Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Aug 08, 2011 Juliana Philippa added it

Shelves: 2011-aug-reads, romantica, 2011-reads-my-favorites-of-the-year, 0-own, 0-own-as-kindle-ebook, 0-this-is-main-gr-edition, 0-reviewed, 0-own-multiple-copies-or-formats, 0-unrated, romantica-contemporary

Post Script on May 8, 2012
This book has exploded since I first read it and it seems to be one that is either loved or hated. I'm actually very thankful that I read it before any of my GR friends or anyone I knew, because I feel like if I read it now, after hearing all the hype, it would probably disappoint.

People have very strong reactions to Fifty Shades and just to put in my two cents: you read different books for different reasons. In my opinion!!! ...: Was this book a great piece of literatu

...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) marked it as not-interested

Holy cow, I had no idea this was Twilight fanfic repurposed into its own series. Dear Mother of God, I am so glad I found that out before reading it. I really really really hated Twilight, at least the part I was able to get through, and I tried three times! Ugh, not for me.

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Oct 20, 2011 *Nan* rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2011, kindle-lent

I absolutely LOVED this book and I am starting Fifty Shades Darker immediately! This is a book that is a keeper!!!

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Jul 16, 2012 April rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, amazon-review-posted, naughty-book-a-thon, bdsm, 2012

Alright I can only say I am glad that is over! I refuse to read the rest of this trilogy! Aside from the bad writing I site the supremely disturbing tampon sex scene! I have no idea how this is a best seller! You can really tell this started as a twilight fan fiction because it is as just as badly written as those books were!

Ana is annoying and stupid, Christian is a total douche-bag asshole with serious issues and the book is so repetitive.

I have no problem with the mommy porn aspects or the B ...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Jamie ~ Bad Boy Inspector rated it it was amazing

Shelves: genre-erotic, read-2012, favs-2012, favs

Wow I LOVED this book. I mean really who doesn't want a Christian Grey of their very own. I don't even like BDSM erotica but I had to try this because of all the hype. I am SO glad I did because to me the story is about so much more than BDSM. I laughed, cried, screamed and had to fan myself quite often. In my opinion that is what makes a book great. Was the writing perfect, no, but I was so into the characters and story that it didn't bother me at all. THAT makes a great book. All the controver ...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Krissy rated it liked it

Shelves: i-want-to-stab-her-with-a-spork, read-before-2015, abuse, pgs-300-399, book2film, title-number

Well let's see.... I liked it. No, it was not the best written book I have ever read but it is definitely not the worst either. I can get through a badly written book as long as the story draws me in. Which it did in this case. It was Christian's character that I enjoyed reading about. I loved watching him slowly heal from the tortured, unlovable man to one you can sympathize with and possibly even love. The whole BDSM thing was severely overrated IMO. It was not that bad. Actually despite the f ...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Barbara ★ rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-2012, music, zzz1-color-in-title-author, h-h-abused-tortured, erotica, x-set-in-usa-washington, erotica-bdsm

After all the hype and reading some reviews, I vowed not to read this series. I just don't understand the attraction to BDSM so I stay away from it if I'm aware it is coming down the pike. However in order to complete a reading challenge I needed to read FSOG so I figured what the hell I'd give it a shot. Surprisingly I enjoyed this story involving a dysfunctional relationship between mega-wealthy Christian Grey and naive virgin, Anastasia Steele. I admit that for the first 8 chapters or so, I d ...more

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May 12, 2012 AWBookGirl rated it liked it

At first, I wasn’t going to read Fifty Shades of Grey because everyone was reading it. And it started out as fan fiction- Twilight fan fiction at that. Nope, not going to touch it.

Then, my friend Ann posted about it on Facebook. And my friend Ashby said she liked the trilogy, too. My ears perked up. Ashby liked it? Now, granted, Ashby is a big Britney Spears fan, but aside from that, I trust her opinion in books. So I asked Ashby and Ann if they really liked the books. And would I?

Ann asked if I At first, I wasn’t going to read Fifty Shades of Grey because everyone was reading it. And it started out as fan fiction- Twilight fan fiction at that. Nope, not going to touch it.

Then, my friend Ann posted about it on Facebook. And my friend Ashby said she liked the trilogy, too. My ears perked up. Ashby liked it? Now, granted, Ashby is a big Britney Spears fan, but aside from that, I trust her opinion in books. So I asked Ashby and Ann if they really liked the books. And would I?

Ann asked if I knew what the books were about. Erotica and BDSM Smuttiness, yes, I had caught that in the Entertainment Weekly article. And while BDSM doesn’t particularly flip my switch, I figured there had to be something to the books for two of my friends to be raving about them.

I fired up the trusty Nook and downloaded it. And while this wasn’t a book that kept me turning the pages at an incessant pace, I found myself totally sucked in.

The writing is not particularly great. I don’t really buy Christian Grey as a character- all that money in his mid-twenties? And the way he talks? Not like any twenty something I know. But he’s set up to be a dark romantic hero, a more sinister Mr. Darcy, perhaps. The language he uses is certainly more Austen than 2012. But he’s meant to be irresistible to Anastasia (Ana), and with her fondness for the British classics, the particular drawing of Grey as this type of hero must be deliberate. He’s irritatingly controlling. I feel confined as I read him. At the same time, like Ana, I want to know what it is that makes him tick. I find Ana more believable, although her thoughts and speech are peppered so constantly with “Holy Cow’s” and “Boy’s!” that I still debate internally if this is a product of loose writing or a deliberate contrast to Christian Grey’s sophistication.

And the smut? Well, frankly, after the build up, some of it didn’t quite live up to expectations. The first half of the book is fairly vanilla, and I reserved judgement on the more controversial items until I finished the book. Fifty Shades is a fascinating glimpse into the BDSM world. Judging by the descriptions EL James provides, I would not make a good Submissive. Or a Domme, for that matter. It’s just not my thing. I was worried the story would go so far into this world that it would be off-putting for those of us that are “meh” about the lifestyle. It isn’t.

Because what I found as I read is that I really wanted to know more about these characters. I may not understand (yet, as I think it will be revealed in the rest of the trilogy) why Christian is the way he is, and I may think he’s way too controlling, but I still actually care about him. And Ana. And I want to know what happens to them. I’m rooting for them to sort through their issues and their differences and find a mutually satisfying way to be together.

That was totally unexpected, and it’s what made me download Fifty Shades Darker to continue reading the story. Mediocre writing aside, I really want EL James to do bring this couple their own happy ending. ...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Stacy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: e-books, owned-books, five-stars, read-in-2012

He's creepy; he's caring; he's creepycaring. He's bossy, but also very attentive. Can this man be changed for the better? If so, would you still want him? ...more

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May 06, 2012 Charlotte (Buried in Books) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. World-wide bestseller - really?? With this subject matter? Really?? Wow, Twilight really has changed the world hasn't it?

What originally began life as Twilight Fanfict has taken over the world, and I must admit, going into it knowing what it was it was hard not to roll my eyes at the direct comparisons between the two.

Christian Grey, cold, aloof, stalker extrordinarie, rich and completely obessed with - Anastasia Steele, clumsy, smart, never been kissed, completely smitten with Christian, worshi ...more

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Jun 06, 2012 TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey rated it it was ok

Shelves: nook, 2012

A book that started out as a simple Twilight fan fiction, but then turned into a bestseller phenomena on its own.

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admi A book that started out as a simple Twilight fan fiction, but then turned into a bestseller phenomena on its own.

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

My Review - I first heard about this book on the news about how it was so great and it was relieving some sexual tension in some marriages. And while I found this book to be a pretty good story line, it didn't affect me in ways apparently that it's been affecting other women. First, I could have dealt with out all the language. Call me old fashion or whatever, I just didn't care for so much vulgar. And to say the book is intended for mature audiences is a true statement. I actually told my best friend that I felt like if I couldn't tell my own mom what the book was about without getting embarrassed I probably shouldn't be reading it. haha. Second, what woman wouldn't want a man to give her a mac, blackberry and car! Um, I wouldn't mind if someone had lots of money they wanted to spend on me. Third, Christian was just freaky to me I guess. I mean how could this man look so good? I want to see a picture of him please?! haha. Overall I gave it 2 stars cause it was an okay story line. But it will be a while before I read the other two books in the series if I ever do. ...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Susan rated it it was amazing

This books was awesome. I read it because I keep hearing about the book. I didn't know what it was about and I was shocked at first. I've read erotica and loved it and this is just another book that makes me love books like this. I was engulfed in the book and the characters. I can't wait to see what book two has in store. I was very sad about how the first book ended and I hate when there is an ending like this but the good thing is that there is another book and I'm going to read it. ...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Stephanie Tuell rated it it was amazing

oh geez, what have i have gotten myself into???!!!!! the book was amazing. it shows the real side of BDSM, not the side that makes people think it's all about beating and pain. I fell in love with christian and ana right from the start. even with all of their differences, i think they are made for each other. i can't wait to start part 2! ...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Christy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, romance

For all the fuss I've heard about this book I expected a lot more of it. It is fun romp for the average reader, it's not the hardcore story I've heard that it was. Overall I liked the story, it just didn't reach the levels of the hype. I'm unsure how they are going to make this a movie - not sure how it will play on screen. ...more

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