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xmas74

(29,767 posts)
Sat Jul 28, 2012, 11:35 PM Jul 2012

50 Shades of Grey

Borrowed it from the online library after everyone ooh'ed and aww'ed it on facebook. I still haven't made it past chapter 2 and I only have two more days left on checkout.

Darn it but this book is just boring,poorly written, and overall dumb.

If anyone actually finished it and liked it, let me know. I'd love to know if it ever got better.

36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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50 Shades of Grey (Original Post) xmas74 Jul 2012 OP
I have not read it, but the people who I know Curmudgeoness Jul 2012 #1
I didn't even make it that far. xmas74 Jul 2012 #2
Well, there you go. Mystery solved. nt Curmudgeoness Jul 2012 #3
It was originally written as Twilight fan fiction. Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #4
That's probably why I couldn't get all that far. xmas74 Jul 2012 #5
My husband tried to read it but couldn't get far Chemisse Jul 2012 #6
Same here. xmas74 Jul 2012 #7
I read all three books... one_voice Aug 2012 #8
No tomatoes xmas74 Aug 2012 #9
Sorry... one_voice Aug 2012 #10
Loved the tv show- xmas74 Aug 2012 #11
have you read the feehan carpathian series or kenyon atlantis series.... seabeyond Sep 2012 #24
Oh I love talking about authors I read... one_voice Sep 2012 #26
I'm ashamed to admit I read it... ohheckyeah Aug 2012 #12
That was the feeling I got from the first few chapters. xmas74 Aug 2012 #13
It was an insult to ohheckyeah Aug 2012 #14
There had better be massive amounts of money involved- xmas74 Aug 2012 #15
A Ho-Hum book...and Anne Rice did it a zillion times better. Glad to see my local B&N putting her mtnester Aug 2012 #16
Even my local Walmart had her Beauty books out on the racks the other day. xmas74 Aug 2012 #17
That is a surprise! mtnester Aug 2012 #18
My daughter was looking around the other day in the YA section, xmas74 Aug 2012 #19
They certainly have struck a chord Mz Pip Aug 2012 #20
I know I'm late to the party, but please allow me to opine: That book is the worst piece of drivel Stardust Aug 2012 #21
I couldn't get anywhere with the book. xmas74 Aug 2012 #22
Junk writing! mimi85 Aug 2012 #23
It seems like the book has turned into a big joke about trashy sex writing. Lex Sep 2012 #25
after shades of grey JoySmith Sep 2012 #27
It's so hot. It's really hot. It's a hot book. Kablooie Nov 2012 #28
I was thinking about reading it due to all the hoopla, mantis49 Dec 2012 #29
Don't purchase it. xmas74 Dec 2012 #30
Don't waste your money Mz Pip Dec 2012 #31
I started it last night. Got as far as page 30. mainer Dec 2012 #32
any cheap bodice ripper xmas74 Dec 2012 #33
How to write Napoleon838 Dec 2012 #34
This may be something Mz Pip Dec 2012 #35
Of course, I never saw it.. fadedrose Dec 2012 #36

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
1. I have not read it, but the people who I know
Sun Jul 29, 2012, 05:49 PM
Jul 2012

who have read it only talk about how steamy it is....and how they have to stop occasionally just to cool off. No one has mentioned it as a great novel.

So....you didn't find it hot and bothering?

xmas74

(29,767 posts)
2. I didn't even make it that far.
Sun Jul 29, 2012, 05:57 PM
Jul 2012

The first few chapters were awful. It's written for the same adult women who are really into Twilight.


Now that I think of it, all the adults that were into Twilight are the ones who are raving about how good this is.

 

Goblinmonger

(22,340 posts)
4. It was originally written as Twilight fan fiction.
Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:52 AM
Jul 2012

She changed the names and a couple plot elements and VIOLA new mommy-porn novel.

Chemisse

(30,999 posts)
6. My husband tried to read it but couldn't get far
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 07:20 AM
Jul 2012

And he usually tries to persevere with books.

He said the writing was just horrible. He couldn't understand why there is such hoopla about it.

xmas74

(29,767 posts)
7. Same here.
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 08:50 AM
Jul 2012

It was absolutely awful.

I think my time expires on it today. I checked it out as an EReader through my library. It's awful.

one_voice

(20,043 posts)
8. I read all three books...
Wed Aug 1, 2012, 08:05 PM
Aug 2012

I'm thoroughly embarrassed to admit that I did. I usually read sitting by the pool or before I went to sleep (helped me sleep). It was so far off what I normally read but my daughter hounded me until I agreed to read them. Once I got half way through the first book, it was like watching a bad movie, it sucked but you wanted to know how it ended.

I didn't think they were horrible, I think if you were looking for something mind numbingly stupid or light reading it fit the bill. Something you read while you're praying for sleep, doctor's office, mani/peids, at the beach/poolside, it's quick and definitely not deep. I didn't freak out over the sex, honestly I didn't think it was that bad. I've read worse in some of my supernatural books (my guilty pleasure). I've didn't read the Twilight saga so I can't compare.

I hope that helps.

Feel free to throw tomatoes at me.

xmas74

(29,767 posts)
9. No tomatoes
Wed Aug 1, 2012, 08:10 PM
Aug 2012

but someone here said something about how it was originally fanfic for Twilight, which explains why I couldn't read it.

I'm no lit snob-I love me some Sookie Stackhouse and I think that modern day vampires should look like Eric Northman. I've also read some of the Laurel Hamilton books-those can get raunchy at times. And I've met Jim Butcher-not romantic supernatural but supernatural mysteries. (He writes Dresden Files and such. At least I was told it was Jim Butcher that I met-I know he lives in the area.)

one_voice

(20,043 posts)
10. Sorry...
Wed Aug 1, 2012, 10:10 PM
Aug 2012

Wanted to add...it was very predictable. They did have second story in both book 2 and 3 that might have made it more interesting had the writer done more with it. Also had they gone into the male main character's childhood more I think there might have been something interesting there as well. It really was your cheesy wanna be sexy book.

I never got to read the Sookie books but I watch True Blood. I loved Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake's series but she's gone full blown vamp/werewolf porn now. It was so good at first too. I know the Dresden Files, between mom and me we have all the books. I remember the tv show too.

Agree with you about modern day vamps, none of this sparkly stuff.

xmas74

(29,767 posts)
11. Loved the tv show-
Wed Aug 1, 2012, 10:14 PM
Aug 2012

I said so when I met Jim. He said people say that to him all the time.

Anita Blake did get down and dirty. I haven't read her in some time but used to like them. Merry Gentry was pretty nasty too.

The Sookie books are different from the show. Try them sometime-very quick beach reads. Easy to put one in your purse and read while in a waiting room. Charlaine Harris says there will only be one more book in the series so now's the time to read them before the last one comes out next May.

 

seabeyond

(110,159 posts)
24. have you read the feehan carpathian series or kenyon atlantis series....
Sat Sep 1, 2012, 10:29 PM
Sep 2012

love them.

havent read hamilton. but i have found some good supernatural. dodd has a good series. i have been having fun with chapman series.

so many more. what are some of yours you like

moning has a series of five i think, that are all connected like one big book. that was good.

one_voice

(20,043 posts)
26. Oh I love talking about authors I read...
Sun Sep 2, 2012, 04:03 PM
Sep 2012


I've never read any of the ones you mentioned but I will be looking into them. Supernatural books are by guilty pleasure. I don't mind a romance angle as long as it's second to the main story. I love a lot of action.

Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series was great until Blue Moon then it started getting supernatual porny. But I'm like a crack addict and I still read them hoping she goes back.

Jeaniene frost Cat and Bones series. I enjoy this one, very much too. She has another series she's started that's branched from this one.

L.A. Banks. Vampire Huntress. This one is different, in that it uses a lot of real stuff from different religious beliefs. It's a very good series and the more you read the 'deeper' it gets. It uses historical facts and brings greek mythology into the stories. Not as light as the other books. I loved this series. Very strong women too.

Patricia Briggs. Mercy Thompson series. This one is pretty good too.

Kim Harrison- The Hollows Series. She also has another series.

Karen Chance--multiple series all very good.

Adrian Phoenix-- 1. A Rush of Wings. 2. In The Blood (Makers Song). 3. Beneath the Skin (Makers Song). 4. Etched in Bone (Makers Song)...this one is very interesting. I enjoyed it very much. Angels, demons, FBI, it's all so good. Another one is coming in January. The author has another series, I'm going to try.


Ok, I'll stop now...lol let me know if you try any of these authors and if you like them.

ohheckyeah

(9,314 posts)
12. I'm ashamed to admit I read it...
Thu Aug 2, 2012, 03:47 PM
Aug 2012

once I start a book I almost always finish but I skimmed the last half of this book and chalked it up to a stupid decision on my part.

I didn't find it hot...I found it sad. Poorly written with a stupid female who believes her love will change the guy who admits he gets off on hurting her. Pain doesn't excite me and I found the whole thing distasteful.

If people are into BDSM, that's their business and I don't care, it just doesn't do anything for me.

xmas74

(29,767 posts)
13. That was the feeling I got from the first few chapters.
Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:30 PM
Aug 2012

It seemed like the same old, same old girl wants bad boy and wants to change him.

ohheckyeah

(9,314 posts)
14. It was an insult to
Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:36 PM
Aug 2012

women, IMO. This guy took bad boy to a whole new level. Sign a contract giving him the right to do with you whatever he wants? OMG, why would any woman do that shit?

xmas74

(29,767 posts)
15. There had better be massive amounts of money involved-
Thu Aug 2, 2012, 05:24 PM
Aug 2012

plenty to set up my kid for a lifetime. That's the only way it would ever happen for me.

I suspect I was better off just reading a summary of the book somewhere online.

mtnester

(8,885 posts)
16. A Ho-Hum book...and Anne Rice did it a zillion times better. Glad to see my local B&N putting her
Sun Aug 12, 2012, 08:42 PM
Aug 2012

Beauty works and Eden book right next to the Shades books.

xmas74

(29,767 posts)
17. Even my local Walmart had her Beauty books out on the racks the other day.
Sun Aug 12, 2012, 08:59 PM
Aug 2012

It surprised me, considering the section they were in!

xmas74

(29,767 posts)
19. My daughter was looking around the other day in the YA section,
Mon Aug 13, 2012, 09:22 AM
Aug 2012

probably for some cute-vampire-boy-meets-still-living-girl type of book and down the aisle, where the Christian love stories are kept was the entire Beauty trilogy. Each had multiple copies and were on a middle shelf, where they would catch the eye.

I'd say that someone put them in the wrong spot on accident, not knowing what they were about, or someone did it on purpose, thinking it a great joke.

Mz Pip

(27,896 posts)
20. They certainly have struck a chord
Mon Aug 13, 2012, 12:17 PM
Aug 2012

with people. #1,2,&3 on the best seller list for weeks. maybe they appeal to the "rescuer" in some women. I read, or rather skimmed, the first two. Got them from the library; I certainly wasn't going to pay money for them. The writing is annoyingly bad and the characters are about as unrealistic as they come. THey are very cliched. She's an ordinary young woman who blushes, trips and says, "Holy cow" a lot. He's gorgeous, filthy rich, owns his own company, does good deeds globally, pilots helicopters, plays piano flawlessly and has a really big dick and dark sexual needs. They meet, sparks fly and 3 books of highly discriptive kinky sex unfold.

I checked them out because I heard they were banned somewhere and I always like to support banned books. Then I was just plain curious as to what all the fuss was about. Still don't get their popularity, but there is something there that has made them best sellers and I suppose someone will someday do a PhD dissertation on why.

Stardust

(3,894 posts)
21. I know I'm late to the party, but please allow me to opine: That book is the worst piece of drivel
Sun Aug 19, 2012, 01:09 PM
Aug 2012

ever written. I finally erased it from my iPad a couple of days ago because I couldn't go any further. I keep hoping it would improve. I detest romance novels and it appeared to be a classic as far as poorly-written literature goes.

xmas74

(29,767 posts)
22. I couldn't get anywhere with the book.
Sun Aug 19, 2012, 04:31 PM
Aug 2012

I've read bodice busters that were better written and a heck of a lot more enjoyable.

mimi85

(1,805 posts)
23. Junk writing!
Sat Aug 25, 2012, 11:37 PM
Aug 2012

I was struggling to get through the first book, bought the whole damn trilogy thinking it must be great.

What a piece of crap! I looked again at some of Amazon's reviews and couldn't how so many people raved about it! Someone did post where this was ripped off from.....total Twilight BS from something called Masters of The Universe that was just on the net, not an actual book. I suppose it can be googled...too lazy to bother now. It's in the comments of the first review. All this person did was change names and a few minor details. I'm surprised the publisher got away with it.

Whew, thought it was just me!

Lex

(34,108 posts)
25. It seems like the book has turned into a big joke about trashy sex writing.
Sat Sep 1, 2012, 11:31 PM
Sep 2012

So yeah, not too good.

JoySmith

(2 posts)
27. after shades of grey
Sun Sep 30, 2012, 12:07 PM
Sep 2012

My favorites lately would have to be Deveraux's "A Knight in Shining Armor" or Emma Rose's His Every Desire.

Kablooie

(18,778 posts)
28. It's so hot. It's really hot. It's a hot book.
Thu Nov 22, 2012, 01:54 AM
Nov 2012

And a good candidate for burning if you're into that sort of thing.

mantis49

(846 posts)
29. I was thinking about reading it due to all the hoopla,
Sun Dec 2, 2012, 12:55 PM
Dec 2012

and downloaded a sample to my Kindle. Haven't read the sample yet. After reading this thread, I doubt that I'll purchase it.

Thanks everybody!

xmas74

(29,767 posts)
30. Don't purchase it.
Sun Dec 2, 2012, 03:14 PM
Dec 2012

If you really want to read it look around at your local library. Maybe they'll have a free Kindle download. That's how I read it.

mainer

(12,186 posts)
32. I started it last night. Got as far as page 30.
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 11:14 AM
Dec 2012

Stupid, stupid heroine who keeps tripping and falling into the hero's arms, and who says "Oh, crap!" on just about every page. I see nothing erotic about it so far, just bad, bad writing.

Harlequin novels are MUCH better written than this.

Napoleon838

(9 posts)
34. How to write
Thu Dec 6, 2012, 02:04 PM
Dec 2012

I'm trying to write a romance about a man who falls in love with a stripper. Does anyone know how to describe a strip tease or how a stripper looks? Any links to examples? Thanks!

fadedrose

(10,044 posts)
36. Of course, I never saw it..
Sat Dec 15, 2012, 02:39 AM
Dec 2012

but I think there was a movie out years ago called "The Stripper." I remember it because of the sexy music that came out of it, and I think they play the song in strip-parody scenes . . .

I don't know where you'd find a copy of it to watch.

Why don't you write a book about a man driven to find out about strippers? You'd know more about the topic...

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