50 Shades of Grey

[CharliNye]

I can't decide if I want to read this. I read the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by Anne Rice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Claiming_of_Sleeping_Beauty) when I was around 20, so I doubt I'd find anything shocking or interesting about this. I am curious about all of the hype, though.

This would be my point of reference of books that should be read instead of 50 Shades. If you want erotic literature that is.

If you have any love for the Sleeping Beauty trilogy I'd stay away from 50. I mean I read those books over 20 yrs ago(own two of them) and they are much better written and more "interesting" then what this woman wrote. I kind of liken what she wrote to being a very mundane idea of what S&M/Dominance is, not what it actually is.

 

[eliza61]

Does anyone else NOT like this book? I've heard so much about it that I started to read it. I'm about halfway through the book, and there are many many 'scenes' in it, but there is no point or plot to it whatsoever. I'll probably finish this book, but wouldn't even think to read the other 2.

Exactly!!

See, I hate this book. I mean HATE it. I read about 12 pages and stopped. For me the writing is too horrible to get past. I can't read books that are horribly written, it hurts my brain.

Aside from that, I skimmed the sex scenes as I have friends who don't know me well tell me where they were. I was bored. As someone who has read more classic and interesting erotica this just pales in comparison. The scenes aren't dark, alluring or interesting. True erotica is shocking but enticing.

Sorry, I could go on but I don't want to. I know there really are so many women out there who love this series. And I don't want to be a snob about it.

I just wish women out there who find this so exciting would realize there's so much better material out there and it is OK to read it, and it is ok to LIKE it! I think that's what bothers me the most, that people are afraid to say they like this type of story.

I'm not loving it either. Outside of the fact that she's having great sex, I'm not getting Ana at all. I'm not a big lover of "weak" women at all so that may have some thing to do with it. I'm just not getting the attraction and 1/2 through can't understand how Ana is putting up with this guy.

I'm with Minnie824, I'll finish this one but have no plans to get the next 2.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

This would be my point of reference of books that should be read instead of 50 Shades. If you want erotic literature that is.

If you have any love for the Sleeping Beauty trilogy I'd stay away from 50. I mean I read those books over 20 yrs ago(own two of them) and they are much better written and more "interesting" then what this woman wrote. I kind of liken what she wrote to being a very mundane idea of what S&M/Dominance is, not what it actually is.

Can you really compare the Sleeping Beauty trilogy to 50 though? They are two very different types of books. The only reason they fall into the same genre is because they share SOME similar themes but 50 is VERY different erotica than SBT which to me was over the top and ridiculous to the point of disgusting.

 

[vickalamode]

This would be my point of reference of books that should be read instead of 50 Shades. If you want erotic literature that is.

If you have any love for the Sleeping Beauty trilogy I'd stay away from 50. I mean I read those books over 20 yrs ago(own two of them) and they are much better written and more "interesting" then what this woman wrote. I kind of liken what she wrote to being a very mundane idea of what S&M/Dominance is, not what it actually is.

I agree with this post. The Sleeping Beauty trilogy is much better. I read the first 50 Shades book and mostly found it LOL worthy. I said I wasn't going to read the second one but curiosity got the best of me and I torrented the second book, and much to my delight it is just as hilariously bad as the first one.

I feel like the plot and characters are just all so contrived. So Christian is randomly the richest guy ever, who is toootalllly hot, great in bed, kinky, blah blah blah etc etc, does magical things like have a helicopter and a sailboat and randomly owns a house at random places they visit just so that it can be convenient for the plot, he NEVER seems to be working since all the time he spends at work is apparently spent emailing Ana...give me a break. Oh, and don't even get me started on Ana...she seems really stupid to let a man be controlling her the way Christian does from what I have read so far, like try to tell her she isn't allowed to go to work or to do things besides be around him 24/7...I was in a relationship with a guy who was like that and I got totally fed up and left. Oh, and it also REALLY is irritating that every other thing she thinks is "OH JEEZ OH JEEZ WHAT AM I GONNA DO OH JEEZ"

At least in Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty, there isn't anything about it that is realistic-making it much easier for the reader to suspend disbelief and see it for what it is (a fairy tale...albeit a dirty one lol).

 

[goofy!]

just read that libraries in 3 states have banned the book.

So, I just had to go see what all the fuss was about and downloaded it to my kindle. Guess I have some reading material for the next couple of days.

Nothing like banning a book to increase sales It made me buy it.

 

[LexiC123]

I thought it was good, trashy fun...read the entire trilogy over the course of a rainy weekend.

Did anyone catch the SNL sketch about the book this past Saturday:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/amazon-mothers-day-ad/1400037

Too funny!

 

[OhMari]

I thought it was good, trashy fun...read the entire trilogy over the course of a rainy weekend.

Did anyone catch the SNL sketch about the book this past Saturday:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/amazon-mothers-day-ad/1400037

Too funny!

I saw the SNL skit and I laughed really hard. I could relate to the mom that couldn't get out of bed, because she couldn't put the book down.

My 3 nieces talked about the book this weekend and they asked me if I read it and I said I am not admitting to reading the book at all. The ending of the 3rd book was really stupid. Most banks have metal detectors and most banks do not carry that much cash in a bank either.

 

[Mermaid02]

I agree that the writing was pretty bad, but I did like the overall story. A few days ago I heard that Ian Somerhalder is interested in the lead role. I can't imagine a better actor for this role.

Is he Christian Grey or what?

Yeah- he's perfect!

 

[Jennasis]

I saw the SNL skit and I laughed really hard. I could relate to the mom that couldn't get out of bed, because she couldn't put the book down.

My 3 nieces talked about the book this weekend and they asked me if I read it and I said I am not admitting to reading the book at all. The ending of the 3rd book was really stupid. Most banks have metal detectors and most banks do not carry that much cash in a bank either.

That's not why she couldn't get out of bed. Did you watch the whole skit?

 

[vickalamode]

That's not why she couldn't get out of bed. Did you watch the whole skit?

Hahahahha yeah what Jennasis said...

 

[wvjules]

I tried to read the Sleeping Beauty triology but once I got to the part where they said she was only 15, I returned the book. I couldn't get past that. At least Ana and Christian are consenting adults.

 

[SondraC]

I tried to read the Sleeping Beauty triology but once I got to the part where they said she was only 15, I returned the book. I couldn't get past that. At least Ana and Christian are consenting adults.

Yes, very true.

 

[AndreaDM]

Like I've said before I read the first book and found it painfully written and somewhat boring after a while. I just couldn't relate to a 22 year old college graduate who was that sexually naive, gimme a break.

 

[OhMari]

That's not why she couldn't get out of bed. Did you watch the whole skit?

Uh, huh.

I posted that I didn't want to admit reading the book and I didn't want to elaborate, since this is a Family Friendly Board.

It still makes me red in the face.

 

[3Leafs]

Uh, huh.

I posted that I didn't want to admit reading the book and I didn't want to elaborate, since this is a Family Friendly Board.

It still makes me read in the face.

Now your making me go watch it

 

[3Leafs]

OMG That was great! Thanks for posting about the skit!

 

[Desnik]

I thought it was good, trashy fun...read the entire trilogy over the course of a rainy weekend.

Did anyone catch the SNL sketch about the book this past Saturday:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/amazon-mothers-day-ad/1400037

Too funny!

Thank you for posting the link that was hysterical!

 

[mrsklamc]

The ending of the 3rd book was really stupid. Most banks have metal detectors and most banks do not carry that much cash in a bank either.

They actually addressed that in the book- that they wouldn't have that much money except they were some kind of depository for the west coast or something. ...there are other things I would address but I'll put them in white font so they aren't spoilers... highlight to read.

What are the chances that she just happened to get a job at the same publishing company as someone he lived with as a child half way across the country? And everyone was so ticked at her at the end- what did they expect her to do differently? And someone needed to go through and edit the 'british-isms' if Ana & Christian are supposed to have been born and raised here.

 

[jenrose66]

This would be my point of reference of books that should be read instead of 50 Shades. If you want erotic literature that is.

If you have any love for the Sleeping Beauty trilogy I'd stay away from 50. I mean I read those books over 20 yrs ago(own two of them) and they are much better written and more "interesting" then what this woman wrote. I kind of liken what she wrote to being a very mundane idea of what S&M/Dominance is, not what it actually is.

I have never read the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy. I enjoy Anne Rice, I really liked the Mayfair Witches...I just never got around to the Sleeping Beauty stuff.

I read the Twilight series by accident. I bought the first book for my cousin for Christmas a few years ago and read it before I gave it to her so we could talk about it. It was poorly written, but compelling for some reason. I ended up reading the whole series but I did so hating myself for it I kept thinking, "wow Anne Rice who is such a wonderful author paved the way for this crap"

Now to hear that 50 shades of grey which is already a Twilight ripoff is also a ripoff of Anne Rice...I'm currently reading 50 shades now because my sister in law read it and dropped the book off at my house and really wanted me to read it.

My first impression was that the writing wasn't as bad as Twilight...but now that I'm a little more than halfway through the book I'm finding it boring and annoying.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I have never read the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy. I enjoy Anne Rice, I really liked the Mayfair Witches...I just never got around to the Sleeping Beauty stuff.

I read the Twilight series by accident. I bought the first book for my cousin for Christmas a few years ago and read it before I gave it to her so we could talk about it. It was poorly written, but compelling for some reason. I ended up reading the whole series but I did so hating myself for it I kept thinking, "wow Anne Rice who is such a wonderful author paved the way for this crap"

Now to hear that 50 shades of grey which is already a Twilight ripoff is also a ripoff of Anne Rice...I'm currently reading 50 shades now because my sister in law read it and dropped the book off at my house and really wanted me to read it.

My first impression was that the writing wasn't as bad as Twilight...but now that I'm a little more than halfway through the book I'm finding it boring and annoying.

Why do you feel bad for reading Twilight? It's so weird to me that people feel bad about reading. Good or bad at least you are reading! Topic shouldn't matter. it's so ridiculous to shame others about what they may like or to take a book snob approach to books like 50 or Twilight. Annie Rice is ok but I like when authors get to the point. I read Exit to Eden and thought it was at moments SO BORING! How long can you go on describing a "drag queens" attire!! Either way Don't feel bad, is my point. You're staying current and in the popular conversation and NOW can make your own opinion vs not reading it because someone told you not to.