The New Intimacy

50 Shades of Grey

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Contributor: Synthete Synthete
I read the first, and got halfway through the second, but I got tired of the characters and relationship/ plot. I originally picked them up because I was excited to see a BDSM-themed book topping bestseller charts, but as others here have said, it's not a very good representation of a D/s relationship. Honestly, the sex scenes were what kept me reading - I didn't care much for the story otherwise - and I've read better erotica.

While I think the success of the books does show a greater acceptance of kink, sexuality and openness among popular audiences, I wish it had been a book that did a better job of representing BDSM - it's not a result of a depraved mind or childhood abuse, and not something that should be feared. I hope the popularity of the 50 Shades books paves the way for other writers to clear this up - that's a trend I could get behind.
11/29/2012
Contributor: himynameissteph himynameissteph
Never gonna read it.
01/28/2013
Contributor: noway noway
I refuse to read it BECAUSE it is the big fad right now. This type of thing is nothing new, and has been done much better by other authors. I'm not wasting my time on Twilight fanfic with the names changed.
01/28/2013
Contributor: SecondStory SecondStory
Hid the boxsets under other books when I went to costco.
01/28/2013
Contributor: SydVicious SydVicious
I read all 3 books. It was an alright read. I don't think it's a masterpiece of literary proportions but I enjoyed reading it. Christian Gery is pretty fucked up and Anastasia Steele is spineless at the beginning and they become less irritating by the end of the series. I don't think they are the best BDSM books I have ever read, but they aren't horrible either.

One thing I do like about these books, is they are opening up a pathway for more books of this type to come out. I don't really enjoy just pain Erotica where it's more like a bunch of short stories that get right to the action. I like how 50 shades was more of a romance with sexual content. Because 50 shades has done so well, a ton of new authors have some out with similar style books and that, I think, is a good think.
01/28/2013
Contributor: This Is For The Birds This Is For The Birds
I loved them, however once into the third book I didn't enjoy it as much due to it jumping around a lot.

I've hear many stories of why people don't like it or do like it & I see it from everyone's point if view.

However, I'm not into BDSM so I don't know much about it & while I don't believe that I could create that type of relationship just based on what I read in the book, I still found it a great book. Sure it was poorly written, but besides the more D/S parts, I find it basically your struggles in most relationships and find it actually similar to my husband and I.
01/28/2013
Contributor: Hoshigetsu Hoshigetsu
I read it and heard from friends that it was insulting to the BDSM community, I thought the overall plot of the book was half decent and the description was erotic enough.
01/28/2013
Contributor: pootpootpoot pootpootpoot
Why would you pay for fanfiction? Why would you want Twilight fanfiction in the first place? Why would you pay for (and thus directly support anything that provides such a terrible, inaccurate portrayal of BDSM and could potentially bring harm to those who try to mimic the practices portrayed in it? Ugh.
01/28/2013
Contributor: kaykay0427 kaykay0427
It was an okay book. The sex was nice for a little bit. It gets a little obsessive after a while and I just wanted more of a story. There are some good twists and turns that keep you on your toes. I'm not so crazy about it that I would read it again tho.
01/28/2013
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Bethy Cassatt
What have you done about this crazy fad book?
Leafed through it. Not my style. Sorry.
01/28/2013
Contributor: roskat roskat
Avoid it. I have no interest in reading it.
01/28/2013
Contributor: FlashFuchsia FlashFuchsia
I kinda want to read it someday, but it's not really something I'm all that excited about it. Some of the stuff they do is really gross.
01/28/2013
Contributor: chantalgiardina chantalgiardina
Quote:
Originally posted by Bethy Cassatt
What have you done about this crazy fad book?
I have yet to read it but cant wait to get my hands on it
01/28/2013
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
I listened to the first one on (mp3) - very mild and not very interesting.
01/29/2013
Contributor: rainbowbritexx rainbowbritexx
I read it because of the hype. I hated the first book. The characters the murmuring, all of it! The second book was better, didn't acre enough to finish the third.
01/29/2013
Contributor: Apate Apate
I've avoided it. Haven't been interested in erotica in late. I want to read about monsters that behave like monsters lol I prefer story first sex second.
03/17/2013
Contributor: TJtheMadHatter TJtheMadHatter
I took my time picking up these books. Before I read them, I was interested in bringing some BDSM into our bedroom. After I read these books, I was turned off and disgusted by some of the mind fucks and scenarios. It took me a couple of weeks to move past these crap books, and pick up where I left off in my research of real BDSM.
03/17/2013
Contributor: Boyfriend Boyfriend
hate it
03/17/2013
Contributor: bratcat bratcat
Quote:
Originally posted by charletnarouh
Is this a typo?
"While I think the books to do portray a healthy BDSM relationship correctly"

i read them to be able to develop and offer an honest opinion. The image of BDSM in these books is insulting, demeaning, offensive, ... more
This is all i've heard about the book:it's terrible representation about consensual BDSM play, and therefore avoid it like a the pelage. While i like that it may open some to the idea of role play and BDSM the fact that it does not promote safety and consent is a large downfall of the book as that is a MAJOR part of being involved in a relationship where you practice BDSM. I've read quotes from the book illustrating the lack of consent/saftey and that was enough for me to say "NOPE," and not bother.
I did enjoy, however, Gilbert Gottfried's reading of the book.
03/17/2013
Contributor: Silverwinds Silverwinds
I haven't read it before, but the thought doesn't disgust me.
03/17/2013
Contributor: Cosmonaut Cosmonaut
I just don't care about it..I don't even think about it.
03/21/2013
Contributor: twelve13 twelve13
I found myself insulting this book a lot before reading it. Then I thought that it was wrong of me to speak poorly of something without actually reading it, so I read it. It wasn't as horrible as I thought however there were A LOT of problematic elements.
03/24/2013
Contributor: bettyboom bettyboom
I read it because I bitch about it all the time, and feel that I need to accurately have something to complain about. It isn't good.
04/02/2013
Contributor: lilyflower lilyflower
I avoided it at first, then I thought I'd read the first book just to see what all the fuss was about. I got maybe 75 pages in before I decided I should do something better with my time. The writing is god awful!
04/02/2013
Contributor: jennifur77 jennifur77
Much better erotica for free download on Amazon.
04/05/2013
Contributor: Kitka Kitka
I read all three of them and honestly they weren't that impressive. They were okay for something different to read but I would rather read the Beauty series by Anne Rice.
04/05/2013
Contributor: padmeamidala padmeamidala
Quote:
Originally posted by Bethy Cassatt
What have you done about this crazy fad book?
I have the book but haven't had a chance to read it yet. I have to admit that I'm curious about it.
04/05/2013
Contributor: Jaybird Jaybird
I've heard it's not very good and pretty inaccurate when it comes to BDSM community practices.
04/06/2013
Contributor: Chastity Darling Chastity Darling
I read it when I was sent the books by a relative... I was wary after all the hype. It reminded me (the hype) of the twilight fans. It was ok. Poorly written with a gazillion errors, but I can appreciate that it opened up a lot of people to exploring their inner Kink, so I can't be too upset.
04/20/2013
Contributor: ChubbyNerd ChubbyNerd
The first book was okay, the other two were horrible.
04/20/2013