Warning - this book and subsequently article deals with adult themes and is not suitable for young readers.
Ever since the publication of the trilogy, life has changed dramatically for E L James, a former TV executive, a wife and mother of two based in West London. The book has been on the bestseller list for weeks now, and there is talk of it being made into a film in the near future.
Interestingly enough, one does not have to look far to find that the book has an extremely polarizing effect. While 3,879 reviewers on Amazon give the book 5 stars, almost as many (3,073) give it just one. It seems readers truly love it or hate it.
Today we gather some of the most negative responses, for one simple reason: we don't like the book. It is not well-written and it is not particularly empowering of women. Though in one sense its heroine is awakened and empowerd, in the end she can only feel that way because a truly abusive and cold man has told her to.
Here they are, in no particular order:
- Our favorite, a review from Goodreads that has gone viral
- Gawker:
Is the Bestselling 'Mommy Porn' Book Worth the Hype? If you haven't heard of softcore BDSM novel50 Shades of Grey yet, you will soon. In what is currently its most e-mailed story, the New York Times called the book — which is No. 1 on its e-book fiction best-seller list for sales in the week ending March 3 and No. 3 on Amazon's best-seller list — "Mommy porn" meets Twilight for grown-ups. And the ladies are loving it. [Full Article]
- The Atlantic:
The Alleged Sexiness of '50 Shades of Grey' Look, I'm not afraid to say it: 50 Shades of Grey is a terrible book. I know this because I have started reading it. It didn't take long to figure out. The writing is stilted and relies on tropes that anyone who's ever sat through 15 minutes of a high school writing workshop would know to avoid. The characters are two-dimensional and stereotypical. The book's romantic twosome, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, are reminiscent of Bella and Edward in Twilight (the series started as Twilight fan fiction, after all) but there's no vampire stuff to take the edge off. Where the book really fails, however, is in its promise, a promise heard 'round the Internet and even in real life, of sexiness. [Full Article]
- The New York Times:
Glass Slipper as Festish As female fantasies go, it’s a twofer: lasting love and a winning Mega Millions lottery ticket. And what is shameful about 'Fifty Shades of Grey' isn’t the submissive sex, it’s the Cinderella story. [Full Article]
- The Sunday Times:
Guilty Pleasure of Prosaic Porn: Paige Nick Reads 50 Shades of Grey Should you read it? My answer would be, "I don’t know." Also, "Do you have your vomit bag handy?" [Paige Nick,The Sunday Times]
What do we think? Save your money. Like this independent bookstore says:
