Fifty Shades of Grey
discussion
How old should someone be to read this book?
Lisa wrote: "By now, everyone in the world knows what this book is about. It is definitely not a book I would want to see my teenage daughter reading. The theme is far too adult for a 16 year old. I honestly do..."...and your 16 year old may have already read it without your knowledge.
Michael wrote: Wow really? That says a lot about you as a person. Learn how to accept an opinion.Good day! ."
All opinions are not created equal. I do not have to accept idiotic opinions. The Bible is full of rape, incest, murder, and a large selection of erotic writings, yet we allow very young children to read it. Here are some passages from Song of Solomon:
Song of Solomon 7
3 Your breasts are like two fawns,
like twin fawns of a gazelle. (can we imagine the criticism THIS simile was used in a contemporary erotic book?).
7 Your stature is like that of the palm,
and your breasts like clusters of fruit.
8 I said, “I will climb the palm tree;
I will take hold of its fruit.”
May your breasts be like clusters of grapes on the vine,
the fragrance of your breath like apples,
9 and your mouth like the best wine.
Song of Solomon 8
8 We have a little sister,
and her breasts are not yet grown.
10 I am a wall,
and my breasts are like towers.
Mary wrote: "Michael wrote: Wow really? That says a lot about you as a person. Learn how to accept an opinion.Good day! ."
All opinions are not created equal. I do not have to accept idiotic opinions. The ..."
*Sniggers*
That is so terrible. Fawns were considered sexy enough to be referenced for breasts???? Beastilty!!!
Nuran wrote: "That is so terrible. Fawns were considered sexy enough to be referenced for breasts???? Beastilty!!! ."LOL! I know. So if poor or trite writing can make a discussion for banning books, then there are portions of the Bible that would qualify.
Mary wrote: "Nuran wrote: "That is so terrible. Fawns were considered sexy enough to be referenced for breasts???? Beastilty!!! ."LOL! I know. So if poor or trite writing can make a discussion for banning b..."
Hahaha people calling for banning must be so impressionable and unable to resist the calling of a bad book, needing other people to protect them. Instead of just seeing it as a bad book, laughing then walking away unscathed.
Edit- don't like the idea of banning books, that leads to a slippery slope. Will Harry potter be banned in the future because it supports witches?? If we start banning now. Slippery slope.
Katy wrote: "Catherine wrote: "No one should have read FSOG, because it should have NEVER been released. Grammatical errors and elementary school wording make up about 95% of the story. It was a waste of paper ..."No it isn't in my opinion lots of those books are more than just seconds for example FSoG has a story line
I'm 24 I've been trying to read the first book for six months now but can't get into it so I keep putting it aside for other books. I'm now on chapter 17. I believe this should be a 18+ book. being I was in a abusive stalker relationship when I was 17 for 7 months I kind of find some of the parts in this book disturbing that people find sexy..... like him tracking her by her phone when he had only seen her like twice and him getting upset when she doesn't message him back and just shows up to her house. I'm going to try to finish the whole trilogy since my mother already bought me the other 2 and I hear he becomes a better person.....
Well it has 'BDSM' sex, that actually comprises a very large part of the novel. I put BDSM in scare quotes because the stuff that happens in the book is not actual BDSM, as Christian could not summon two fucks to give about Ana's consent. It does have clear descriptions of sex, but they are wholly unsatisfying to anyone who is into real BDSM. The romance is nonexistent to me, as Ana is treated like shit throughout the books. I'd say you probably wouldn't want to read it, not because of the inclusion of BDSM themes alone, but because of the terrible handling of it.
Justine wrote: "Katy wrote: "Catherine wrote: "No one should have read FSOG, because it should have NEVER been released. Grammatical errors and elementary school wording make up about 95% of the story. It was a wa..."I mean sex
my 15 year old sister read this book and very much enjoyed it, i have read it, my dad and step mum read it and my other sisters have read it and enjoyed. i think its personaly up to the parent to say weather ypu can read it or not if ya under 18
I agree I read all three and I'm 19 if I was a parent as long as my kids were about 15 I would let them ready the. Books.
Okay, so I'm 27 and I got married in April. I'm pretty sure that I wasn't old enough to read these books! However, with that being said, not that I suggest young children reading things that are inappropriate or not for their age, You have to learn sometime. I know for a fact that when I was a teenager, my mother used to read Harlequin Romance novels...we had shelves of them! I was like 16 or 17 and would read them...honestly, I had no idea what the heck was going on...sex ed was sort of a joke in my school so I wasn't very "educated" if you will. I'd say, this is something you could read because it's out there for everyone to read. The love story is absolutely beautiful...the sex is a bit much! This is NOT how real life works out though... this is not something that someone as young as 16 should understand a sexual relationship to be... So I'd say as long as your parents are okay with you reading it, then there's no issue. But you should not walk into it thinking this is how real life is.
One should never be held back by their lack of knowledge. I knew nothing about the subject matter of this book. Honestly, I started reading it and didn't realize it was an erotic novel. Friends were laughing at me because I was completely taken by surprise. But I think there's a lot to learn from these books. Obviously, if someone wrote a book about the subject matter, it's out there. You should at least be knowlegeable about it... but, you should also realize that this isn't how real life works out (especially not your first time), and if there is a real Christian Grey... he's mine! My husband won't mind! :-)
This book is not appropriate for anyone of any age. Put it down and go pick up some Jane Austen.
I was 16 when I read this book and it didn't bother me at all but if you think that memoirs of a geisha was disturbing then you're not mature enough to read the series because they are sexually explicit.
S wrote: "This book is not appropriate for anyone of any age. Put it down and go pick up some Jane Austen."Hehehe I love it!!
S wrote: "This book is not appropriate for anyone of any age. Put it down and go pick up some Jane Austen."LOL! While it is possible to do both, Pride and Prejudice IS the quintessential love story IMO. I re-read it at least once a year. It is hard to beat Jane.
I'm 49 and I think I was too young. I was only 48 though when I read it. Seriously though, I think 16 is too young. And with all due respect to the younger posters here, if you are 16 and think that this book was "just sex", and no big deal, then probably you are getting the wrong idea about what sex is generally like. Now don't get me wrong, you're probably very mature, but maturity and experience are different things, and I think this book requires both.
In my opinion (feel free to disagree, I'm good with that) this book has no real redeeming features other than rather shocking sex scenes. It's not well written, it's literary value is nil. I fondly refer to it as "What a book would be like if Barbara Cartland did S&M". Not that I didn't love BC when I was 12, but it was generic with thin to non existent plots for the most part.
So I suppose my question is: Why would a kid want to read it, or even a teenager? Maybe as mommy fantasy porn, an escape from the same ole same ole where sex is concerned, it's ok, but when your young and footloose and fancy free, when sex is fresh and new, what would be the point?
In fairness I must say that I didn't read the last 2 books since I really didn't like the first one. Only the hype about it kept me reading, but if you want good S&M romance, there are many established authors out there who do a much better job of it.
It does depend on the maturity level you have, i'm 16 going 17 and i read the entire saga. I really liked the storyline that the book has , and getting to know christian grey intrigued me a lot. The BDSM for me turned into a secondary part of the book, i read the chapters and sometimes ended up cracking up thinking about the akwardness of the actual situation. It just depends on what things you usually read and it's a book rated 18+ so i think next time you want to read a book like that , check some reviews and see what's about. That's what i did before start reading it, that way i didn't got any surprises when reading it(;
Age is only here because legal borders are necessary. It's not about maturity, because some people are mature, whatever their age, and were disturbed, shocked, etc. by the books. It's more about what you feel comfortable with or not. I don't think I could have read the Fifty Shades saga 2 years ago (I'm 21), because I was simply not "prepared" to read a book about such a topic at that time. And, to be honest, I tried not so long ago to read Lolita by Nabokov and I felt really disturbed. I know it's not the same kind of reading but it's to prove that everybody will have a different experience with a book. Not because of the age or what we call maturity, but only because of what they are ready to read or not. I knew FS saga could be disturbing and about BDSM, but I knew I could read it with an objective mind, and without being shocked. And I agree with Joeciiithaw: people should check reviews a bit more before reading, because I have the impression that a lot of the degrading reviews come from not enough informed people (of course there are also people who disliked the book for totally different reasons). Anyway, it's not the thing to discus here, sorry.Well, it was my opinion about the "age" question :)
Aleks wrote: "Age is only here because legal borders are necessary. It's not about maturity, because some people are mature, whatever their age, and were disturbed, shocked, etc. by the books. It's more about wh..."Alex, I agree with you about being ready for a book. I read The Happy Hooker when I was about 14-15. I just thought it was pretty gross, but it did not scar me for life. My mother was of the opinion that people self-censor. If you are not ready for a book, you will put it down or dismiss it after you read it. I believe that forbidding a teenager to read a book is the quickest method to ensure they find a way to read it. I also do not believe that knowledge of a thing leads to making that thing REAL. In the HH, the protagonist has sex with a dog. I never once felt so inclined (as I said, that pretty much grossed me out). When you think of 15-16 year olds, in a couple of years those kids could very well be MARRIED. I would rather have knowledge of what to look out for than no knowledge at all. Controlling personalities tend to look for those who can be easily controlled and that includes very naive girls.
Lisa wrote: "Just wondering what you think the suitable age should be... I'm sixteen and I've heard that this book is really good but I'm not really sure if it's appropriate for someone of my age. I heard there..."Don't bother. Read McLollough's biography of John Adams instead.
I say if the worst thing you do as a teenager is read a sexually explicit novel rather than do drugs or other mischievous things...go for it!
I personally believe that no book should be censored or censured. If you think you want to read a book try it. However, if you don't like or "get it" put the book back on the shelf. I think we will tell ourselves when we are or are not ready to read a given book.
Lisa wrote: "Just wondering what you think the suitable age should be... I'm sixteen and I've heard that this book is really good but I'm not really sure if it's appropriate for someone of my age. I heard there..."I'm actually fourteen almost fifteen and seriously I think you should be fine. And yeah, book two was the best.
I think 16 is still a bit young especially is parts of Memoirs of A Geisha where upsetting this would probably scar you for life. No seriously this does have a love story but it has a lot of adult and alternative lifestyle content that may be better suited for you in a few more years.
Justine wrote: No it isn't in my opinion lots of those books are more than just seconds for example FSoG has a story line I'm not saying that it doesn't have a story line...what I'm saying is that all the grammatical errors and 5th grade spelling bee words plastered in about 95% of the book are what caught my attention, so therefore I WOULD NOT recommend ANYONE to read this garbage. I've read emails & text messages more interesting than FSoG!
Mary wrote: "Lisa wrote: "By now, everyone in the world knows what this book is about. It is definitely not a book I would want to see my teenage daughter reading. The theme is far too adult for a 16 year old. ..."Perhaps, If I had a teenage daughter. I should have said, "if I had a teenage daughter...".
Abb wrote: if one had a foresight, and care for the human intellect, the degradation that such 'literary offals' bring, one would surely ban them, rather reduce them to ashes. Ban and burn books - yes, that's the perfect solution. And who will decide which books are 'literary offals'? You?
Wow. I hope so. I'd feel much better knowing you were in charge of my morality. Then I certainly wouldn't have to think for myself.
Lisa wrote: "Wow. I hope so. I'd feel much better knowing you were in charge of my morality. Then I certainly wouldn't have to think for myself. ..."Thank you Lisa. Even the mention of banning books makes me shudder.
Cassie wrote: "I reckon all shops that have adult books like department stores, bookshops and libraries should have a section for adult books and I think they should do what they do at movie threatres when kids t..."When I was 11 years old we moved to a new city. My mother and I were at the library not long after I had seen "Of Mice and Men" on TV. I picked out that book along with a few others. Because I had a child's library card, the librarian would not let me check out the book. I had been reading adult novels for a few years and there was nothing in the children's section to interest me. I argued with her for a while and finally had to call my mother over to the desk. My mother told her I could check out whatever I wanted and if the librarian would not let me, she would check it out and let me read it. My mother was of the mind that if I was asking to read a book, I was ready for it. I LOVED Of Mice and Men (even though it made me cry) and have read it a number of times through the years. What I saw in the book at age 11 is different from what I saw in it as I grew older, but I WAS ready to read it at age 11. Restricting a book does not prevent people from reading it. It merely makes it more enticing.
My mom never said I couldn't read a certain type of book when I was twelve I read more fanasty books I didn't read anything with sex parts in it until I was at least 16
My mom never said I couldn't read a certain type of book when I was twelve I read more fanasty books I didn't read anything with sex parts in it until I was at least 16
Mary wrote: "Cassie wrote: "I reckon all shops that have adult books like department stores, bookshops and libraries should have a section for adult books and I think they should do what they do at movie threat..."Likewise, when I was about ten, I was in a phase of checking out my limit in the library every week (about ten books for kids). One day, I picked up a Sweet Valley University book (not of the same callibre, I know) and the librarian tried to refuse, because it was YA and not a kids book. But she'd seen me there every saturday without fail, having read all the books I'd checked out the week before. In the end, she gave me an upgraded library card early, with the promise I wouldn't read anything too adult. It never scarred me, and I know that wouldn't happen these days (even if my parents knew I was getting the adult card at ten) but I was grateful that the librarian had recognised that it's not always about age, it's about maturity and a love of reading. And like you said, some of the themes went over my head (or at least, the one-dimensional aspect of it did) but that didn't mean I couldn't appreciate what was there.
I agree though I had more of a love for fanasty books and other types of books I don't actually remember reading any books not for my age group at the time.
I'm not sure it's a matter of age. It's a matter of whether you would/could be influenced into thinking that this relationship is normal or desirable.The only shocking aspect is one of dismay that some female readers have reported how it has transformed their sex/love life.
I didn't find any romance whatsoever.
If you are a mature reader who has discovered that BDSM is for you within your relationship, I don't have a problem with it. I do, however feel that some young women may be influenced into thinking that Christian Gray is the bees knees, and look for him in reality.
Ahhhh Sweet Valley High now those were some good books :)
They were, but svu had sex with teachers and all sorts in it. Still not the worst thing I've been allowed to take from the library
Maybe you should wait until you're 18 or older to read this book. I am an adult and honestly didn't find this "scary" or "dark" or anything like that. I liked the story, as it did have one, but unless you are mature enough to look past some of the sexual behaviors and see the true nature of the book you probably shouldn't read it.
Dani wrote: "I think you should read the Hunger Games instead.... I'm 26 years old and I had to put the book down a few times because it was overwhelming lol Also, I don't like how the main character is portray..."Not sure what book you read, but Anna was fine as a single woman. In fact she was a virgin until she met christian, then she dumped him. Bella from twilight is portrayed as a whiny teen who just can't live without her vampire boyfriend. I know fsog is a spin off but this isn't the same story.
I read the book when I was still 14. It's not really a book for young people but it's not so bad that you would throw up while reading it. I think that if you're 16, you can read it perfectly. I didn't think it was a good book but i've learned from it, I never heard of BDSM before... But that's just my opinion
Jan wrote: "I'm not sure it's a matter of age. It's a matter of whether you would/could be influenced into thinking that this relationship is normal or desirable.The only shocking aspect is one of dismay that..."
OK (how I find myself defending books like this is a little funny), but the book is really NOT about BDSM. Pretty much all of the sexual encounters are "vanilla sex" and the one time they venture into the BDSM, Ana leaves Christian. Ana resists Christian's controlling behavior all through the book. She is passive/aggressive in her behavior, but she still resists. She never signs the contract. She constantly confronts him about his control issues. In fact, most of the books focus on Christian trying to control and Ana resisting. In the end, HE is the one who changes. She sticks to her guns. The message is HIS controlling behavior is wrong (fucked up).
Do you know I read svh so long ago I hardly remember that kind of stuff! lmao! I do find myself reading teen books more as an adult though then I did as a teen! Weird!
Some people like the books so people don't can we please get over this topic
Linette wrote: "Do you know I read svh so long ago I hardly remember that kind of stuff! lmao! I do find myself reading teen books more as an adult though then I did as a teen! Weird!"Me too, but I think YA has grown a lot, I prefer a lot of story lines in YA to adult books. You get a little more licence with YA.
Okay that is very true
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Everyone brings their personal experiences to every book they read. Our own background knowledge colors every word. I do not know a single person who has not of heard or experienced an orgasm by age 18. Most are much younger. If someone gets to that age without this knowledge, there is probably something wrong.