Fifty Shades of Grey
discussion
dont like it ..dont read it
B3cs wrote: "Haha that was what my Mum was like. I used to complain that she had told it to me already. :DI think it really is great to be open with your children at a level that they can understand. I also hope that I can foster that type of relationship with my children.
We were also given books like Where Did I Come From? that we were encouraged to read and then ask questions. ."
All three of my children (including my 23 year old son) feel comfortable talking with me about sex. My daughters are 26 & 20. I am of the opinion that knowledge equals empowerment. When sex is portrayed as dirty or shameful, kids are less likely to seek out responsible opinions about it.
B3cs wrote: "Oh No, that's one of my favourites! "Funny story: When I was in college, my younger sister bought a tape of the White Album and put it in the tape deck in my car...set to play Helter Skelter when I started the car. I yanked that thing out of the tape deck and tossed it out the window. I finally got over it for most of the White Album, but I still get a little anxious feeling when listening to Helter Skelter (as I said, it did scar me for life). ;0)
I read it 4 years ago, at the age of 27 and I was still freaked out lol. But it was also interesting and I could not stop reading. I think it just scared me more at night, when I was alone. But I would definitely recommend reading it if you're interested on the subject. I've also watched every documentary on tv regarding him and it still leaves me shocked and sickened.Mary- that's funny! And mean :( lol
Kris wrote: "I read it 4 years ago, at the age of 27 and I was still freaked out lol. But it was also interesting and I could not stop reading. I think it just scared me more at night, when I was alone. But I w..."Oh it was an enthralling book! I read it through the night (looking over my shoulder the entire time). Tom Snyder (a late night talk show host n the late 70s, early 80s) interviewed Charles Manson on his show one time. I forced myself to watch it, but....that man is truly evil.
Pure evil! Brain washing people to do his sick work for him...
Kris wrote: "Pure evil! Brain washing people to do his sick work for him..."Also...never befriend anyone named Squeaky.
Mary wrote: "Kris wrote: "Pure evil! Brain washing people to do his sick work for him..."Also...never befriend anyone named Squeaky."
She was another nut! It's just so strange, seeing all of the "family's" black and white high school photos...young and innocent looking. You'd never guess it. Especially squeaky! Disgusting.
Mary wrote: "B3cs wrote: "Oh No, that's one of my favourites! "Funny story: When I was in college, my younger sister bought a tape of the White Album and put it in the tape deck in my car...set to play Helte..."
Does your younger sister let you near her CDs anymore? LOL
B3cs wrote: "Does your younger sister let you near her CDs anymore? LOL "She does not put them in MY car anymore. ;0)
Loved reading this feed tonight ladies, you have all made some great points about reading and maturity levels of which I totally agree, if you want to guarantee a teenager read something, just ban it, they'll have it read before the next morning. I do believe in discussing books and their meaning with your kids, not only do you develop good relationships with them, you can guide them better in their knowledge of all that is dark and dangerous out in the world. You will also get a good insight into their thoughts and opinions about these things!!
(oops, new to this type of discussion thread and didn't realise 800 messages have gone by...oh well)I read it because it was a much-talked about book. I trashed it because it was badly written and significantly flawed for a "best-seller".
No, I do not think the people who like these books are stupid. However, yes, I do criticise their reading abilities if they think the writing is fantastic.
I make no apologies for my opinion because it is just that, my opinion. We are allowed to express them, after all.
Just like you're allowed to express how much you love the books. Why is it wrong for someone to say how much they hated it after reading it?
You don't have to like or agree with what other people say.
Karen wrote: "if you want to guarantee a teenager read something, just ban it, they'll have it read before the next morning. "Agreed wholeheartedly. When I was 12, my aunt gave me two used Mills & Boons romance novels and my mom hid them from me. I found them a few days later and read them.
Just have to hope for the best that you raised a good kid. :)
Pamela wrote: "Karen wrote: "if you want to guarantee a teenager read something, just ban it, they'll have it read before the next morning. "Agreed wholeheartedly. When I was 12, my aunt gave me two used Mills ..."
had a similar thing happend but it was with a cd not books, my brother bought me a kid rock cd for christmas my step dad said i was to young and took it i was so mad well found it weeks later in his truck his cds guess what i took it right back :) lol u can try and shelters ur kids one way or another they will get what they want
I don't like it and didn't read it because it is poorly written, has a very weak plot and bozo characters, contains non-romantic (abusive and demeaning) sex, and almost seems like some kind of trick to fool the masses into buying it. This book should hold the world record for worst-written bestseller of perhaps all time. My wife couldn't even finish reading the first chapter of the book-which she downloaded for free-because the book was so bad. As an author, I feel well-written books should succeed and poorly-written books should fail. I know I'm being idealistic here but the success of this book is just connections-based, marketing-based and hype-based to the point of totally ridiculous! Try reading Paradigm Shift Sex (available on Kindle) to remember what an erotic romance can be. Thank you. SoLuna signing off for now.
Sajjad wrote: "I don't like it and didn't read it because it is poorly written, has a very weak plot and bozo characters, contains non-romantic (abusive and demeaning) sex, and almost seems like some kind of tric..."Ok, I was just wondering how you came to the conclusion that is was so "poorly written" and had "such a weak plot" and "bozo characters" if you admitted in your first sentence that you didn't even read it!!! And your wife didn't finish more than the first chapter. I'm sorry, but I think your remarks would hold more water if you actually read the book.
I'm all for criticism where it is due, but I don't think your remarks will be well received if you didn't even read the book.
Repeating Karen - if you didn't read it how do you know? Are you just following the others who have posted their thoughts on it and you're repeating the mantra or something else?I read the book, I disliked it & have stated my opinions and thoughts about why... but I read the entire first book.
I have read the first chapter of Twilight (sorry, that's the only book I can currently think of that I haven't finished :S) and not carried on afterwards but I don't go onto the threads about that book and state my not-completely-formed opinions of it/them as I don't have much of a leg to stand on with only 1 chapter under my belt.
Karen wrote: "I'm all for criticism where it is due, but I don't think your remarks will be well received if you didn't even read the book. "Oh interesting point. I actually share the same opinion that it would not be fair to bash a book if you haven't tried to read it properly.
I was talking with a friend, just how much of the book should you read before you can bash it for being terrible?
She was of the opinion you didn't have to read a book to know it is bad, while I felt that you should at least try to get through 2-3 chapters of the book.
Personally, I try to read the whole book if I can, but maybe it's not always feasible (for our sanity). Some novels, I couldn't even get past the first chapter. :(
What do you think? How much of the book should one read before saying "it's not good"?
Honestly, having been forced by school through one book that turned me against the author's other works and reading 2 which I thoroughly detested all the way through I say I like to give books the benefit of the doubt and, once started, read all the way through - hoping the author redeems themselves by the end. I see it as a duty to finish a book (except Twilight - my little sister was reading it at the time so I couldn't run off with it to see if it got better... did it?) but that may just be down to the principle of the matter ;) One chapter is nowhere near enough though, the plot's usually still being brought in, it's more an introduction than anything else, with most books.
Pamela wrote: "What do you think? How much of the book should one read before saying "it's not good"?."Oh that is an interesting question. Because you can say whatever you like. You can say it is the worst book you've ever read.... but it won't really be true, because you haven't read it.
So I guess the answer to your question would be that yes, you have the right to criticize anything you like, whether you've read it or not. I just don't think you are going to get as much respect for your opinions as you would if you read the material you are critiquing. Otherwise, how can you defend your remarks?
If you want to criticize the first chapter... then sure just leave it at that, and say "I didn't like it," "it was pooly written," "the characters sucked," but make sure you end your comment with "but I didn't finish it, therefore I cannot give an accurate opinion of the book."
Pamela wrote: "Karen wrote: "I'm all for criticism where it is due, but I don't think your remarks will be well received if you didn't even read the book. "Oh interesting point. I actually share the same opinio..."
A person should read the entire book before saying they disliked it. I don't understand the comments in this thread.I see an analogy to people making judgements in politics. Some uninformed people say, I agree with Mr. X. and what he stands for, but I hate Mr. Y. because he's not telling the truth and has other motives. Now if the voter has no idea what X or Y stands for because they've never bothered to study their records and listen to the hype then we have nobody to blame for the way our country is run but ourselves. This reminds me of Nancy Pelosi and the health care bill, (sorry about bringing politics into this. I don't like it when people do it and yet I am),she remarked... "You won't know what's in it until we've read it." How can you say something is good or bad for you when you haven't read it? We can have a difference of opinion, but first, please read what you're criticizing. It's doltish. It's election day in Florida, ergo my remarks. Love debate!! :)
Mary wrote: "B3cs wrote: "But I am a bit worried about your Helter Skelter comment, I downloaded that as an audiobook recently and it is on my shortlist to read - I should say listen! "You might not find it d..."
Did you ever read In Cold Blood? It's very scary!
Ellie wrote: "We can have a difference of opinion, but first, please read what you're criticizing. It's doltish. "Ellie,
That was brilliant!
Well, for some books, such as these, where it's fairly easy to read (less than a day), I can see where it is possible to read the whole book.But if it were something like Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel novel (which I failed to get past the third chapter)... I don't know. It was pretty hard going for me because I'm not really good with classics. Eventually I had to stop and go "it's too dry for my tastes". (Maybe I'll give it another try someday!)
Haha. :D
Still, good points by everyone. It's definitely something for me to think about.
Personally, if I'm going to talk a lot about a book (good or bad), I'd read it all the way through.
Pamela wrote: "Well, for some books, such as these, where it's fairly easy to read (less than a day), I can see where it is possible to read the whole book.But if it were something like Baroness Orczy's The Sca..."
I agree!
I do feel that someone should read the entire book if they intend to make a fair, thoughtful analysis, but I don't feel that you have to read an entire book to know whether or not you like it. Although I liked FSOG, I can someone reading it and being turned off by the story, or offended, or just plain not liking the silliness of it. I wouldn't expect them to continue reading, and I still feel they'd have a right in saying they didn't like it, and why.
But I agree with you all in the fact that one can not discuss, in detail, a book they haven't completed.
I agree with everything he said......but i feel that way having read the first 2 books and i agree with u guys he obviously didnt come up with these opinons by himself if he didnt read it. And him bein an Author coming up with these conclusions once again with out reading them...kinda scares me for one author to bash another with out even giving that Author a try...
Pamela wrote: "What do you think? How much of the book should one read before saying "it's not good"?."Depends on the book. A collection of short stories?
You'd have to read more than one.
Also depends on what turns you off of a book. This is not a cut and dry question. Which is why this discussion thread is so long. ;-)
For example: I knew within 50 pages of the e-book sample to "50 Shades" that the style worked for me, it fit my mood at the moment, and I was intrigued. I laughed. And I found the characters funny and engaging. So I bought the book.
I also knew within the first 50-100 pages of Twilight that I despised Stephanie Meyer's writing style, her main character (Bella) and this was not a book I'd want to read. I did admittedly scan ahead to see if it changed or got better - but no, her writing style turned me off and did not change. Now, granted that was five years ago and I'm admittedly a moody reader, so who knows what I'd think of it now? But, I also have a low tolerance for teen angsty romance - so
probably be about the same.
Girl with Dragon Tattoo? Found it impossible to get into, the first 100 pages read like an IKEA catalogue, then wham! you meet Lisbeth Salander and the thing takes off and becomes a page turner. Just took the writer a while to set the stage. This is true of a lot of better novels actually...not that I'm saying GWTD is one them, but in most cases the better written novels take a while to get into..often you'll be dragging through chapters until all of a sudden, you are enthralled.
That said, Larson's writing style, which is journalistic and somewhat dry, doesn't really change that much. But his characters are so well-developed that they pull you in. As does the detail of the setting and culture.
So to break it down:
1) If you judge a book on writing style along (ie. grammatical structure, narrative structure, word syntax, etc) and can only read a specific style, then yes, you know whether you like the book within about the first 50 pages or so. The people who stated that they hated 50 Shades because it was horribly written (citing grammar mistakes, syntax, repetition, and writing style), and then tell me that they actually ploughed through all three books..bewilder me. Because, seriously, you couldn't figure out this writing style wasn't your cupt of tea within the first 50 pages? Or the first 300? Alrighty then...
2)The one's who disliked the book because they felt the characters were poorly developed and the plot poorly constructed or too shallow - well, yes, you do have to read all three books to come to that conclusion. You can't really tell from the first 50 pages. And I don't necessarily disagree with them. I have issues with the plot and character development as well. James dropped the ball a few times in the latter books, in my opinion.
And all of this? Is highly subjective obviously.
What bugs one person won't another. That's why we fight over everything. ;-)
I agree, Jenna. You'd think, being an author himself, he'd know how it feels for someone to barely read his story and then unjustly trash its content. You would think maybe authors would understand, better than anyone, how unfair that is.
Exactly Kris well said
Christine- I totally agree with you. I, personally, hate to NOT finish a book. I will push myself to the end, most times, even if it feel like torture. I guess it's an obsessive behavior, sort of...;PBut there have been times where I was just bored to tears and I had to give up.
Usually, if I entirely dislike a book halfway through, it never turns around for me. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is-- add boredom to your list! Lol. I've pushed through the offensive, the sad, the confusing, the horrendous- but the extreme boredom where I stare at the page and forget to read is the hardest to get through. (For me)
Kris wrote: " add boredom to your list! Lol. I've pushed through the offensive, the sad, the confusing, the horrendous- but the extreme boredom where I stare at the page and forget to read is the hardest to get through. (For me) ."Kris, I have a hard time giving up on a book... I don't know, I just cannot leave a book unfinished, but I'll admit I try to only pick up the ones that look interesting to me. The only thing that pushes me to give up on it is just exactly what you said..."boredom." After a while extreme boredom is just torture to me, and the only thing that prompts me to give up.
And Christine... I felt exactly like you did in the beginning of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I almost gave up... then met Lisbeth, just in the nick of time... and I was hooked. "LOVED" the books too. So that just goes to prove the point that you should not jump to conclusions on a book, until you've read it through!!
im the same way even if i dont like it i force myself thru it i just have to its def a disorder i have lmao i gotta finish it if i dont like it, i noticed it takes me lots longer to finish it a book about 350 pgs i can finish in 2 days lol the 2nd book of fifty took me over a month lol but i still finish!!! :) just didnt start the 3rd....but once again with my disorder of having to finish also goes for finishing a series i start....just gotta take a break before i start 3
Jenna- you haven't read the 3rd book in the FSOG series, that's the one you're referring to, right?Although I liked it, it was my least favorite of the three bc I felt a little bored at times skimming through the gratuitous sex scenes to get to the story. But obviously, just my opinion, you should definitely follow through with your plan to read it. I do like the way it ended, though.
I'm actually really excited about the story from Christian's POV.
yea thats the one i ment i will finish it for sure but def takin a break and reading other things I have heard other didnt like the 3rd the most..and see what u did in book 3 skimming the sex scenes to get to the story is what i did in the 2nd about half way thru it i also felt it boring. but def will sometime
Jenna wrote: "yea thats the one i ment i will finish it for sure but def takin a break and reading other things I have heard other didnt like the 3rd the most..and see what u did in book 3 skimming the sex scene..."I want to know what you think of it, so be sure to post here if u can...
alright i will, it may be a while, im tryin to catch up on the Black Dagger Brotherhood series i have 3 or 4 left in the series i think
Jenna wrote: "I agree with everything he said......but i feel that way having read the first 2 books and i agree with u guys he obviously didnt come up with these opinons by himself if he didnt read it. And him ..."I agree.
i just looked at the thread for who ppl want to play ana....Miley Cyrus...really??? eww
Jenna wrote: "i just looked at the thread for who ppl want to play ana....Miley Cyrus...really??? eww"No way. Let her stick to her singing.
Personally I liked the book for what it is an easy read about ultimately a love story. Sure there is a lot of sex but you know that going in. However, if you are one of those people that critiques a book as you go along this book is not for you. There are a lot of inaccuracies where one thing is said and later the timelines or statements don't add up. For a professionally published book I was surprised at the errors but again I liked it over all for exactly what it is.
Jenna wrote: "i just looked at the thread for who ppl want to play ana....Miley Cyrus...really??? eww"NOOOO! Oh god, no. Why?? I was hoping they'd choose Jennifer Lawrence from The Hunger Games, but I doubt she'd play that role. Although I did hear that many well known actresses would love the chance.
If they cast either Miley Cyrus or Kristen Stewart, I cannot watch...
Kris wrote: "If they cast either Miley Cyrus or Kristen Stewart, I cannot watch..."I feel the same way.
Kris wrote: "If they cast either Miley Cyrus or Kristen Stewart, I cannot watch..."i agree.. for some reason i thought Ann Hathaway would be an okay part
see i thought Emilia Clarke i think she is Beautiful and i agree Kristen stewart ughhh her acting is horrible i can see ann hathaway being her, i just for some reason dont like her as an actress tho either way who ever they pick since these books are such a big deal they have big shoes to fill
As an author with a small publisher, I have to rely on self promotion to get my book out to the public. I was curious as to the success of Fifty Shades so I began to read it. In all fairness to EL James, it is not my normal type of read. I was bored with the first few pages and struggled through about thirty before I quit. While it is not a contemporary classic beautifully written, it is not trash, either. Beauty, and art, is in the eye of the beholder. I simply did not care for her style of writing, or the subject matter and the characters. But that is simply my opinion and taste. As an author I know the work that EL James put into writing her books, and I won't insult her by trivializing what she has accomplished. The major factors that attribute to her massive success are incredibly good marketing (the media definitely defines what and how consumers buy) and the simple fact that sex and tabu sells. Kind of like the boyfriend that dad hates, people look at this book, say don't buy it, and now someone wants it more. With that said, whatever you do, don't buy THE PLAZA by yours truly; don't talk about it or post it because it is dangerous and "all too real".
Guillermo wrote: "As an author with a small publisher, I have to rely on self promotion to get my book out to the public. I was curious as to the success of Fifty Shades so I began to read it. In all fairness to EL ..."ill bite lol so whats this The Plaza about?
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**Shudder** I could not listen to the Beatles White Album for ab..."
Oh No, that's one of my favourites!