Over here in the UK this book has become massively popular over the last few weeks, stores are sold out, Waterstones even had a sign in the window saying they were out of stock, and its all over my facebook and twitter feed.

I read the first one a while ago before it became popular, and i wasn't overly excited about it, to me it was too similar to Twilight (not a fan) and was essentially the same characters in a more adult world. But what bugged me the most, and i don't know if this is because im a femenist, is the way the female main character is portrayed, and it bugs me soo much that girls and women are reading this going "omg Mr. Grey what an amazing, perfect man, i wish my boyfriend was like him! *swoon*" When personally i think hes a controlling, power hungry male chauvinistic pig. If a boyfriend ever talked to me/stalked me like that, i would be out of there like a shot.

Im pleased that the BDSM world is becoming a bit more widely known, i'm all for sexual liberation and experimenting with you partner, i just wish it could be portrayed within a more healthy relasionship, as girls are so impressionable today i can't help but feel its going to encourage more unhealthy relasionships, and feels like such a step back for feminism.

Sorry about my rant lol, but this is really getting to me! What are your thoughts on these books? Love them? Hate them? couldn't care less?

I haven't read it (them? Is there more than one book?), I'm not even sure it's even out in my country, but from what I hear, it is indeed a more erotic version of Twilight, which is a major let-down. If I ever had any intention to read this book, it's now gone. Seriously, I heard it started like fanfiction for Twilight. That's just stupid.

It annoys me an erotica novel has suddenly become so popular. What happened? Some celebrity reccommended it or something and we all eat it up like it's fucking icecream? There are thousands of erotica books out there that are probably just as good or much better - what makes this one so special? I doubt its outshining of every other book in the genre is for a legitimate reason so I'm sick to death of hearing about it for that simple reason.

It's becoming increasingly popular over here in America. I'm not sure if I want to read it due to the adult theme. I've heard it referred to as "Mommy Porn" and almost don't want to know what that means. I however do find it intriguing, and might give int my curiosity. I do tend to be refraining from being the cat that killed by curiosity, so I'll probably wait until a friend reads it until I give it a try. I don't think, (as a male) it will bother me much that the main character's a woman. (I wasn't bothered by it in the Twilight series.)

Yes there are three books in the seris im currently half way through the second, so feel i can pass judgement now lol :p



Personally, i don't find it that 'erotic' but i read a fair bit of erotic fiction and stuff that fetures BDSM elements. There is much better erotic fiction out there, and it annoys me too that this has become soooo popular when it reads like poorly written fanfiction. The sex is unrealsitic sometimes, in real life its a lot 'messier' and women don't 'finish' in under 2 minutes lol. Again i may be biased as an avid reader and English Lit student.

In a way im glad its got people especially women actually picking up and reading a book, who wouldnt normally read or who havent read for fun before, i just wish it could be a better written book!

I greatly dislike Twilight and anything associated with it. Fanfiction of Twilight is even worse. My middle-aged English teacher loved it. Then again, she would also write "LOL" in my journal.

It's kind of disheartening that trashy books continually make the best-seller lists. If only talent brought fame and success in real life, huh?



ETA: Oh, and I heard that a movie is going to be made from Fifty Shades... is it going to be a softcore porno or something? Ian Somerhalder has expressed interest in playing the lead, so that's one good thing to come from all of this. Well, if you're into Ian Somerhalder.

Yupp theres going to be a movie, most likely it will be as badly made/acted as the twilight films in order to get the mass audience to watch it.

Im glad im not the only one who things its trash! Everywhere i look at the moment people are swooning and going on about how brilliant it is! Makes me want to pull my hair out.

Once you have read the Sleeping Beauty series by Anne Rice, all the other books in this genre pale in comparison. And I'm sure the movie(s) will be very watered down, as they even had to change things for the Twilight films.

I respect your opinions, as I wish you do the same. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, very much so. It has become my favourite novel. Although if the adult theme isn't your cup of tea, then you wouldn't enjoy it. I have recommended this book to everyone I know, except relatives (of course). I have very little knowledge on BDSM until this book, and personally I love Christian!! I like to see how he's transformation in personality from book 1-3 since meeting Anastasia. To me he is the perfect prince charming

To me Christian Grey is a creepy psychopath, but eh, each to their own.

I'm a bit late to the party here, but I did read the first book to see if it was as bad(ly written) as people were saying it was, and it was worse. So much worse. The grammatical errors alone were enough to dissuade me from reading it. Other than that I'm not sure it even had a plot and the sex wasn't that great...I've read (and written) MUCH better fanfiction (this is the holy grail of fanfiction to which everyone should aspire...seriously, the writing there is phenomenal, better than many published books I have read). Some of the phrases in 50 shades were just comical ("holy cow!" and "my inner goddess is excitedly clapping her hands" are a few memorable ones). It read as if Anastasia was some 5-year-old/70-year-old woman/child hybrid creature, who was laughably ignorant but elderly at the same time. I have read many times that Christian is this misogynistic asshole, which I suppose he is but I found his character so unbelievable that it hardly mattered to me. He didn't bear much resemblance to a real human in my opinion, but maybe that's part of the appeal?