Sign in with FacebookStacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity's Reviews > Fifty Shades of Grey
Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)
by E.L. James (Goodreads Author)
by E.L. James (Goodreads Author)
02/12 - Contemplation after the hype...
I often tend to end up somewhere in the middle when it comes to these extreme love or hate books. When I first read Fifty (back when it wasn't all over the media networks), I found it to be a bit different/off-kilter from other erotica/BDSM that I'd read and thought it would be a fun book to discuss. Parts of the book annoyed me, while other parts intrigued me. As a BDSM book (comparing it to others in the genre), there was nothing inside that stood out as being overly extreme when it came to the physical aspect. This was more about a mental game than anything. I actually do find it interesting that most people into the BDSM scene (in real life) have shunned this book big time. I guess if you walk the walk, you're going to notice behaviors that don't jive with the lifestyle.
If this book wigs you out because of the physical and mental dominance, then this might not be the genre for you. This is a very specific type of book catering to a specific interest group (a.k.a. smut readers), which is where my review was targeted to start, never assuming that the hype would reach so far out into the mainstream reading world and into the hands of non-erotic book readers.
I completely understand why this book is not for everyone. I also understand why not all erotica fans were feeling Fifty. There are other books which showcase a more loving and trusting relationship inside of the lifestyle. The BDSM genre has many comfort levels to it, catering to all types of interests.
In a way, I'm a bit sad that this book has somehow become the new poster child for the BDSM lifestyle if it's causing people to think that anyone who lives this way in real life, or enjoys reading about or observing others who live this way, are unbalanced. Christian Grey's story is about a person who suffered abuse and had to learn over time through trial and error how to function normally in a relationship, inside and outside of the bedroom. His fictional story is not representative of a group of people as a whole. Engaging in BDSM practices or having a fascination and/or desire to learn more about BDSM practices does not make someone any less normal than another person who has absolutely no interest in this lifestyle.
Although, I will say that whatever made me keep reading did diminish with time because I didn't like book 2 all that much and I was downright bored with book 3. I guess such is life. Can't win em all, right?
I often tend to end up somewhere in the middle when it comes to these extreme love or hate books. When I first read Fifty (back when it wasn't all over the media networks), I found it to be a bit different/off-kilter from other erotica/BDSM that I'd read and thought it would be a fun book to discuss. Parts of the book annoyed me, while other parts intrigued me. As a BDSM book (comparing it to others in the genre), there was nothing inside that stood out as being overly extreme when it came to the physical aspect. This was more about a mental game than anything. I actually do find it interesting that most people into the BDSM scene (in real life) have shunned this book big time. I guess if you walk the walk, you're going to notice behaviors that don't jive with the lifestyle.
If this book wigs you out because of the physical and mental dominance, then this might not be the genre for you. This is a very specific type of book catering to a specific interest group (a.k.a. smut readers), which is where my review was targeted to start, never assuming that the hype would reach so far out into the mainstream reading world and into the hands of non-erotic book readers.
I completely understand why this book is not for everyone. I also understand why not all erotica fans were feeling Fifty. There are other books which showcase a more loving and trusting relationship inside of the lifestyle. The BDSM genre has many comfort levels to it, catering to all types of interests.
In a way, I'm a bit sad that this book has somehow become the new poster child for the BDSM lifestyle if it's causing people to think that anyone who lives this way in real life, or enjoys reading about or observing others who live this way, are unbalanced. Christian Grey's story is about a person who suffered abuse and had to learn over time through trial and error how to function normally in a relationship, inside and outside of the bedroom. His fictional story is not representative of a group of people as a whole. Engaging in BDSM practices or having a fascination and/or desire to learn more about BDSM practices does not make someone any less normal than another person who has absolutely no interest in this lifestyle.
Although, I will say that whatever made me keep reading did diminish with time because I didn't like book 2 all that much and I was downright bored with book 3. I guess such is life. Can't win em all, right?
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Reading Progress
| 09/29/2011 |
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50.0% | "Jose, really? There's no other name closer to Jacob than Jose?" 3 comments |
Comments (showing 1-20 of 20) (20 new)
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message 1:
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Jess
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Dec 29, 2011 11:03am
When I'm done readin this, we shall discuss!!!!! Lol. Minus the 'genital clamping' LOL!
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I'm about 10% in... and if I have to read about his 'long fingers' one more time, I'm going to stab myself in the face.
Haha to medulla oblongata.Wait...you mean something else took your attention away from the inner goddess? I was so busy wanting to mutilate that damn goddess that I might have missed out on another annoying points.
Oh yes.. I have read about her inner goddess for the 4th time now in the last hour... I'm finding it really hard to like Ana... I can't stand reading a book where I so strongly dislike the main character... She is like a 14 year old.
The story reads like a fanfic... I remember reading this story when it WAS a fanfic. It went rampant on one of the IMDB boards... But it seems like she took the fanfic and went through it and changed some of the words to make it sound smarter... hence making it book-worthy. I am college-educated, and I am finding myself tapping words to see the definition. I refuse to not finish this book... but honestly... it's turning into the gyno. I am DREADING doing it... but I know that it has to be done.
If it's that painful, don't feel pressured to finish it. I understand why some people love and some people hate the book. I tend to end up in the middle so often on these books which are polarizing.
Once I start a book, I have to finish it. I don't feel like I can have an adequate opinion if I haven't read it start to finish.I haven't reached any 'juicy bits' yet... maybe that will perk my interest. Until then, I will just sit here and cringe at the 'long fingers' and 'inner goddess tapping her little foot'.
"But come on - if I saw this woman's "inner goddess" dancing one more time, I was about to reach into the book and stab her with a bookmark...and I was reading on an ereader." That is hilarious! :) I agreed with much of what you said, though I haven't finished the first book yet. (I'm somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately, I tend to forget to notice where I left off when using an ereader.) I also loved the email exchanges. Probably because it rang true - the whole being able to express yourself (or myself) via email better than in person. The deep truthful stuff comes out more easily. I could completely relate to that. I also agree that if you have an open-minded viewpoint of simply peeking in on someone’s secret life, then this book is interesting and fun. If you want the kinky hot stuff… look elsewhere. I was quite disappointed in that regard. Currently, I’m torn on how I hope this goes forward. Part of me wants her to say “screw you” to Grey and another wants her to simply surrender everything. And yet another thought tugs at my heart – wishing that there is still a possibility that the soft side of Grey might just shine through and become what Ana needs/wants (or at least thinks she does… that remains to be seen.) Regardless, I remain interested in seeing where the author leads me. Thanks for the fun review!
I totally agree with the part about having to know whether or not she stays with him... I finished the book and I truly disliked the main character. My best friend LOVED the book and just emailed me this morning letting me know that Universal has purchased the rights to the book and are in plans to make a movie... Dear God Help Us... I wonder if they will do like the old HilaryDuff tv show and have her inner goddess as a cartoon character that sits on her shoulder.... Should be interesting...
Too funny...I hope not Megan! That's a scary thought - Ana's inner goddess as a cartoon character.Honestly, I just don't know how well this book would translate to film. You'd either have to edit quite a bit out or it would have to be NC-17. At this point, I'm sort of wishing the hype would die out.
Sara wrote: "Probably because it rang true - the whole being able to express yourself (or myself) via email better than in person...."
I loved how Richelle Mead handled the character of Seth in the Georgina Kincaid series. He was a shy, beta-type author who had a hard time expressing himself in person, but he would write some beautiful emails to Georgina.
Stacia, I agree with you on the emails. They were my favorite part of the first book. As for the rest of the book: there is a lot of repetition in the writing and there are too many British idioms for anyone to believe that the characters are American, but I don't get the violent reactions that some people are having to it. I knew when I picked it up that it wasn't literary fiction. I haven't read erotica for a while but I thought its main purpose was to arouse. If a person is aroused despite the plot holes, then the book did its job.
All good points Dani. The writing isn't anything spectacular. Repetitive behavior and speech patterns are usually huge pet peeves of mine and are often something I'm quick to point out in my reviews. Thoughtless was one book I can think of which had me wincing because of its repetitiveness.I'm not sure why it wasn't a big mention of mine this time around but just going off the "original" review, it looks to be a quick little blurb compared to my lengthier "after the hype" commentary. It's been a while so my thoughts are fuzzy but my guess is that at the time of the original review, my thoughts were probably : read it, here's what I think, moving on... Erotic books weren't usually high on my priority of books to write in depth reviews for (until recently, now that people are actually looking at my erotica stuff). Who knew things would blow up like they did? If so, maybe I might have spent more time detailing the likes and dislikes.
I am definitely not expecting highbrow literature when I pick up erotica. Obviously, some authors are better at their craft than others and can turn erotica into a well-written art form, so I'm not discounting that it can and does happen.
For me, erotica is a fantasy escape that I read after a more plot-intensive book. You hit it on the head that the main purpose is to arouse. Everyone has a fantasy. This book was catering to the fantasy of someone who might want to be controlled. It's not for everyone. But for some people, it will turn their crank.
To be honest, I can't remember the last time I read erotica before this book. As a result, I was so taken aback by the sex scenes (in a good way) that I was willing to overlook the book's flaws. I suspect that is part of the reason why the book has become a runaway success. Erotica has been out there for ages but most people (like me) don't hear much about what the best titles are. Somebody left the gate open and let this book wander out into the mainstream, and now everyone is treating it like it is something new and daring because they don't know about all the other books hidden behind the gate.With all the negative comments on this book, I wish someone would create a Goodreads list called All The Erotica You Should Read Instead of Fifty Shades of Grey :-).
message 15:
by
Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity
(last edited Jul 08, 2012 11:40pm)
(new)
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rated it 2 stars
That's a good idea actually. I have a few friends who would contribute to a list like that. There's a couple of similar books in content to this one which some people think are much better. Knight and Bared to You *edit after the fact* (I didn't end up liking BTY) come to mind. I've only read Knight so far and it's a little more polished (plus the guy is an excellent dirty talker), but Knight is no less controlling, so if that's an issue, then it's not going to be a good fit. My favorite BDSM lite book is hands down Willing Victim because the guy is likable and the couple does have an equal say in how the fantasy is played out.
Stacia ~ enchanted wrote: "That's a good idea actually. I have a few friends who would contribute to a list like that. There's a couple of similar books in content to this one which some people think are much better. Knight..."Unlike a lot of readers, I don't have a problem with the controlling aspect of the Fifty Shades trilogy (yes, I am working on the 2nd book now). I can see how someone would enjoy fantasizing about a relationship where the control is taken away without actually wanting that in a real-life relationship.
I think the list would be a good idea because so many readers who blast this book usually add to their argument that there are plenty of books in the genre that are more creatively written. If that is so, why don't these people ever name titles? I'd like to see a list aimed at someone like me: someone who wants the same level of kink that was in this trilogy (nothing harsher) but with a little more character development, a better plot, and written by an author with a thesaurus so I don't have to see the word "smirk" on every page. Is that too much to ask? :-)
I also enjoyed the emails in the book. I found myself skimming through the sex scenes to get back to the clever emails!!
I am very reluctant to read this book though I was given it as a xmas present, due to the fact that I don't want to be in no way or form influenced by it as my own novel is due to be released in Spring here in London. I am dreading being likened to her as I've heard a few (actually a lot) of negative reviews and comments.
