should i read 50 Shades of gray?

My little Kimmy read it and didn't recommend it for people "my age", as she put it when I asked something similar a few months back.

I read the book and was interested to know how the characters would evolve
All the sex and stuff got a bit samey after a while.
And I didn't feel the need to totally change my private life accordingly. !!

Start reading and then decide. Sounds like a bunch of hyper advertised crap to me but make up your own mind. I'm not into sadism, control and aggressive sex so it doesn't appeal to me. Lots of people like it and lots of people are deluded by the hype. You pays your money and takes your choice.

It's ok but there are 3 books to read. I would put it under the "trashy but readable" heading. I prefer Jackie Collins if I want to read something a bit racey.

My DD showed me some extracts which she thought were hilarious because they were so badly written. She was definitely not impressed and said she wouldn't waste her time on it. Like absent I'm not interested in reading about nasty sadistic sex anyway, but if I were I would expect the author to at least be literate.

My two daughters shared a view, "it's crap, badly written crap." They couldn't see why any woman would want to be abused, humiliated and controlled.

What a relief for their mum

It must be attracting a 'second wave' what with the movie coming out. At the time they were being promoted previously, I read some extracts out of curiosity. The few paragraphs I did read, were so boring. I find it slightly embarrassing that some women rate these books at all. Cringe.

I got as far as 'you've asked for it and now you're going to get it' and gave up (heroine was across the table at the time).

Akin to something written by an over imaginative teenager and badly written at that.

More implausibly funny than shocking and around about chapter 3, I binned it. Although I hate giving up on a book, this one was just too ridiculous.

petallus I think that's the bit I read in Smiths so I put it back down again not because I don't think its commonplace to have sex on a table (although possibly not very hygienic if the dinner is still on it) but because the writing was so poor.

My 80 year old mum read it and loved it. Said it was was lucky my dad wasn't around still or they might have exhausted themselves trying new things. Yes I cringed and nearly died of embarrassment. We all know that out parents only had sex in the missionary position and had a child each time. Therefore my parents only had sex three times in their entire lives lol.

I have flicked through it. It is the most badly written tripe I have ever had the misfortune to read. If you want to then read the juicy bits but tbh they're pretty boring too lol.

Give it a go, why not?. But I've got my suspicions Iam64's daughters and vampirequeen are probably right.

Wouldn't bother buying it, but as you've been given it, well, you might g et some fun out of it.

I had a look, and totally agree that it is badly written crap. Didn't read much to be able to decide. And it is a nasty little story.

Ooh!

Oh well, it might raise a bob or two in Oxfam.

I don't think its bobs that the book is meant to raise jingle. Bobs maybe.

Sorry!

Don't waste your time ! I read a few pages and switched to a well written book by an articulate author . It's puerile rubbish

Reasons not to bother
1)it's badly written tosh/crap
2)it's old hat badly written tosh/crap
3) the parodies (e.g.59 Sheds of Grey) are more amusing
4) it was a rubbish book and a rubbish film
4) all of the above extends to all the equally tasteless and formulaic spin offs.

All the rage ?? Whoever with?

I hate to say this but I would be horrified if not offended to receive a copy even as a joke.

How old is your granddaughter, BigGranny?

I wouldn't bother BigGranny as the others have said its badly written rubbish.. I picked up a copy my daughter brought home and the first 3 pages were enough for me to consign it to the 'charity' box.

It obviously wasn't ever meant to be a literary masterpiece or a Booker Prize nomination. Yes the writing's rubbish. But I have read it and did enjoy it (for what it was) erotic, cheap thrill, tosh.

My OH bought it for me. He saw the cover and thought it was a thriller... I sat up in bed reading it one morning and said to him, 'you do realise you have bought me a light porn book, don't you?' He was horrified!

I did read to the end of that and the sequel because I wanted to see how they would resolve the issue. But yes, dreadfully written and as soon as she started to roll her eyes I automatically knew to skip ten pages.

As I was the first of my friends to read it, I was very interested to see which of them enjoyed it. Most enlightening.

I haven't read it because it is such bad writing- I read two pages and put it back cringing. As for reading about sex- I'd rather be doing it than reading about it .

Soutra has summed it up admirably in four short sentences.

I might excuse the fact that it reads like something dreamed up by a frustrated teenager in her bedroom, but what I can't excuse is the sheer denigration of women by a female writer who has obviously done it to rake in some big bucks at the expense of her own sex. She might have made a lot of dosh, but can she really look at her volume of work and feel proud about it? One things for sure ... Margaret Atwood or Annie Proux she ain't.

Save your time and read a book by the lovely Ann Tyler instead.

Now she can write!