Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1) in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Oct 07, 2012 Nadine in NY Jones rated it did not like it

Shelves: authors-i-don-t-ever-want-to-read-a, did-not-finish, only-reading-because-of-the-buzz

Sigh. Yes, I want to know what everyone is talking about. So, finally my number was up and this came in for me, on hold at the library. I read the first chapter. Wow the writing sucks! I was prepared for that, but, still. Wow the writing sucks! There are so many other BETTER books waiting to be read ...

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I got to chapter 6, and wishing I could assign negative stars. Sadly, 1 star is as low as I can go. That's it. If you've read this book, feel free to email me how the series ends. Is there some Sigh. Yes, I want to know what everyone is talking about. So, finally my number was up and this came in for me, on hold at the library. I read the first chapter. Wow the writing sucks! I was prepared for that, but, still. Wow the writing sucks! There are so many other BETTER books waiting to be read ...

*

I got to chapter 6, and wishing I could assign negative stars. Sadly, 1 star is as low as I can go. That's it. If you've read this book, feel free to email me how the series ends. Is there some awesome twist I'm missing?

As I was reading, I started compiling a list in my head, "50 Reasons I Can't Stand this Book."

1. The names. OMG the names! Christian Grey?? Anastasia Steele? [Steel Grey??????? URGH] Oh COME ON these are the kinds of names that I would come up with back when I was in 7th grade and toying with writing a novel. These are the names that sound romantic to a 12 year old. (I hope I’m not offending anyone named Anastasia or Christian.)

2. The writing. UGH THE WRITING. It is so so so boring!!!

3. All Ana can think about is what a control freak Christian is. At no point am I shown or even told WHY she likes him. All I know is he has grey eyes and she gets a tingle when she touches him. I am sorry, but never in my life have I felt a tingle when I touched someone, other than when we accidentally transfer static to each other, which is never all that fun. If she likes him just because he’s attractive, then surely she would have liked the other attractive man-friends in her life (Jose and Philip)? That just made no sense to me. I’m willing to let it slide, because, romance. Except that I was just left not liking Christian at all. Which meant I didn’t give a shit about the romance.

4. Christian is a “control freak” in the most stereotypical and lame-o way – real control freaks are not like this!!! They are soooo much more complicated than this! They control people so subtly and so well that the people don’t even realize they are being controlled at first!

5. The first kiss Was Not Hot. AT ALL. It just sounded painful. I read a lot of cheesy and trashy romance (just check out my “read” list to see how cheesy I get), and I’ve read a lot of very hot first kiss scenes. This was not one of them. Not by a long shot.

6. Are there actually graduating college seniors out there who are not the least bit concerned about getting a job??? She is in finals week of her very last semester and she very casually mentions once that she applied for a few job. That’s it? That’s the level of her concern??? Maybe I’m out of touch, but I found that so completely distracting. It’s a jungle out there!!! You’re going to need a salary!!!

7. Okay, that's it. I didn't care enough to even come up with 7 things.
...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Katy rated it did not like it · review of another edition

To be fair, the quality got slightly, SLIGHTLY less terrible past the halfway point, but then you would be interrupted by yet another reference to her INNER GODDESS and the same exact exchange of "You're biting your lip... you know what that does to me...", chin-grabbing, hair-pulling, "'Are you hungry?' 'NOT FOR FOOD...' I whispered!!!!!", etc.

Overall, it is quite wretched. I do love that Jacob was turned into a Jose. "Ay dios mio!" ...more

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Nov 08, 2013 Ann rated it did not like it

I swore I would never read this, and then I did anyway. It was even worse than I imagined it could be. There has never been a more boring book, or a more detestable duo of lovers in the history of all books ever. I skimmed the last half of the book, but I'm still counting it as read because the last half is exactly the same as the first half. "Stop biting your lip." "Holy crap." "You need to eat something." "He's so hot, but he scares me, should I sign this contract?" "My inner goddess." Oh barf ...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Sarah rated it did not like it

Ok, ok, I caved and read this book! I just wanted to know what all the hype was about. An yet...it's pretty much erotica (and not very good erotica) thinly disguised as fiction. Also, the author's overuse of the word "mercurial" drove me crazy! Barely any plot...got bored, but forced myself to finish. It's not even good trash/fluff. *SPOILER ALERT*

AND, I just have to say, I understand being a virgin at 21, but never having masturbated??? Unbelivable in this day and age. Just. Really. ...more

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Dec 14, 2013 Laura rated it did not like it

the story of an abusive relationship...

i ended up skipping the sex scenes because they were all written the same/were boring, but the dialogue wasn't any better. the only characters worth reading about are taylor and mrs jones. i only read this book so i could hold conversations about it and actually know what i was talking about. ...more

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May 20, 2012 Heather added it

Shelves: bookclub-book

Reading this for my new neighborhood book club. We'll see!
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Well, that was SO not what I normally read. I have a feeling I am going to know WAY more about my neighbors than I need to after this book club meeting and discussion. Hehe! ...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Ashley rated it it was ok

Not my typical fair but that is not why I only went with 2 stars. It just didnt impress me. Something about a virgin college graduate who doesnt know how to pleasure herslef that just doesnt ring true in 2012. Not to mention her immediate and mostly willingness to jump into the world of BDSM.... I have been told to give the second book a chance before writing off the series so I am and so far it is better than the first...

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Mar 17, 2012 Julie rated it did not like it

Shelves: realistic, didn-t-finish, romance

I couldn't finish this one. If I would've known going in that it began as Twilight fan fiction, I never would've picked it up. I got about 100 pages in and couldn't take either of the characters anymore. Ugh. I hate when I get sucked in by the media. :( ...more

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May 09, 2012 steen rated it did not like it

I had to pick this up after hearing about this everywhere. The writing quality is a little lacking and it's a little too Twilight-esque for me. ...more

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