Am I the only one creeped out by Christian?

[Becky]

actually, what I find creepy is how much people read into these books -they're just stories, for goodness sake - YES, there are people out there like that but just stay away from them if that's not your cup of tea. JMHO

[Jessica]

Marah wrote: "I was not creeped out by him. I like weird people. Ana creeped me out cause she just seemed like a nut. I thought Christian was just the typical Alpha male protecting what he perceived as his... I ..."

I too thought she was creepy...and I became annoyed with her. Throughout all the books she was all oh I understand him and his controlling issues but then I'm not going to listen to you then get mad when you get mad then feel bad about it...it became old. I mean, I understand where he is coming from and I think all the stuff he does isn't that bad. I wouldn't mind a guy who wanted to protect me. And the stuff he does is stuff she should already be doing...like eating. I also don't like how much she changes Christian in the last book.

[Lorelei]

What is seriously wrong is the message of this "book" that no matter how fucked up is someone you should stay by his side because he'll change. Sorry, that's not real life.

If he wants to deal with his demons a therapist should help him out. THE END. Jesus, i wonder how can somebody find this romantic.

[Isriana]

Creepy how apt a word for christian but I confess the character really bloomed in book 2 and came out well and I agree looks were deceiving and the first book itself reeks of BDSM i agree people enjoy it

[Lizzy]

yes, he crept me out especially at the end of the book when we got a sneek peek at CPOV, but i fell in love with his character, yeah he did some creepy stuff, but it was very clear that all the stuff he did with Anastasia and the other women were consented from both parties.. The poor man was scared yeah its no excuse but he beat his demons at the end... =)

[Heidi]

I didnt find him creepy at all, Obviously he has control issues...and is abuse as a child has obviously paid a toll on him but "CREEPY"? No!

[Becky]

I think a lot of people are repressed, or just plain vanilla, which is ok too (:

[Clare]

Becky wrote: "actually, what I find creepy is how much people read into these books -they're just stories, for goodness sake - YES, there are people out there like that but just stay away from them if that's not..."

Becky cannot agree more with you on this, i actually enjoyed reading these stories and i have read some that honestly make these look extremely tame, I dont have a problem with this its so clear from the outset what type of story it is and very clear on what it contains ppl should just steer clear intead of reading something they clearly dnt like; again just my opinion :)

[Becky]

exactly, stop reading it, don't read books that are classified as bdsm or even erotica - I hate romance novels so I don't read them. It would be a waste of time to read them and then sit and complain about them.

[Clare]

Becky wrote: "exactly, stop reading it, don't read books that are classified as bdsm or even erotica - I hate romance novels so I don't read them. It would be a waste of time to read them and then sit and compl..."

Here here :)

[Irina]

Moni wrote: "ana is mentally ill talking about inner goddess
what is an inner goddess?
Sounds like a demonic spirit of whoredom if ya ask me.
Which is what alot of women have nowadays.
These characters are accu..."

So True :-/

It's like EL James looked up a whole bunch of personalty disorders in a psychiatric manual, then meshed some of the moderately socially dysfunctional ones into a male and female protagonist. When you think about Ana and Christian from a psychological standpoint, they are both walking,talking, fucking personality disorders. Without much depth or humour or likeability. Just two sex puppets and the Puppet Master is a very untalented and uncreative author EL James.

[Clare]

Irina wrote: "Moni wrote: "ana is mentally ill talking about inner goddess
what is an inner goddess?
Sounds like a demonic spirit of whoredom if ya ask me.
Which is what alot of women have nowadays.
These charac..."



You know i think everyone is entitled to an opinion, I get and understand you didnt like the books, but if you hated the characters so much why read all three books? I think voice an opinion of the story, but to personally slate an authour and deem them untalented is just rude and disrespectful, just because you didnt appreciate the way a character was written. I personally felt the 'inner goddess' was a great way to get to know the 'other' if not somewhat darker side of Anas character and it added humour. Thats just my HO, but if i havent enjoyed a book I state I didnt enjoy it for whatever reason, I would never ever slate the authour, afterall I dont have a published book thats sold millions, who am I to make comments like that. :)

[Irina]

Clare wrote: "Irina wrote: "Moni wrote: "ana is mentally ill talking about inner goddess
what is an inner goddess?
Sounds like a demonic spirit of whoredom if ya ask me.
Which is what alot of women have nowadays..."

Clare,
I gave the trilogy 3 stars....I did enjoy reading all three books....Ms James is to be commended on becoming such a run away success...kudos to her!! However, I am not going to praise her for her annoyingly repetitive writing. There is only so much inner goddess insights one can tolerate before it becomes humdrum.

Also, Ana and Christian could have both used a big ole smack upside the head for their completely juvenile and irrational behavior. If I was Taylor or Mrs Jones, I would have put a cap in their dumb-asses :)

[Bree]

I hated Christian and was very happy when Ana kicked him to the curb at the end of the first book. Yeah, he creeped me out.

[Ann]

TRUE! i also find him REALLY CREEPY! yay!

[Cclem630]

Nalu.chan wrote: "Seriously, I was completely creeped out by Grey. The sex part was... well, not normal, but there are people who enjoy BDMS and stuff (hey, who am I to judge when someone likes it really spicy). But..."
I also thought he kinda was a creeper, because he liked beating girls that looked like his mom. WTF?!?! He's definitely not my cup of tea, but to each is own. And now that you've mentioned the who psycho thing, I'm totally picturing him as DEXTER from that show on Showtime LOL !!

[Samantha]

I love books with Alpha male types, but Christian went way beyond alpha male straight into psycho territory. I had no problem with the BDSM and sex, but his personality and mannerisms annoyed the hell out of me. The only thing worse was Ana. I kept wanting to jump into the book, grab her and scream, "Stand up for yourself for god's sake!" Their relationship dynamic to me paralleled what you would you would see with a battered wife who refuses to leave her abuser. I kept reading the books thinking there had to be some redeeming factors in one of the novels. Sadly, there weren't. The ending where he is flogging her belly while she is pregnant really disturbed me.

[C.D.]

Becky wrote: "exactly, stop reading it, don't read books that are classified as bdsm or even erotica - I hate romance novels so I don't read them. It would be a waste of time to read them and then sit and compl..."

I was actually disappointed this book didn't have more BDSM. The sex was mostly vanilla. I did still find Christian creepy. But not because of the bedroom stuff.

What's really funny (to me anyway) is if Christian were real - big CEO, control issues, etc. - he'd most likely be a sub. The scene when he first brings Ana back to his house should have ended with him emerging from the playroom with a leash around his junk and begging Ana to stomp on his balls instead of handing her a contract.

I'm half tempted to write it... I know a professional dominatrix who could provide the details. lol.

I'm not mad at James or this book or BDSM or erotica. I just didn't find Christian particularly sexy.

[Slipperyvowels]

Marah wrote: "I was not creeped out by him. I like weird people. Ana creeped me out cause she just seemed like a nut. I thought Christian was just the typical Alpha male protecting what he perceived as his... I ..."

Ida wrote: "From the moment Ana stepped into his office I knew I didn't like him. Grey is a manipulative psycho. Would not go near him with a ten foot pole."

Ida wrote: "From the moment Ana stepped into his office I knew I didn't like him. Grey is a manipulative psycho. Would not go near him with a ten foot pole."

I so agree with you. When you could have been almost sure that Christian was a Psycho Anna acted like she never had any sense and people like Anna go off the deep end easily.

[Aryn]

Samantha wrote: "I love books with Alpha male types, but Christian went way beyond alpha male straight into psycho territory. I had no problem with the BDSM and sex, but his personality and mannerisms annoyed the h..."

LMAO!! You ladies are hilarious, thats why I love GR. But I totally agree. I thought Christian was a stalker, a control freak to the maximum, and not so sexy either.

Also Ana, was the most idiotic person ever. I know this is BDSM romance but waaaay too un-real for me. No woman in their right mind would put up with the bullshit that Christian put her through. He violated her privacy hella times. Bossed her around like all the time, and then when he beat her with the belt (even though she asked for it), he couldve taken it easy on her. She had no common sense, and I think I liked her inner Goddess alot more than her regular thought process.

I thought I liked Christian in FSOG, until Kellan Kyle itook my breath away

BOTTOM LINE - The love story was good, but everything in between was freakin nuts and you would have to be a psycho to even consider being in a relationship like this

[Jessica]

Aryn wrote: "Samantha wrote: "I love books with Alpha male types, but Christian went way beyond alpha male straight into psycho territory. I had no problem with the BDSM and sex, but his personality and manneri..."

I thought I like Christian until I read Bared to you....give me Gideon Cross anyday :)

[Slipperyvowels]

Jessica wrote: "Aryn wrote: "Samantha wrote: "I love books with Alpha male types, but Christian went way beyond alpha male straight into psycho territory. I had no problem with the BDSM and sex, but his personalit..."

Mr Cross for me too :)

[Katy]

I am glad I stumbled on this post but in real life all the women I know LOVE Christian and the books. I wanted to kick him in the face. He is an abusive sob and the fact that women are so enamored with him make me fear that we as women have taken a step backwards. We should not be attracted to controlling abusive men! I don't care that he got better....men like that don't get better most of the time. It just sends the wrong message to women.

[Pamela]

I agree with D Kristin whole heartedly. You cannot judge Christian solely on his sexual preferences. He had a rough life but he is trying to redeem himself by helping out the poor and hungry countries because he knows what its like. He has mommy issues but a serial killer or rapist he is not. He is a control freak because of all the things that happened to him that he could not control. A pimp put cigarettes to a his body when he could not defend himself. He is trying to have a normal life with all of his faults and you cant hate a man for really trying. I love Christian because he has not given up on having a normal life.

Now I dislike Ana more because she seems weak minded at times. She has helped Christian though but I can't quite get her. She wants to be spanked then she doesn't. She is too wishy washy for me.

So far I love the books but I am yet to finish the last one. I cannot wait to see how it ends!!

[Nalu.chan]

Katy wrote: "I am glad I stumbled on this post but in real life all the women I know LOVE Christian and the books. I wanted to kick him in the face. He is an abusive sob and the fact that women are so enamore..."
Totally true! That's one of the things that makes me so angry with this book - the fact that everybody now says that women just want a Christian in their lives. Come on, pple! Pple don't normally change without a good treatment - normally they just get worst, resorting to drugs and alcohol to cope with their inner demons.
I also don't understand why my friends want someone like him, I think his glam comes from all his money.

[Lachelle]

Yes, he was creepy, but the romance part and his broken psyche made him a character you wanted to fix. Yes, he could have easily turned out to be some kind of killer, rapist of brunettes, but he was under psychological treatment and Ana broke through to him before he could make that deadly turn into murderer.

[Denise]

Tirzah wrote: "My question is: am I the only female not reading this book?! The girls at my workplace were talking about all the stuff he made Ana do and I got sick hearing about-I can't imagine reading a whole b..."

No, I'm female and proud to say I have and will not read that tripe.

[Cecilia]

No i didnt finish the book for that exact reason. CREEPY

[Ghitte]

I think he is mentally disordered.
I don't know why people love him.
The fact that he's BDSM isn't a problem.
But you are right, he's a creep.

[Siobhan]

In lighter shades of grey, the author compares Grey's behaviour to the patterns of a psychopath. He scores pretty high. I think he makes it by the British ranking, and misses out by about 1 point by the American ranking.

[Michael]

No actually I felt sympathetic to him. I know that is a crazy opinion lol but I don't think he was as controlling as it seemed.

[Lala]

You are not alone my friend. I find him beyond creepy and it has nothing to do with his sexual preferences. His stalking of Ana was a major turnoff from the beginning but after reading his "little brown-haired girls" comment the creepy factor went off the charts!

[April]

I love reading erotica and BDSM books; unfortunately, this book is neither. The poor writing, ho-hum sex scenes and pathetic characters made me give up after the first book. Ana and dick-face were NOT in a sub/dom relationship, they were in an ABUSIVE relationship. There is a huge difference.

[Noëlle]

Effy wrote: "Christian Grey is a step away from becoming a rapist."


Actually, Effy, he was one. More than once Ana DID NOT WANT SEX, told him so, but he went ahead anyway. Since she always had orgasms, a lot of people think it doesn't count. In real life rape victims can orgasm. Physiology doesn't shut off because it's nonconsensual. Rape victims who orgasm already feel awful and guilty enough without the message that it means the rape was okay since they got off.

Grey is a rapist. That's fact.

[Noëlle]

Lizzy wrote: "yes, he crept me out especially at the end of the book when we got a sneek peek at CPOV, but i fell in love with his character, yeah he did some creepy stuff, but it was very clear that all the stu..."

Lizzy wrote: "yes, he crept me out especially at the end of the book when we got a sneek peek at CPOV, but i fell in love with his character, yeah he did some creepy stuff, but it was very clear that all the stu..."

Yeah, except for the times Ana said NO and he continued anyway, or when he bought the company she worked for to control her and threatened to buy any other company she went to work for, and flew across the country to stalk her after she made it clear she wanted space, and forbade her from seeing Kate outside of the condo and badgered her into changing her name, etc.. So much of what happened wasn't consent. Consent out of fear also isn't real consent. How frightening that women like you actually think that everything was 100% freely consensual.

[Noëlle]

Becky wrote: "I think a lot of people are repressed, or just plain vanilla, which is ok too (:"

Actually most people who live BDSM or have any experience with it are offended by how Erika portrayed the lifestyle as symptomatic of illness and that Christian gave Ana a hard time when she'd use the safe word. Read the blog at historyofbdsm.com for a scene-by-scene analysis of someone who's been part of the lifestyle for more than two decades.

[Emily]

I have never been in more turmoil over a book than I was with Fifty Shades. I am a feminist, so the cognitive dissonance between my feminist ideologies and the tough bad boy formula of romance and erotica has always been a point of contention. My friends were raving about this series, so I decided to give it a try. I threw the books across the room on several occasions, but perverted curiosity had me dusting it off and opening it up again...

The whole only dating brunettes because of his mommy issues gave me serious pause. His obsessive compulsion made me want to rip my hair out or punch someone in the face.

And her reactions to him had me nearly setting a match to the pages. I think I might go back and count every time the phrase "Holy Shit" was used by Ana. I have a feeling it will be in the hundreds...

All that aside, there is something to be said for trusting your instincts and pushing your comfort zone. Does that mean I'm ready to don my gimp costume and walk around on all fours purring like a kitten? FUCK NO! To each their own, sexuality is a wonderful thing and everyone deserves to get down in their own freaky way.

However, if a hot man on the street asked me to be his sub, I would probably agree, only if I got to peg him first. Turnabout is fair play, hoss!

[Emily]

Moni wrote: "he's horny as i don't know what.
thats what creeps me out about him
he's an addict

he has sex all the time.
its exhausting"

What ever happened to good ol' cuddling and back rubs? I'd rather experience affection than have the shit kicked out of me for a few orgasms. haha!

[Noëlle]

Emily wrote: "I have never been in more turmoil over a book than I was with Fifty Shades. I am a feminist, so the cognitive dissonance between my feminist ideologies and the tough bad boy formula of romance and ..."

Ana didn't push her boundaries because she was genuinely curious, but because she felt she had no choice. Christian bought her place of employment to control her and told her she'd buy any other company she went to work for. When she went to visit her mother across the country and made it clear she wanted space, he followed her and tracked down exactly where she was. He managed to know her exact location at all times, even when tracking her meant having access to cell phone towers and other information he couldn't legally access (recall the scene when she got drunk and the token Mexican tried forcing himself on her - Ana called Christian while drunk, but didn't say where she was). Ana had no ability to say no. Christian is a dangerous person who stalked her. If a man was doing the same to you and you had reason to believe he could pass the appropriate bribes (the police in Portland and Vancouver have been under federal investigation for human rights violation - I live here, and there is a lot of fear of the police not respecting rights), then you'd do what you had to do to feel safer, even if it means "pushing your boundaries" not just into what makes you feel a little uncomfortable, but into the range of what you do not want to do.

Ana repeatedly said she would do things for him because maybe he'd change, and she was constantly in fear of what he'd do to hurt her if she said no. Ana learned to bend to his will, and learned that by changing for him, he hurt her less, which gave her a feeling of control. This isn't healthy. In fact, I encourage you to look up Stockholm Syndrome, in which abuse victims come to feel love for their abusers and try to make their abusers happy to make life easier for themselves.

I've been in a situations frighteningly similar to Ana's. It's not feminist, it's not a mild pushing of boundaries. It's doing what you have to do to survive and finding a feeling of happiness in the fleeting moments where you aren't afraid, feeling a day's worth of joy in each moment you don't worry about a hand hurting you in ways you don't want. Each non-hurting moment is so much sweeter because they are like treats compared to the oppression and fear the rest of the day. It's not romantic. It's not sweet. And more than a decade out of that relationship and I'm still dealing with trauma and still working on undoing the habits I had to form to survive.

If you think FSoG is a true love story, talk to the women who've been with creeps like Christian Grey. It's only a love story to those who are lucky to not have lived it in real life. A lot of fiction romanticizes suffering and makes it appealing, leading to people accepting it as okay. I guarantee you if your daughter was in a relationship where she was scared and you found out she was banned from talking about it under threat of punishment that scared her, and that she only found any moments of happiness by changing herself to please her boyfriend or husband, you'd feel sick to your stomach, not titillated and thinking there's nothing wrong with it. But you are evidence that fiction can change the mindset of people. You would enter a relationship with someone like Christian because the books have turned you on. You do not see him taking a virginal young woman who's never seen a man naked and scaring her and stalking her into submission as wrong because you're turned on by the books. Too bad so many teenagers, kids who are 13 and 14 (read more comment threads here) who think he sounds just dreamy and there's nothing wrong with anything he does and that stalking her is proof of "deep true love." These books are setting people up to welcome behavior that, in real life, all too often ends up with a funeral.

[Emily]

I was in such conflict with this book that I actually wrote an academic research paper drawing parallels between Christian Grey and the power and control wheel often used to explain the different degrees of abuse in relationships. Particularly his use of his social status, sexual coercion, and isolation.

Needless to say I made a lot of enemies in class that day...

[[deleted user]]

Nalu.chan wrote: "Seriously, I was completely creeped out by Grey. The sex part was... well, not normal, but there are people who enjoy BDMS and stuff (hey, who am I to judge when someone likes it really spicy). But..."

this is soooo funny and true... the kink .. personally.. what ever.. to each their own.. after reading it and..yes enjoying it.. getting it out of my system by reading a plethora of Great Works.. I look back .. and I'm like.. wooooooooow... yea issues much.. and I am all for the Alpha... like ALL FOR THE ALPHA. but... this was more... so funny reading your post... will I see the movie.. uh ..no doubt it... but for some reason.. I cant expect it to be great..hopefully I am wrong...

[Megan]

He was creepy in his speaking. Like "how SHALL I make you cum" and shit like that. Also when they were talking about the baby "already liked sex" creepy lol.

[Noëlle]

Emily wrote: "I was in such conflict with this book that I actually wrote an academic research paper drawing parallels between Christian Grey and the power and control wheel often used to explain the different d..."

Would you be willing to share this? On my blog, alysbcohen.wordpress.com , I sometimes touch on issues like this and the problems it poses to writers and their fans.

[Noëlle]

Megan wrote: "He was creepy in his speaking. Like "how SHALL I make you cum" and shit like that. Also when they were talking about the baby "already liked sex" creepy lol."

Chris Hanson's probably getting ready to head to their house.

[Emily]

Alys wrote: "Emily wrote: "I was in such conflict with this book that I actually wrote an academic research paper drawing parallels between Christian Grey and the power and control wheel often used to explain t..."

I will have to try and retrieve it from an old computer. Technology is great when it works... lol!

[Megan]

I also thought it was kind if strange how he got turned on by her using his tooth brush (gross, that's grounds for break up) or wearing his underwear. Like you've been with whatever plus women and you think it's "hot" when a woman uses your toothbrush or wears your boxers?

TBH I think if he were a truck driver or trash man people would be worried about this possible relationship. But since he had money and could take care of her needs it was okay that he was controlling.

[Noëlle]

Megan, you're absolutely right. This trilogy does point out how much wealth skews societal views of someone's actions. If Christian wasn't wealthy and wasn't that guy so super duper hot that panties melt off at the thought of him, he wouldn't be seen as sexy. The attraction is to his wealth and his physical hotness more than on him as a person.

[Sönïa]

Stephanie wrote: "I read all 3 books and I honestly think that Christian is your typical controlling/abusive guy, the only difference is that he decides he wants to be something else and actively works to change him..."

I have read the books too and I think he never changed at all he always got his way all the time because Annlies never stood up for herself . She was very insecure and not strong strange how her father seemed alpha how could U be a wimp of ur parents aren't like that anyway the only time Annlies stood up for herself was when she found out she was pregnant and really even then she wasn't standing up for her it was abt her unborn baby yes I'll admit that one aspect did changed Christian he realised why his mother was hurt by her friend who abused him that's when he actual understood it was abuse because he imagined that happening to his child n felt sick. So only change that Annlies brought in Christian was that by the end of the book he was comfortable being a father of two children that's it apart from that nothing this book fucked peoples perception of BDSM especially for readers who are new to the concept plus this is also suppose to be a romance where is it I never seen any I saw better romance in crossfire series: bared to you, reflected in you by Sylvia day n the original sinner series: the siren, the angle, the prince by tiffany riesz those are novels with truce romance n BDSM not like fifty shades of grey which was just full of sex no emotions at all

[Vashti]

Jenna wrote: "Marah wrote: "Yes that is exactly right. Total nutty bat. And that inner goddess stuff seemed crazy as heck to me."

i agree"

I have to agree, as much as I enjoyed most of the books, the "inner goddess" crap got on my nerves to no END!! I thought that was completley ridiculous and juvenile! I was really hoping Christian could grab the inner goddess and beat the crap out of her to shut her the heck up!!!

[Maggie]

I agree!! He was way to controlling. I didn't find him the least bit appealing and by the last book disliked Ana A LOT!! I wanted to yell grow a back bone, stand up for yourself!!