Anyone else hate 50 shades of grey?

Contributor: Zandrock Zandrock
I personally do not like the book. I do not think it shines a positive light on a BDSM lifestyle. I think it is great some people are willing to explore sexually because of the book, but I think the characters do not show a healthy happy relationship that simply involves BDSM. I think there are a lot better kink friendly books that are a lot better, but I guess most of those are not erotica, they are more like guide books. What do others think?
07/09/2012
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Contributor: digit88 digit88
Quote:
Originally posted by Zandrock
I personally do not like the book. I do not think it shines a positive light on a BDSM lifestyle. I think it is great some people are willing to explore sexually because of the book, but I think the characters do not show a healthy happy relationship ... more
never read it
07/09/2012
Contributor: Zombirella Zombirella
People are taking it too much to heart or seriously. It's just a story. It's fiction. There isn't hardcore BDSM in it, just light. People are getting all worked up about and just need to relax. The woman isn't a professional writer. You either liked it or you hated it, as with any story. This is just one take on a relationship, no where is it said that this is how it is with everyone. It isn't accurate but then again, it's FICTION. There are stories written about many lifestyles that portray them in a different light.

I'm not trying to be mean, but SO many topics have been created about this and it's just getting old. I read the books, I enjoyed the little suspense it had about finding out "secrets", the sex scenes were okay at first but got predictable. This was fanfiction, names were changed and it was published.

Most adults that would develop an interest in BDSM would probably do a google search or get a book on Amazon to find out more, not just take what 50 Shades said because there wasn't much. And most people keep that stuff private that participate in it, it's not like a scarlet letter and everyone is going to know. So, if some people take it seriously, who cares what they think if you know the truth and what is right?
07/09/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
It's just a series of poorly constructed books that happened to be released during a moment of sexual frustration among the womenfolks.

Seriously...yeah I'm sick of hearing about it - in all shapes and sizes - but if it empowers women then there's a place for it; and for that, I cannot be angry over its existence.
07/09/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
It's just a series of poorly constructed books that happened to be released during a moment of sexual frustration among the womenfolks.

Seriously...yeah I'm sick of hearing about it - in all shapes and sizes - but if it empowers women ... more
While I agree with, "if it empowers women then there's a place for it" can someone please explain to me what is so "empowering" about a know-nothing Mary Sue who "Tripped? Fell? Landed on [some billionaire's] dick." I could perhaps understand if it was well-written, but it's not.

What angers either hardcore literary fans (me!) or BDSM practioners (not me), is that it's perhaps the world's most piss-poor example of Erotica and BDSM, but the the global media is giving it a saturation level like it's a new volume of the Harry Potter series. When you see authors and editors who get it right and do it well, ignored in favor of Fifty Shades of Suck, it leads one to [face-palm] repeatedly.
07/09/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
While I agree with, "if it empowers women then there's a place for it" can someone please explain to me what is so "empowering" about a know-nothing Mary Sue who "Tripped? Fell? Landed on [some billionaire's] ... more
Well to fight fire with fire, Harry Potter is nothing more than a hodge-podge of every Disney movie and Roald Dahl book ever written...and don't even get me started on Twilight (which this is fanfic of Twilight and don't get me started on fanfic, either )

I mean, it's kind of like saying because the New Yorker exists that Star! Magazine or Us Weekly or any of the other rags shouldn't exist. Everything has a place.

The truth is real BDSM erotica is a hard-sell, a very hard-sell. Even Anne Rice couldn't pull it off with the flare she intended. The Beauty series is virtually unknown outside of the kinkster realm.
07/09/2012
Contributor: clockwork451 clockwork451
I think it's terrible. It's not a book about love or a healthy BDSM relationship, it's about a naive young woman and a dude with epic mommy issues that abuses and takes advantage of women.

link

This is a great example of some of the horrible writing in this book.
07/09/2012
Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Well to fight fire with fire, Harry Potter is nothing more than a hodge-podge of every Disney movie and Roald Dahl book ever written...and don't even get me started on Twilight (which this is fanfic of Twilight and don't get me started on ... more
But it's gaining popularity because of Fifty Shades of Grey. I read an article today (which I can't find, of course) saying that the publisher of the Beauty series is republishing them with new covers, etc.

But to comment on the OP's post... I read the first book. It didn't thrill me. I'm not going to read the sequels. Probably won't see the movies. I was expecting more, and what I saw was pretty tame. I'm currently reading the first book in the Beauty series. Is it a healthy BDSM example? No. Will it get "mamas" to try out a blindfold and being tied up by a tie or scarf? Sure. Is that a good thing? Yeah, I think it is.

Exploration, no matter its reasons, is a good thing. If the "mamas" want to know more about BDSM, they can do a simple Google search without having to get invested.
07/09/2012
Contributor: Zombirella Zombirella
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
While I agree with, "if it empowers women then there's a place for it" can someone please explain to me what is so "empowering" about a know-nothing Mary Sue who "Tripped? Fell? Landed on [some billionaire's] ... more
Ana wasn't stupid, just naive about sex, period. She seems to have been sheltered. Hell, I KNOW a girl that I can compare her to, the same age! I think it could empower women because despite Christian always getting his way and being a Dominant, she was able to break down those walls. She participated in some acts but she had limits and she enforced them and wouldn't cave. She helped him as well. It may be corny but it kinda shows how the power of love can benefit and reach someone and help them learn to be okay with who they are. He learned compromise because of her. And they didn't have a REAL BDSM relationship because SHE really was the one in control there. His reasoning for doing that stuff CHANGED when he met Ana.
07/09/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Annemarie
But it's gaining popularity because of Fifty Shades of Grey. I read an article today (which I can't find, of course) saying that the publisher of the Beauty series is republishing them with new covers, etc.

But to comment on the ... more
The Beauty series will not help women become empowered. The BDSM happening in those books is sickeningly perverse and just...wrong. As in wrongly portrays the community as a whole. Anne Rice focuses on a specific form of pony play but her novels also include female genital mutilation and bestiality. (Granted only one example of both, but that's not the point.)

They're also poorly written and don't flow well at all.

But, that's just my two cents on the matter.
07/09/2012
Contributor: Zombirella Zombirella
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
The Beauty series will not help women become empowered. The BDSM happening in those books is sickeningly perverse and just...wrong. As in wrongly portrays the community as a whole. Anne Rice focuses on a specific form of pony play but her novels also ... more
I was considering those books, not so much now! I don't think it would be my cup of tea.
07/09/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Zombirella
I was considering those books, not so much now! I don't think it would be my cup of tea.
I might be slightly exaggerating, but there's a lot of things that the mainstream world probably isn't ready for - like men being chained to walls with anal plugs made of wood and horsehair stretch their bums for their masters or how they're made to wear cock rings for insanely large periods of time.

It's never really quite clear where these characters are headed and there is no real resolution at the end. Just a wide sweep of BDSM play for the author's pleasure with a focus on humiliation and pony play.

In reality? It's probably not Anne's fault, it's probably the work of her editor and publishers. Back then, that was a BIG hell-no which is why they're trying to bring it back...granted Anne's work is better than Fifty Shades of Grey. But, hey? Haven't we all read a few garbage novels in our lifetime?
07/09/2012
Contributor: LadyDarknezz LadyDarknezz
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
While I agree with, "if it empowers women then there's a place for it" can someone please explain to me what is so "empowering" about a know-nothing Mary Sue who "Tripped? Fell? Landed on [some billionaire's] ... more
I AGREE SO MUCH!

Thank you, Petite Valentine. I did not think I could love you anymore than I already did.

I am so tired of spilling my justifiable hatred for this pathetic literary atrocity already. I am an erotic fan and a BDSM practitioner, so yes...this craptacular series enraged me on so many levels.
07/09/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
The Beauty series will not help women become empowered. The BDSM happening in those books is sickeningly perverse and just...wrong. As in wrongly portrays the community as a whole. Anne Rice focuses on a specific form of pony play but her novels also ... more
I'm not a fan of the Beauty series either, though at least Anne Rice has a larger vocabulary than "Oh crap." Young-vanilla me knew the story was BS when I read it. Besides the unrelenting ass-play, I remember thinking, "Doesn't anyone around here get pregnant? Or ever get their period?"

The scene with the cat—— definitely pushing it, and not in a good way (IMHO). However, I do feel the need to defend Anne on the genital mutilation issue; when Beauty encounters it, it is made abundantly clear that she thinks it's a monstrous practice, and she actually makes it her goal to bring pleasure to the woman/women it has been done to.

@LadyDarknezz
Hang in there, this (media blitz) too shall pass!
07/09/2012
Contributor: Dixiemomma Dixiemomma
i heard such bad things about them that i avoided them, co worker is reading them now tho and has started asking some BDSM questions, which is great but no i dont think i'll be reading them
07/09/2012
Contributor: LadyDarknezz LadyDarknezz
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
I'm not a fan of the Beauty series either, though at least Anne Rice has a larger vocabulary than "Oh crap." Young-vanilla me knew the story was BS when I read it. Besides the unrelenting ass-play, I remember thinking, "Doesn't ... more
I remember reading the Beauty series when I was much younger, in fact, I was too young to be reading it. I didn't like it and was quite disturbed about a lot of the perversions in the book, especially the whole cat thing. I find it hilarious because I was thinking about how people in many erotic works never seem to get their periods and such, too.

I already had an interest in BDSM and my goth buddies recommended the Beauty series to me. It actually had no influence on me none so ever, I just thought it was gross, fictional crap, but it was written a helluva lot better than 50 Shades of Grey...That's for sure. Beauty didn't downright insult me and enrage me like James' garbage did. I think my brain repressed most of the stuff that happened in the Beauty series, hopefully, my brain will show me mercy and do it once again for 50 Shades of Grey.

@Petite Valentine: I sure hope it passes soon! I'm so tired of hearing about it! I need to get back to reading some erotica books, since 50 made me take a break from it.
07/09/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
I'm not a fan of the Beauty series either, though at least Anne Rice has a larger vocabulary than "Oh crap." Young-vanilla me knew the story was BS when I read it. Besides the unrelenting ass-play, I remember thinking, "Doesn't ... more
Exactly. The cat thing...just...out of the blue with no place in the story whatsoever. I'm actually still kind of shocked it flew by. Maybe it was the two sentences no one ever read, except for us.

Though, if you want to read some insanely hot erotica? There's an erotic novel that I cannot remember the name of to save my life - it's the exact story of Bram Stoker's Dracula but it's erotica. And OMG is it hot!!!
07/09/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Exactly. The cat thing...just...out of the blue with no place in the story whatsoever. I'm actually still kind of shocked it flew by. Maybe it was the two sentences no one ever read, except for us.

Though, if you want to read some ... more
"There's an erotic novel that I cannot remember the name of…"

Try harder! I can't search for it on Amazon — there are way too many self-published pieces of vampire crap in their erotica section.
07/09/2012
Contributor: Bex1331 Bex1331
I was very disappointed, it wasn't nearly as kinky as I was lead to believe, instead it just shone a terrible light onto a lifestyle many people act out in healthy ways.
07/09/2012
Contributor: LadyDarknezz LadyDarknezz
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
"There's an erotic novel that I cannot remember the name of…"

Try harder! I can't search for it on Amazon — there are way too many self-published pieces of vampire crap in their erotica section.
I second this because I LOVE BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA and EROTICA! If you ever remember the title, share with us please!
07/09/2012
Contributor: Gina RPG Geek Gina RPG Geek
Quote:
Originally posted by Zandrock
I personally do not like the book. I do not think it shines a positive light on a BDSM lifestyle. I think it is great some people are willing to explore sexually because of the book, but I think the characters do not show a healthy happy relationship ... more
I'm still trying to power through the 1st one. I don't like that it tries to say that anyone into bdsm was abused when little. I was NEVER EVER EVER hit by anyone. I had a very normal childhood. But here I am. Loving bdsm.
07/10/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
Don't worry, more than half of the internet agrees with you as do I!
07/10/2012
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
I've a question. I was watching an interview with some actress, and this book was brought up. In the interview, she mentions that they use butt clamps. I've never heard of butt clamps*. Is such a device really used in this book? Are there really butt clamp sex toys?

I ask because, while I've never heard of butt clamp sex toys, I have heard of butt clamps. They're used in welding :S .
07/13/2012
Contributor: Claire-Bear Claire-Bear
The male love interests emotional volatility makes her literally afraid of him so that she doesn't always speak up. It's emotionally and psychologically abusive. The actual bdsm stuff isn't, but his personality is very unhealthy and gives a bad name to people into kink.
07/13/2012
Contributor: Experiment Experiment
I dislike books that make a ton of money despite being badly written when there are so many better books that don't make much money. Hype shouldn't get more money than quality
07/13/2012
Contributor: blacklodge blacklodge
>taking a twilight fanfiction seriously as a "book"

you guise.
07/13/2012
Contributor: Kitka Kitka
50 Shades was a decent read but not one of my favorites because it was way too predictable and Ana was too much like those sappy romance novel girls.
07/13/2012
Contributor: remember.me remember.me
I found the 2nd book to be better than the 1st and simply took it as the fiction it was meant to be. I enjoyed the simple story but I don't tend to get worked up over books so I'm like "meh" lol
07/13/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Exactly. The cat thing...just...out of the blue with no place in the story whatsoever. I'm actually still kind of shocked it flew by. Maybe it was the two sentences no one ever read, except for us.

Though, if you want to read some ... more


You need to find us that book title!
07/13/2012
Contributor: Phosphorous Tick Phosphorous Tick
I find that every time I thought it was going to become decent someone opened their mouths and said something stupid- OR it mentioned for the millionth time that he had grey eyes and I just couldn't handle it.
the only good BDSM book I read was called "IMPACTED" which is a male/male romance novel- it's insanely good though.
07/13/2012