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I attended an event a couple of weeks ago. 35 women writers and a crowd of readers got together for an afternoon of talking about books. There was a book sale and also a series of workshops. We had a lot of fun and some good discussions.
When I received the agenda a week before the event, I saw that in addition to a workshop on getting published, I was participating in one on Fifty Shades of Grey. I had not read it yet, but I had intended to. I knew it might not be my cup of tea, but I try to read the books and see the movies that the whole world seems to be reading and seeing. I figure it keeps me in touch with what is going on outside of my writing cave. As with most things, however, I tend to be a late adopter.
Anyway, I read the book in time for my panel. And I formed some strong opinions about it. Oh, not the kind that say “civilization is going to hell in a hand basket if this is what ten million women are reading.” I was not shocked at all. Which was part of the problem. I have read erotica before, and the erotic in this book was about as vanilla as erotica can get without losing rights to the label. My experience with erotica, which I will admit is limited, is that it is edgier and more explicit. Not only were the activities in this book pretty tame, but the language describing them was too.
There is nothing wrong with that, of course. I can hardly criticize the author for writing about sex pretty much as I do. Only I hope the readers of this book did not think they were being really daring. Ms. James let them dip a toe into the erotic fiction lake without really having to take a plunge later. First the author used a written contract between the two characters that allowed readers to see what can really go on in a dominant/submissive relationship, but the heroine’s ability to veto any given activity on the list ensured that nothing would happen that would have a potentially widespread “ewww” reaction among mainstream readers. Then she handled the doings that were done in a way that would not upset the readers who felt bold to be reading about sex in the first place.
Which brings me to a really interesting discovery that I made at the event that day. I learned that this book has been chosen by a lot of reading groups and clubs. Not the groups that read romance all the time. The other kind, that never EVER read romance novels. I was stunned to learn how common it had been for them to choose to read Fifty Shades of Grey as a monthly meeting pick. Romance writers can knock on the doors of many women’s book clubs for years to no avail, but those same clubs lined up to read this book.
Let me make something clear for anyone who has stumbled on this blog due to a web search for the title of this novel (the regulars here do not need me to explain this): This book is a romance novel. It may have kinkier sex than many(but not all) romance novels, it may have a somewhat artsy cover, but the story—the only story— in it is a romance such as one finds in those much scorned romance novels that maybe you thought you would never touch. Furthermore, it is a very traditional, somewhat retro romance at that. The same kind of story is featured in Harlequin’s Presents line — innocent meets worldly, powerful, somewhat controlling, experienced man and is both bedazzled and initiated by him, and in the process teaches him how to love. It is one of the oldest romance novel story lines there is.
So I want to say to all the women who read this book/trilogy and enjoyed the story — whether it was the love story or the redemption story or just experiencing the first blush of attraction vicariously again —you should look into reading some other romance novels. To all the women who read this book and enjoyed the erotic sex scenes, I want to say this— you will find more of what you want if you read erotic romance novels.
We have an embarrassment of riches waiting for all of the readers of this book.
So, did you read Fifty Shades of Grey? What did you think?
Are you a member of a reading group? Does your group read romances at all? Did your group read Fifty Shades of Grey?
Did you connect with the characters in this book?
85 Comments on “Fifty Shades of Grey”
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Sadly, I am not one of the readers who read the trilogy.
Yet.
It is in my e-reader, though. Just waiting for me to read it.
Eventually.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:31 am.
I read it on my computer. I discovered that my Nook buys are easy to read on my MacAir, which is not much bigger than a tablet, and it allows a really comfortable read, more so than my Nook.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:20 am.
I’ve been reading a couple of things here and there on my Air, and it hasn’t really bothered me. Still thinking of getting an e-reader, though.
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 12:09 am.
I have read it and loved it too. It sent me into a bit of a tizzy to find other books kinda like it and I have. Indigo Bloome with her Avalon trilogy (Destined to Play, Destined to Feel and Destined to Fly) was one I found along with Tiffany Reiz with The Siren, The Angel and The Prince. The romance aspect in these two series was really great and the erotica was enough to get me a little hot under the collar. Although I did not connect with either Christian or Ana, I found them to be compelling which is what saw me read all three books in three days (well that and the fact that at the time it was the only thing that I was capable of concentrating on).
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 5:44 am.
My biggest problem with Fifty Shades was that it did not make me at all hot under the collar. LOL. It was supposed to, no? I think it was because there wasn’t much emotion attached to the erotica.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:22 am.
“Fifty shades of grey” is a book I’ll never read. I don’t believe everything written in a newspaper – and I certainly would not read something because everyone else did.
I’ve been raised to be critical of everything and only believe what I want.
I’ve browsed through the book and decided it’s nothing for me. Just give me any romance novel written by you Goddesses! Or a good thriller, I also appreciate those.
And no, I don’t belong to a book club. I think reading a book is a private pleasure.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 7:22 am.
Pretty much, yeah! High five, sister!
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:13 am.
I don’t belong to book clubs either.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:22 am.
Once again, Madeline, it seems you are my sister from another mother. My book group did read it and my diatribe dissing it matched all of your points but not nearly as eloquently.
We’re getting close to getting my book group to reading a goddess book. They’re certainly getting an earful about the new lunchhourlovestories.com so those new to the genre can easily and quickly check out what you do. Should be a good tool to win hem over.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 7:56 am.
Did your club know it was a romance when they picked it? I would be curious to know the rationale for the pick, if there was one other than “it is all the talk so let’s see what it is about.”
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:24 am.
It was purely based on the buzz. I think they thought it was a romance but I of course pontificated that there’s both better romance and better erotica out there. I was disappointed that they all thought it was salacious. I thought it was bland and plotless – Twilight for grown ups. Incidentally, I stopped reading both books at page 225.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:29 pm.
I read all three 50 Shades and loved it. I totally agree with you that this was not really erotica and I also read erotica. I also agree that this was a romance book which has gotten me a lot of scathing remarks but I stand behind what I say. To me Megan Hart is a true writer of erotica. I’ve been reading her books from the beginning and I love the way she entwines both the erotica and the romance. Yes, if you read her books they are romances, too. She’s one of my favorite authors.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 8:12 am.
I haven’t read a lot of erotica, but enough to know it comes in many shades (pardon the allusion
What I miss in much of it, and missed in this, was well developed sexual tension. I just find that makes the sex sexier when it happens.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:27 am.
I tired to read it and couldn’t. But I think it’s so great that readers are finding new genres through it. It does annoy me when people treat the book like it’s something fresh and new. I’ve said many times “That isn’t the first, there are plenty more out there and have been for a good long while.”
I belong to a reading group. One woman suggested we read this book, the shouts of “no!” drowned her out. We haven’t read many romances to date, mostly focusing on book club type books.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 8:20 am.
I am picturing the “NO” response. OMG< NOOOOO. lol.
Yeah, it is the "how daring" and "How new" that annoys me too. C'mon!
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:28 am.
I’ve read excerpts from the book and the writing just seemed poor. ‘My legs turned to jello. I was glad I wore my good pants today.’ Why, so you could get jello all over them? No, I don’t mind erotic at all, I mind poor writing. That’s the reason I’ll never read it. What I have read of it didn’t impress me at all. Ah well, I guess I’ll just have to miss this particular trend. I am quite happliy reading through two shelves of double stacked to be read books. That’s not one I need to add.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 8:30 am.
I did not think it was a badly written as I expected, although it is no literary masterpiece. And there are much better writers of that type of book. Sylvia Day comes to mind, and she is finally getting her due. Now, her books are very well done, IMO.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:30 am.
Amen sister! That is SO true! I did read it, and agree completely with what you said. I don’t do a book club.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 8:31 am.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:30 am.
I did read the whole trilogy in one fell swoop. I hadn’t planned on reading it, not really believing the hype. My friend was wrapped up in it during a weekend visit to her home, so I decided to give it a go.
ho hum. it was a romance. pretty basic too. Some of the storyline actually bothered me and I got into heated discussions with my sis in law about the theme of why he became who he was in the bedroom.
SPOILER ALERT:
plus it was extremely implausible that he had amassed so much wealth and power in what? 7 short yrs?
Some of the scenes were even taken from some of my fav movies. uh Pretty Woman anyone at the piano scene? a few other bits from Pretty Woman made it in the books as well. hmmmm
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:00 am.
Well, I could write another blog that takes up your last paragraph, and I waxed eloquent on that while on that panel. I did read the whole book, but I found myself losing interest about half way through. The more I got to know Mr. Grey the less I was interested in him. I also could not figure out why Ana wanted “more” as in emotional “more” when she did not know him much at all.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:32 am.
Actually 50 Shades book discussion at my book club kind of did me in and I’m looking for a new book club. First, after reading quality romance by the Goddesses here, and other fine authors, I found the general quality of 50 Shades lacking. I also didn’t connect with the characters. My opinion, and it was just me. At the book discussion, I pointed out that there was much better stuff on the market should we want to read the sub-genera, or even more traditional romances.
Things went downhill for me at the discussion….A nice book club member passed around a copy of 50 Shades. I got my copy taped up in a Fed Ex box “so the kids couldn’t see”. First clue this wasn’t going well. I read the book, well, skimmed most of it. At the discussion, no one wanted to touch the subject of sex. I made a flippant and explicit remark about the heroine, and well, someone had to explain what I meant to a couple of others in attendance at the discussion. It was then and there I decided that I was in the wrong book club. I hadn’t been enjoying the other titles, and no one there liked or was willing to dip their toe in the Romance water. In the past 5 years, they read 2 romances and the majority of them hated it (Jennifer Crusie’s “Bet Me” and Julie Garwood’s “Ransom”). So, that is how 50 Shades blew me out of book club.
If anyone out here has a romance book club that is via the internet, I’m taking applications. I like frank discussions about books, and I also like differing view points. I would prefer to get together with other pro-romance individuals where wine, chocolate, and other snacks are shared, but I’ve given up on that.
Great post, and sorry I’m so long winded. You just hit my button this morning!
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:25 am.
How could you discuss this book and not talk about the sex? I mean—????
It is a little sad if the club members felt naughty reading it.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:34 am.
I haven’t read Ransom, but I loved Bet Me. How could anyone hate that book? amazing.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 5:13 pm.
It’s a shame we don’t live in the same city.
Posted on November 17, 2012 at 6:16 am.
I started reading it, but as you say, it was nothing I haven’t seen a thousand times. I certainly don’t begrudge her this wild success, but I really don’t get it.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:44 am.
Let us just say that I do not think this success was nearly as unexpected and out of the blue as it has been portrayed. I think that book was as calculated as Titanic was as a movie, in terms of appealing to a certain audience.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:36 am.
I’m happy to see that someone else was less than impressed by Titanic. I did not even cry at the end when Leo’s character dies and I cry at everything–including telephone and Coca Cola commercials!
I have not, and will not read, FSOG because it sounds exactly like a Harlequin Presents and those are the only Harlequins I just don’t like because of the overly innocent young women and the overly arrogant much older men. I prefer more equality, if not of wealth and status then of brains. Plus, I cannot abide poor writing (one reason I stopped reading a formerly popular author long before she got in trouble for plagiarism) and there are so many good books out there to read, especially from the Goddesses (I read Sabrina Jeffries’ new book last week and thoroughly enjoyed it, as usual).
I don’t do book clubs because I’m not a joiner and I’d rather spend my free time reading more books! Commenting on an occasional blog is as much participation as I want.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:33 pm.
I think I’m one of 5 people who did not even see Titanic! (on purpose)
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 8:52 pm.
I have not read the 50 Shades books, and I don’t plan on it. I usually don’t get into books just because everyone else does. I’ve seen interviews and know some people who have read it and they act like they were so shocked that sex was put in a book. What I can’t stand is that these people act like it is the second coming. Shallow. I read great books by great authors every day who can show and tell in ways that would blow these readers minds. Maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning!
I do not belong to a book club at the moment. Once I get moved I hope to find one.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:05 am.
Books like this also get read by many, many people who are not readers. In other words, they read at most a book a year. Hopefully some of them liked it enough to give another book, any book, a try.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:37 am.
Well said, madeline!
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:20 am.
I’m probably one of the minority that hasn’t read it. I have heard from several friends that share my love of reading, and they weren’t really impressed. In their opinion, the erotica was almost too vanilla (and I’ve read erotica before–Anya Bast has a few good ones if you like a little witchcraft in it too), and the characters were unrealistic. I trust their judgment because we usually like the same books, so I didn’t spend any money on them.
The last trendy books that I read were the books about Lisbeth Salander by Stieg Larsson (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest). They were all VERY intense and violent, but I found the story gripping and interesting. The only thing I complained about was that I am completely unfamiliar with Sweden, and I don’t know too many people with that ancestry, so the pronounciation in my head was a little harder. When I read Celtic themed books, I can usually handle that, but I was out of my element with some of those names and places. That being said, I devoured those stories and was sad that there wouldn’t be more.
I’ve only been in one book club and it wasn’t that much fun for me because I only liked ONE book that we read–the rest were horrible and I wasted my money on books that I didn’t like. One I couldn’t even finish…Peony in Love by Lisa See. It was SOOOO slow and uninteresting to me, I couldn’t get past Chapter 3, and said as much in our meeting. That was the last meeting I went to.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:42 am.
I made the mistake of reading the Larsen books out of order and there was no sense of place in the later ones–you have to bring it with you from the first. Sweden in November and no sense of the cold or dark, for example. So it was an odd experience to read it.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:54 pm.
nope, haven’t read it and i don’t think i’ll read it too. my book club members also have no desire to read it, except if it really made it through the translation and censored process and published in our native language. we’re curious how the translator manage the translation :p
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:42 am.
I am curious how that happens too. I wonder if any of my books have been sort of censored when translated.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:54 pm.
COMPLETELY AGREE!! And actually, this book was the impetuous needed to get my group to consider adding a regular regime of romance to the book list. It’s been entertaining–the group members have enjoyed the romance stories so much, that those books are the ones that every single member of our book club actually READS and contibutes to the conversation.
In any case–I really liked this blog post, and am sending it to them.
As far as 50 Shades….I’m actually not a huge fan. It’s not that I didn’t like it–there’s just so many others that I like better: had a better story line, were more entertaining, had more enjoyable characters, etc.. I think the thing that made 50 Shades such a phenomenon is that it did just dip its toe in to the market, and made it “ok” for the general public to consume. Both men and women have read it, and were in some form, entertained. Perhaps it’s an opportunity for the industry as a whole? I have no idea.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:55 am.
how wonderful that your group reads romance, and actually get the books read!
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:56 pm.
I read the first 4 chapters, put it down and never picked it up again. I just couldn’t get into the story. If I find myself trying to get through a book without enjoying it, I just tend to let it go. I have so many other books in my tbr pile that I can’t waste time on ones I don’t enjoy. I guess I’ll have to wait for the movie…
As for book clubs, I’ve never been in one. If I do join one I want it to be like Amanda described above – with wine and chocolate served.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:09 am.
Oh, dear, are there clubs were wine and chocolate are NOT served? I better start a list of questions, should I ever have the time to join one.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:56 pm.
I read the books and enjoyed them. I admit I was hesitant to read them but I’m one of those people that just has to know what all the hype is about with anything that gets some much attention. While I don’t mind steamy sex in books I’m not a fan of erotica/erotic romance or BDSM. There was a couple of parts in the first book that were hard for me to read but I kept on and ended up really enjoying the story. I loved how they both compromised to get what they needed from the relationship. And how they learned together since neither had had a “normal” relationship before. I know opinions about this series are all over the place. Maybe I’m just a romantic and interpreted it different from other people. Have I read better written books? Absolutely. Tons of them. Have I read steamier books? Sure and some of them are romantic suspense and historical romance, not erotica. Were parts of it unrealistic? Of course. It’s FICTION. But I’m a sucker for a wounded soul and I love when the uncatchable gets caught. And I love a happy ending. So, yes, I enjoyed the series (minus a couple of parts). However I don’t think it deserved all the hype it got but at the same time I’m thrilled that it got people reading. Something I do not like is it seems that some people are piggybacking off FSOG’s success. If I see “If you liked FSOG you’ll love this book” or something like that I usually skip right over it. And it seemed like BDSM was taking over for a while. Almost every review blog I subscribe to were on BDSM overload. Book reviews & recommendations, interviews with the Dom characters in books, author interviews and interviews with people that lived the lifestyle. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m very much a ‘to each her own’ kinda person. I don’t read erotica or BDSM but I don’t judge people who do. I just got tired of seeing BDSM everywhere. And there has been quite a few copycats in my opinion. The wealthy, powerful, dominant hero & the innocent, mousy, virgin heroine. I personally don’t want to read the same story over & over. And that goes for any story. I’m glad that the hype of both FSOG & BDSM has died down & things are getting back to normal. Anyway, I’m glad I read the series. Sorry for rambling.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:21 am.
I guess I don’t think those others are the copycats, but FSOG is
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:59 pm.
I haven’t read 50 Shades, and I’m not going to read, because of a lot that has been said here. But I know a lot of people who has. I’ve had many girls I know pick up these books and feel like they’re discovering the universe, and maybe for them, that’s what they feel like. Many of them don’t read at all, not even only romance novels, and all of a sudden their Instagram pages are filled with images of 50 Shades. The problem for me is that the book is not only too mainstream, but it’s everything I hate in a book. A submissive heroine, much younger than the hero. Not too mention I’m not all keen on SMBD. But, I guess for these girls, it’s like they’re doing something amazingly forbidden (most of them are church girls, too), and they feel strong and powerful. Go figure.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:22 am.
The world has sure changed since I was your age. No way I would have read a book like this back then, and if I had it would have shocked me, vanilla though it may be.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:52 pm.
I didn’t read it simply because I don’t care for a huge “diet” of erotic stories. I hope I don’t offend anyone by stating that. However, my husband read it and loved it. Maybe it’s more of a “guy” thing. Wonder how many men enjoyed it?
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:35 am.
I suspect it does play to some male fantasies. I know that being a submissive was never one of my fantasies, but being a dominant may well be a guy’s.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:53 pm.
Actually, our reading group did read it. But our reading group does read romance. and other genre fiction. My opinion of Fifty Shade is exactly like yours. In fact, I compared it to a Harlequin Present myself.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:43 am.
Well, take away the erotic level of sex, and it IS a Harlequin presents. James might have had the line’s guide next to her as she wrote it. Those are very popular books and among that publisher’s bestselling lines.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:55 pm.
I’m not in a book group, the last one I tried reminded me too much of my college lit class and I wanted a bit more fun discussion – less over analyzing of every nuance (unless the writer is sitting there, it is all conjecture.. no sense getting in a tizzy about different opinions – but back to the topic)
I have not read Fifty Shades. I read samples on the kindle (as I do with most books by new-to-me authors) and could not get through the sub-par writing. I disliked the characters they were based off of, so having this homage to Bella and Edward made it even less appealing. Even skipping through to the “naughty parts” was boring.. there are better sex scenes out there.
The best thing about Fifty Shades? Katrina Lumsden’s review on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/340987215
If Fifty Shades gets more people to read romance and/or erotica, awesome. I hope they discover that there are much better books out there.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:56 am.
Since I never read Twilight the homage was lost on me. It did exlain the peculiarity of a senior in college who has an active social life being a virgin for no particular reason (except Bella was?)
While Grey remained an enigma, he was sort of interesting. The more I got to know him, the less interesting I found him. Oddly enough, my mental picture of him changed too. Among other things, he grew a mustache. Who knows how that invaded my head. . . .
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:58 pm.
I read the first one, just as talk was beginning to start about it. Like you, Madeline, I kept thinking this is a Harlequin Presents. A HQ Presents with some kinky talk but little follow-through. I quit reading the second when the hero was promising to try vanilla-only sex. It had lost the titillation factor for me!
I think another part of the attraction was the fantasy of the rich guy giving the girl expensive stuff. What’s not to like about that? But you had to suspend your disbelief that this young woman in this day and age wouldn’t have her own phone or computer.
I belong to a book club but this book hasn’t come up. I’d suggest steering away from it if it did.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:58 am.
Yeah, there was much about the heroine that did not fly. She only made solid sense when she perceived early on he was a control freak and she should run away. After that it was not clear why she was getting seduced. Even her reactions to the sex—- I wasn’t buying it, and that was one of the least titillating spanking scenes imaginable.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:00 pm.
I read and hated it all. I have erotic by indie authors that were written better. Even my husband, who hates to read, read it and said the story was good just not written very well. I could not stand Ana. And Grey was like a bunch of diffrent movie charaters, Edward Grey from the secretary; Michael Rourke charater from Nine and a half weeks also named Grey, and another one of his movies Called Wild Orchid. Fifty shades was just to predictable even for a romance.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:12 pm.
I am delighted to see Sylvia Day getting a lot of sales off this phenom. Although the works by her that I have read are also pretty mild compared to really strong erotic romance. But she writes really well, and her characters seem very real to me.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:03 pm.
I am in a book club and this is the first romance books we have read. I think we picked fifty shades because of its popularity. We were supposed to read the first one but we all went on and completed the series. I personally didn’t care for the first book until the end and loved books 2 and 3. I really liked the characters and liked the story line when the story picked up, however I do not connect to the characters until the 2nd and 3rd books
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:13 pm.
Do you think this book club will ever read another romance?
I wonder about the trilogy. Do you think it was written as one lonnnngggg book and arbitrarily cut into thirds? Or planned as 3 books?
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:05 pm.
I am not sure, but I read romance novels as well as other genres….
You know Ms. Hunter…I never thought of that. I am not really sure, maybe the first 2 books could be viewed that way but not the 3rd book.
How long have you been writing? I would love to read your work.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:14 pm.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Oh, and I don’t mean that in an Ana/Christian kind of way. Writing romance is difficult. Incorporating realistic sex into that writing is REALLY difficult. But this series … well, you said it exactly, Madeline. Vanilla. And artificial vanilla, too.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:43 pm.
It really bothered me that Ana seemed to have no thought life during sex. And even her physical reactions were sort of redundantly described.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:06 pm.
Well said, madeline! I tottaly agree with you!!
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:47 pm.
I wasn’t going to read the books but I was loaned book 1 by a friend and decided to go ahead and see what all the hype was about. I would up reading them all. I don’t belong to a club but we have alot of readers in my office so we discuss books we have read and do some trading. Most of our discussions on this book dealt with the “erotica-BDSM” aspect. Those of us who did read it let the others know that the hype was blown out of proportion. I have read steamier, fog up the window books. Yes, it dealt with BDSM but it wasn’t in your face down and dirty like the hype called it.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 2:04 pm.
Not at all down and dirty. I agree. I wonder how many people read it due to curiosity about that life style.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:09 pm.
I also had no intention of reading this book, because, frankly BDSM creeps me. Several people told me that it was, in reality, just a love story. I read the whole trilogy, and I loved it (with the exception of the inner goddess, got pretty tired of her.) I’ve certainly read more erotic books. What I found swoon-worthy was Christian’s love for Ana, his willingness to change. All those gazillion-aire gifts only added to the fantasy. And I loved the texting. I thought it made for great escape reading, but not porn by a long shot.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 2:23 pm.
I found it odd that he expected her to be sworn to secrecy, but texted away as if that could never come back to bite him in the ass.
His love for her was great– I just never understood why he loved her. It wasn’t working for me, but I think it is great that you enjoyed the whole trilogy.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:11 pm.
I read a sample, and I just couldn’t take the writing. I’ve a friend who never reads romance, but she read Fifty Shades and loved it. Of course, she is a HUGE Twilight fan.
I’ve attended one book club meeting in the past 3 years because I think that my book group reads the same kind of book over and over. The books are rarely ‘fun’ books. A romance novel would be completely out of the question, unless, it was written by Austen or a Bronte. My group takes themselves WAY too seriously, which is probably why I have been to one meeting in 3 years. I can attribute that to my mom reading the book and hating it. I had to read it then. My mom’s become such a book snob since she got married, that there was no way that I couldn’t read it after she said she hated it. I have to say that I found In the Garden of Beasts to be a thought provoking read. In the Garden of Beasts is the type of book that they like to read. Back when I was attending regularly, we read 4 Holocaust books in one year, in addition to a memoir about the author’s dysfunctional familiy and Erik Larson’s Devil in the White City.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 2:40 pm.
You descrbe why I don’t belong to book clubs. I’d end up saying something irreverent and get dirty looks for not being serious enough.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:14 pm.
I read a sample from Amazon and it just didn’t catch my attention so I deleted it and bought something that did catch me. I don’t mind erotica or nearly erotica but this one couldn’t keep me interested.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 2:49 pm.
I thought the beginning was the best part of it, and the best written, so if the samples are the first chapters, and you did not warm to it, deleting was wise.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:15 pm.
I read it and enjoyed it, however….. I am amazed at all the comments in the media about sex (erotica) becoming mainlined because of 50. Obviously no one in the media has read any of the godesses, or Lora Leigh, Victoria Alexander, Myra Banks etc. I find authors like Emma Holly and Kate Douglas write romance novels with steamier/more explicit sex scenes then 50 had.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:19 pm.
Exactly. It is like we are invisible. We are all going to put ties on our covers next year, though, so maybe that will change.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:17 pm.
Emma Holly writes SUCH better erotica, too.
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 12:43 am.
I enjoyed fifty shades. Although i wanted to strangle ana after a while every time she said my inner goddess! I was also left thinking ive read such great romances that dont get nearly enough credit and didnt get why people were so scandalised.
The reading group here didnt have romance books on their list so i didnt join.
I likes Christian, but didn’t really connect with any of the characters.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:30 pm.
Christian remained a bit of a blank to me. There were several places early in the book where I just did not like him at all, and I did not find him sexy once the sex started.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:19 pm.
Even though I liked Christian, he was definitely no lord malory or sebastian. The repeats in the book were frustrating.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:12 pm.
I have read the trilogy and I did enjoy it for what it was – a contemporary romance bit of fluff. The writing was average and the sex was interesting but I have read erotica that makes these two look like the Cleavers. I did, however, connect with the characters and I think that may be the compulsive element that attracted most of the readers. You basically want to know what happens to these two – for better or worse. Anyone who says this isn’t a romance novel is in SERIOUS denial!
I don’t belong to book clubs because they tend to read to trends and I am anything but trendy. Nine times out of ten if a book is highly touted or recommended by Oprah I won’t last past the first fifty pages.
Give me my romance novels with a HEA and a great journey any day! I also love good mysteries (try Mel Starr’s medieval series) thrillers (Preston and Childs Pendergast series) or a great horror novel (Stephen King.) Haven’t read George R. R. Martin yet, but he is on my list.
Oh! And for some well-written erotica try Sylvia Day’s series.
But for a great read I KNOW will always deliver and keep me reading to the last page you can ALWAYS count on the Goddesses. Never disappointed me yet!
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:20 pm.
I agree about Sylvia. And thanks for the plug for all of us here
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:40 pm.
Whoever was responsible for the marketing campaign for FSOG should get a big bonus. I just don’t understand all the hype for this book. And the ‘news’ programs that colluded with the marketers by calling it ‘mommy porn’ must not read or understand exactly what constitutes porn.
I’m not a member of a reading group. I read for pleasure and prefer making my own reading choices. Thank you Amazon for having the sample chapters available online. The writing was so-so and I could not connect with either leading character. As others have said, there are many better sources of good stories elsewhere. Cheers to you Madeline!
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 5:40 pm.
I’ve not read 50 Shades, but I may down the road. I can remember when people thought Harlequin Presents was filth. I read what I wish to read. I don’t care for scary books, gory books or paranormal, but that’s ok, each to her own. That’s whats great about having so many genres to choose from.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 6:15 pm.
I admit I read it because of the hype. It was not a great book and the heroine’s inner goddess was the one none of the other goddesses would play with.
It took a book that was an enjoyable, fast read (The twilight series) based some extremely basic premises on it,(book would have been better to have dropped these premises), and well…did a really poor job of developing a story from it.
It could have been great, it was blah.
I know it was enjoyed by many, I didnt. However I enjoyed the Twilight series, and many didn’t. To each their own. I’m sure the author doesn’t care that I did or didn’t…at the end of the day, I bought the book and read it, didn’t I?
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 7:20 pm.
I read the first book and was not impressed. It was the most vanilla erotica I’ve ever read – and if the readers honestly thought that was an actual BDSM relationship, they were sadly mistaken. And if I had to read that Ana had bit her lip one more time…
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 7:49 pm.
I have not read them yet, but I made a deal with my 28 year old niece that I would one day. She read and LOVED them all and could not put them down and even though I have been suggesting books to her for years, she wasn’t ‘into reading’ but now is. If this series will get more people reading, I’m fine with it…I’ve given her some wonderful romances (not erotica) and she has liked them too.
I have to be in the mood (no pun intended) to read straight erotica, and yes, those moods can be fun. What really gets me when reading a book is the emotional content. I find that I need that connection to be there and if not, its a dud for me no matter how great the sex is.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:01 pm.
I had seen a lot of negative reviews and had decided not to read the books. But after reading a review that was written by a romance writer rather than a professional critic I gave them a try. So glad I did! They are not the greatest books ever written and I, too, got tired of hearing about Ana biting her lip and about her “inner goddess.” But they are not nearly as bad as they’ve been made out to be. I totally agree with you about them being “vanilla.” After hearing them termed “mommy porn” (a term I detest, by the way)so often I was expecting the sex scenes to be much more graphic.
I’ve never belonged to a book club. It sounds like fun in theory, but don’t think I would enjoy doing it for real.
I can’t say I actually connected to the characters as individuals, but it was interesting seeing how they worked on their own insecurities and personal issues in order to make their relationship work.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:49 pm.
Never read it. The story line didn’t interest me. I love romance novels! I don’t really read erotica, but I recently read Jaci Burton’s Playing to Win – not sure if that is considered erotica(?) – but I really liked it. I’m not in a book club & prefer to read what I want, when I want to.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:28 pm.
I’ve avoided reading it probably because of all the publicity and comments the mainstream people have to say about it. Do I read erotica? Yes, I thoroughly enjoy the books I’ve read. I can’t believe a book club would consider Fifty Shades Trilogy and not some of the other wonderfully written romance stories. I guess it’s their loss.
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:40 pm.
No and No.
Posted on November 17, 2012 at 12:42 pm.