Fifty shades of gray critique

I will sidestep the potential Twilight argument and say instead that I've heard Fifty Shades is chock full of graphic sex and BDSM stuff. If you're into that then sure, amuse yourself.

 

From what I hear from the ladies I work with the BDSM is very tame, and there are other much more graphic and intersting novels out there if that's want you want to read. Apart from that its also mentioned a fair bit that the writing isn't really very good either.

 

I read a few paragraphs in the Amazon preview of the first book. Mulph. The prose style made me want to (virtually) throw it across the room. I didn't get far enough to learn anything about the character development or plotting, because the writing was so awkward.

I don't know if I'm pickier than average about that kind of thing; considering how popular FSOG is, I don't think most people care quite as much as I do.

 

I will never understand how such un-spectacular books like Fifty Shades and Twilight Eragon can garner such a large following. If I ever figure out how it's done I will endlessly abuse the tactic.

 

I got the trilogy as a birthday present from my girlfriends (I think they wanted to make me rage about it. They succeeded). It was like watching a trainwreck. I wanted to look away...but I couldn't. I just had to see how poorly concieved it was.

I honestly have no words for it after finishing the series. It's junk. Not because of the content (JR Ward can write circles around this lady in that arena) but because of the style and execution. The fact that it is so popular frightens me for a number of reasons, audience comprehension levels...proclivity to gravitate toward seriously abusive relationships...lack of real world scenarios and believable characters...I just...

Blah.

 

I have no problem with a book like FSOG being accessible and fun, but why can't the prose also be better?

Or—it horrifies me to suggest this—maybe whatever it is that makes me consider the prose horrible is also what makes it popuar.

 

Now that you mention it, Eragon and Twilight have mediocre prose too...

 

I retract my earlier statement in favor of this ^

 

I have read Twilight and I have read the Nook sample for Fifty Shades.... I think Twilight was better written. Accessibility, word of mouth (heck, we're talking about it here), and a lead character that is easily substituted by the reader is are the keys. Bella is barely average in every way possible -- easily replaced in the (young female) reader's imagination with herself. The snippet of FSOG also had a female main character that was unremarkable -- and replaceable. It's all about escape.

Still... disappointing to think it's surpassed Harry Potter as the best-selling book of all time in Britain

 

I am a book seller so this interests me - and our staff, too. None of us liked the books and some of us gave up on the first one very quickly. I could not stomach it.

I had been away from work (overseas) for some time and I have just recently returned. Two weeks back at work and I have quickly gathered that word of mouth is, in my area, the key to the book's success. People pass it onto others or people read and hear about it. They see it on display and they are compelled to buy it. Many come and tell us how bad the book was, but they couldn't put it down until they got to the end. Reader range is male, female, various ages, various interests, even book snobs.

As also mentioned above by Phil - accessibility is another thing. We have it displayed everywhere. Most of the big supermarkets sell it. It's available online in print and e-format. And people pass books on. With every new fad, readership grows.

Accessibility also relates to how easy the book is to read. It is a very quick read, like James Patterson or Dean Koontz.

Twilight, Harry Potter and The Hunger Games were accessible to a wider age range, though - from kids to grandparents.

 

There should be a virtual room that you can throw books across on your Kindle