NO ONE GETS AN ORGASM SIMPLY FROM HAVING THEIR NIPPLES RUBBED ALL RIGHT

[manners20]

(Original post by Miracle Day)
It's seriously all I'm hearing about.. people who've shown no remote interest in reading are now reading this? And when I've asked what it's about the response has been "It's a porn book".

What is the hype?

i know, right. I keep seeing people reading it in public, wtf kind of pervert reads stuff like that on the train? like yeah, let me just whip my laptop out and start watching porn. cool.

[chelseas96]

I've got to admit I'm reading it currently and I think its a great book! I dont think its porn but just a story that happens to have sex in it! I think its got a great addictive story line to it! But then again what do I know I love twilight!! :P

[Carolus]

(Original post by Rosie1422)
I just couldn't believe that damn contract spanning 6 pages when I flicked through one copy. So many phrases come to mind, such as 'less is more' or 'show, don't tell.' In a book about a divorce, would you write the legal papers out verbatim? And I seriously cannot believe people think a book involving the phrases 'my inner goddess' and 'touching my sex' is actually proper erotica.

You think that's bad, by the time it gets to book 3, her 'Inner Goddess' comes up so often that she pretty much just seems to have multiple personality disorder.
And if you disliked the contract, an awful lot of page space gets dedicated to tedious email exchanges, written out in full each time.

(Original post by chelseas96)
I've got to admit I'm reading it currently and I think its a great book! I dont think its porn but just a story that happens to have sex in it! I think its got a great addictive story line to it! But then again what do I know I love twilight!! :P

I agree it's not porn, but I'm not sure it qualifies as much of a story, either.

I suspect there's probably a high correlation between liking Twilight and liking 50 shades, not least because they're basically the same book.

[alt31]

read all 3, and it is a cute storyline!
really want another book to come out now, missing my 50 shades fix

[Hype en Ecosse]

(Original post by IlexBlue)
But I will say this: NO ONE GETS AN ORGASM SIMPLY FROM HAVING THEIR NIPPLES RUBBED ALL RIGHT

After hearing about the masochistic psyche patient with hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliopho bia who could make himself orgasm by saying "antidisestablishmentarianis m" (TSR puts in that space, not me ) for an hour, I no longer doubt the ability for some people to have orgasms from anything.