Fifty Shades of Grey, is the first book in a trilogy by fanfiction author, E.L. James. It has been featured on the shows Dr. Drew and Good Morning America. It's been described as a romance, an erotica, and (its original form) a fanfic. The book has become popular enough to inspire a movie.
The book had been promoted as a BDSM erotica. I'm sad to say that the author's research didn't seem to reach far beyond the pages of Wikipedia, and the "romantic" hero’s fetish history is riddled with eye rolling clichés.
Harlequin Spice and the internet have many erotic stories that offer quality writing (if you're willing to search). The BDSM element is prevalent in nearly all of the original mass market paperback romances of the 20th century, though not clad in the black leather so many of us commonly attribute to it. They focus on characters being abducted, slavery, and dominant/submissive relationships.
Even in fanfiction, 50 Shade of Grey is not the first story to introduce this "extreme" form of relationship.
The romance in this story needs more development, as does the writing, the grammar, the dialogue, and the general storyline. The hero is a billionaire with perfect hair, perfect skin, a piloting license, and no personality appeal. The heroine is a Mary Sue, whose only character flaw is clumsiness.
There seemed to be a low level of sensuality, as well. The dialogue was repetitive, dull, and fake, as was the overall writing. Many authors like to come up with idiosyncrasies that make their characters unique, but reading "holy crap" every other page, and pillow talk sessions that always begin with, "biting your lip," gets really old, super fast.
Whether you are interested in romance, erotica, or even fanfiction, I think you could do better elsewhere.
I am really glad that you reviewed this book. I did not know anything about this book except that it was a part of a trilogy and that it was getting a lot of buzz. I really like trilogies and was planning on buying them soon. Now I am not so sure. Thank you for saving me the money.
ReplyDeleteL. Nicole Holloway
O.. wow I had saw this book in the bookstore a while back and I skimmed threw it and put it right back where I found out. The cover can be really tricky, you would think that it would be some what intresting. Thanks for the review. I know for sure not to go back and purchase it.
ReplyDeleteEboni Johnson
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ReplyDeleteNever heard of this book. After reading your review it doesn't sound like anything I would be interested in.
ReplyDeleteTerry M. Johnson
Sounds like a very boring book that was a waste of time. Just by looking at the cover, I could tell you that I wouldn't of read it at all.
ReplyDeleteTony Miliziano
I agree with Tony, it sounds very boring and a wast of time. I'm not a big person on reading books, to me they take too long! I'm so laughing on the inside! I want to know what's going to happen next the suspense kills me to not want to read anymore. But one series of books I just can't put down is Zane. It is such a strong erotic book series that gives hope to us single women. Gives us a fantasy that we would probably never live up to but it is fun to read and imagine. So if you are looking for a good one try Zane or the author Pearl Cleage. She's good, she has a book that is so intriguing, What looks like Crazy on an Ordinary Day.
ReplyDeleteMahogany
You always hear that you should never judge a book by its cover but in this case I'm pretty sure that you should. It looks boring from the outside and from the sound of it, the inside of the book isn't so great either.
ReplyDeleteLinnzi Wimberley
I am not a big fan of trilogies or reading book unless it is a love story/drama. Thanks for invitation
ReplyDeleteMonique P
I love reading books and like Monique, most of them will be a love story or drama enduced trilogies. I have heard a little about this books here and there and thought I would get into some day. Now, I think I may reconsider. I agree with Linnzi, in this case we should probably judge the book by it's boring cover. I am glad I read this before I bought it becuase I wouldn't have been to happen to read through the whole thing and not like it one bit.
ReplyDelete