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

Feb 25, 2013 Linda C rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-contemporary, erotica

Ana Steele substitutes for her ill friend in interviewing, Christian Grey, a young billionaire, alumnus and philanthropist for their college newspaper. She feels she came across as inexperienced, clumsy and unprepared. She is thoroughly intimidated by him. They meet again at the store where she works part time and he warns her off. She is intrigued. He can't resist her and she is drawn to him. But then he reveals his dark side as a Dominant and he is looking for her to be his submissive. The cen ...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Mildy rated it did not like it

Shelves: fiction, e-book

I have several reasons for not liking this book:
1. It is poorly written. The dialog is contrite -- who talks like that in real life, really. I'm not a native English speaker, and I'm quite sure I have a better vocabulary than Ms. Steele who is supposedly an English lit graduate. My eyes started rolling whenever she referred to her 'inner goddess', then whenever she said 'that's hot', 'down there', or 'subconscious' and by the end of the book, my eyes really hurt from so much rolling.
2. The rando I have several reasons for not liking this book:
1. It is poorly written. The dialog is contrite -- who talks like that in real life, really. I'm not a native English speaker, and I'm quite sure I have a better vocabulary than Ms. Steele who is supposedly an English lit graduate. My eyes started rolling whenever she referred to her 'inner goddess', then whenever she said 'that's hot', 'down there', or 'subconscious' and by the end of the book, my eyes really hurt from so much rolling.
2. The random quote from Thomas Hardy and the obscure (or maybe not so for other people -- just because I didn't know it) classical music piece. It feels like she (Ms. James, that is) is trying too hard to make this book smarter or more 'literary'. It's porn. What the point of pretending.
3. The sex scene. It's so boring that I chuckled reading it. Probably not the intended reaction.
4. There's no redeeming values on any of the main characters. Ana is very insecure, not very bright and Christian is, well crazy.

Having said that, I'm still debating whether I want to read the second installment or not. Fortunately the waiting list at the library is quite long -- there's no way I'm spending money to buy this -- so for now I can just add my name to the list.

Katrina Lumsden did a very funny review on this book. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I agree wholeheartedly with her sentiment about the plot:

"Now I'll be totally honest, the biggest issue I have with Fifty Shades of Shit is neither the sex nor the horrible writing. It's the plot. Thin as it is, it's still there, its core message being that, given enough time, you can change someone. While I don't have any problem with this if all you're trying to do is help them to lose weight or quit smoking, when you're talking about an emotionally and (dangerously close to) physically abusive relationship, sending that kind of message is ridiculous and irresponsible. Christian is controlling, possessive, condescending, and cruel. He doesn't allow Ana to behave as she normally would, and Ana just puts up with it, insistent that if she can give him what he wants, when he wants, as often as he wants, she can eventually begin to pull his strings. Will it work? In the books, probably. In real life? No. Almost never."

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Oct 15, 2012 Carroll rated it did not like it

Had to read this to see what all the hype was about. YUCK! Probably won't read the others! ...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Carissa Brown rated it it was ok

Shelves: adult

I can see why so many people either love or hate this book. I started out hating it, I almost didn't finish it but I am so glad I did. Christian Grey was an asshole and I would never deal with any of that crap in real life. I passionately hated him. I still think he is an ass but I can see the draw of the story for many women. Changing the un changeable is a lot of women's dream. The x-rated scenes were great and I have to wonder about what the author does. I never understood this lifestyle befo ...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Laila Jane rated it did not like it

Shelves: fails, formerly-fanfic, books-to-movies

I give up on this book. Had wanted to finish it just to say I did, but I couldn't get past the first 12%. I could not get over my dislike for the main character and how naively stupid she is. I found myself rolling my eyes frequently over how (fake) offended Ana would act over how Christian Grey acted and then have fantasies about him five seconds later. I'm at the point in my life where I have no more patience for wishy washy main characters. I don't get the appeal. This is one book I'm definit ...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Ashley Au rated it it was ok

So-so. Much like an adult version of twilight. There seemed to be too much whining between the characters for my tastes. I probably won't read the rest of the trilogy. ...more

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