Fifty Shades of Grey

[MysticSang'ha]

you agree then disagree?

I said I think the movies were better not the books. And that's only because stuff actually happens in the movies whereas the books are padded like hell

Oops. I read that wrong. I thought the books were better. Which isn't saying much, either.

The acting in the films are atrocious. That's where the theatre geek in me likes to play snob.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Let me put it to you this way, MW. The dance snob in me wishes that all country line dancing were banished to hell, wonders why people love doing the Macarena, and what the big deal is over the "Gangnam Style" dance by Psy. I think it's stupid, unoriginal, and think that anybody who really honestly thinks that that is "real dancing" is completely ignorant of the skill and the artistry of Ballet, Contemporary, and some of the latest fusion-styles of either and some Hip Hop. What *I* know, and what the masses know, is after years and years of study and working my *** off in this field exists a tremendous gap.....I've done this for over 35 years.

But the reality is that only a very few people will ever desire to study and understand the complexity of dance as an art form, and will choose entertainment where they themselves can identify with. Sure, let's complain about how watered-down dance is that the masses enjoy on music videos and youtube. Let's complain about how watered-down today's popular literature is that the masses enjoy. People like my fellow colleagues love to sit on their perches and bemoan the Lady Gaga's of the world in music, the Fifty Shades in Literature, and the Dancing With the Stars in dance.

Problem is - and this is what sucks about reality - is that these same people who complain the most are the ones who struggle the most to make a living out of their art. I WISH I could market my dance studio in the manner that reflects all that I learned in my grad work in NYC, but the public does not and will not ever get it. They mostly want to learn how to shake something, to get in shape, to get "dancer's legs", or to get their double pirouette (at the MOST).

So, instead of complaining about it, I'm giving them what they want. I bring them a measure of happiness that gets them off their duff and moving to music. They're dancing. Is it reflective of Nureyev? Nope. Never will be. But it's something. And I've learned to accept that over the last 15 years or so.

Just trying to help you get through the rant, darlin. Trust me.....I've been there and done that so many times, I've got a graveyard of t-shirts that I buried to prove it. So, I get exactly where you're coming from.

 

[Lady B]

well I have read all 3 and I have mixed feelings. The Characterization I thought rather poor, The conflicts well a bit melodramatic... The erotica, a bit underwhelming specifically because there was more threat then actual encounters, anyway I am not normally into erotica so I wasn't too disapointed in the absence of more s&m . the over all story line was a bit too cinderella-ish but the inner princess in me yearned for it...

However with that being said I could not resist reading all 3 and I found myself missing the characters.

And so I moved on to another trillogy with many of the same attributes...hopelesss
If your likeminded, check out the silvia day Crossfire trillogy, bared to you, the last book isn't out yet, but if you enjoyed the disfunctionally depraved yet commited and intense coupletry in fifty shades, you will most likely enjoy this as well.

 

[MoonWater]

thanks mystic. good to know I'm not the only one who feels this way. I'll have more responses to your posts later on after I eat

 

[Skwim]

The movie version of one (all?) of the books is now being cast.

Who do you see as playing

1) Christian?

2) Anastasia?
​

To what extent do you see the sex depicted? The movie will probably be

3) PG-13

4) R

5) NC-17

6) Released with no rating​

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

I tried reading the first page of the book and wanted to gag cause the writing was so sappy and melodramatic. I read the first two books of the twilight series and honestly still don't understand it's appeal, Though I'll probably finish the series at some point

At least with 50 shades people can point to the sex if they need an excuse for why they like it. I don't get it though. I don't get how such terrible writing can get so popular.

I know I should just shrug my shoulders and say to each their own but being a writer myself I often find that difficult. After all here I am working my butt off to try and make my stories the best they can be, spending thousands on a degree in the field and reading tons of books and what not and everywhere I go I hear people salivating over what amounts to soggy beef jerky while all the filet mignon gathers dust on the shelf. Sometimes makes me wonder if I'm shooting myself in the foot by trying to make my writing good.

doh well, sorry for the rant. Maybe at some point I'll try to muscle through shades of grey but I'm not holding on to any hope that my opinion will improve.

I don't get it either. I've been contemplating reading fifty shades of grey, even though I know I will hate it, just so my hate will be well informed. But honestly I'll be too embarrassed to whip it out on a train.
I've read reviews that the main female character is just beyond tragic, really insecure and even refers to her vagina as "down there." And that Christian has sex with on her period so she can't get pregnant? :areyoucra

 

[MysticSang'ha]

I don't get it either. I've been contemplating reading fifty shades of grey, even though I know I will hate it, just so my hate will be well informed. But honestly I'll be too embarrassed to whip it out on a train.
I've read reviews that the main female character is just beyond tragic, really insecure and even refers to her vagina as "down there." And that Christian has sex with on her period so she can't get pregnant? :areyoucra

Untrue. Ana and Christian both are younger 20-something insecure lovers who are trying to navigate through their feelings for each other as well as establishing the boundaries of what is acceptable, what is desired, and what is unacceptable. Ana is a virgin before meeting Christian, and begins to discover her sexual appetite through the books.

She goes on the pill so that she doesn't get pregnant. The reviews IMO are wrong about the storyline.

The books are romance novels overall, but differing from others as a female sub telling the story how she fell in love with a male dom, who fell in love with her. I understand the sensitivity toward anything showing female submissiveness because of how it has been abused throughout history, but I really enjoyed the books because there finally has been a romance story that isn't so sickeningly vanilla.

I also felt good about the continued mentioning of how subs actually hold all the power in the relationship....but it's clear communication of boundaries and the nearly divine importance of the "safe word" that establishes the power residing in the sub and not the dom, which would increase the risk of the relationship becoming abusive.

I read the books finally feeling like there's a romance novel that I can really indulge in as a guilty pleasure. I just couldn't stand any others because they were....well....boring.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Untrue. Ana and Christian both are younger 20-something insecure lovers who are trying to navigate through their feelings for each other as well as establishing the boundaries of what is acceptable, what is desired, and what is unacceptable. Ana is a virgin before meeting Christian, and begins to discover her sexual appetite through the books.

She goes on the pill so that she doesn't get pregnant. The reviews IMO are wrong about the storyline.

The books are romance novels overall, but differing from others as a female sub telling the story how she fell in love with a male dom, who fell in love with her. I understand the sensitivity toward anything showing female submissiveness because of how it has been abused throughout history, but I really enjoyed the books because there finally has been a romance story that isn't so sickeningly vanilla.

I also felt good about the continued mentioning of how subs actually hold all the power in the relationship....but it's clear communication of boundaries and the nearly divine importance of the "safe word" that establishes the power residing in the sub and not the dom, which would increase the risk of the relationship becoming abusive.

I read the books finally feeling like there's a romance novel that I can really indulge in as a guilty pleasure. I just couldn't stand any others because they were....well....boring.

Ok cool. I'm not really into romance novels, I read one like 6 years ago and haven't read another since. I would probably only consider reading another romance novel if it is a classic, for example, 'Lady Chatterleys Lover'. I don't think the BDSM will make it anymore interesting for me, especially if the writing style is amateurish. I would rather read Marquis de Sade, let's put it that way.
But I am curious as to the hype.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Ok cool. I'm not really into romance novels, I read one like 6 years ago and haven't read another since. I would probably only consider reading another romance novel if it is a classic, for example, 'Lady Chatterleys Lover'. I don't think the BDSM will make it anymore interesting for me, especially if the writing style is amateurish. I would rather read Marquis de Sade, let's put it that way.
But I am curious as to the hype.

Hahaaaa! Understood.

The writing style is definitely amateurish. It's junk-food art, like Psy's "Gangnam Style" is junk-food dancing (which I finally began enjoying because I got up and started dancing to it LOL).

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Hahaaaa! Understood.

The writing style is definitely amateurish. It's junk-food art, like Psy's "Gangnam Style" is junk-food dancing (which I finally began enjoying because I got up and started dancing to it LOL).

No joke, I'm so fail that my sister had to break down the gangnam style dance for me. She's like "fist you do this" "then this" in slow motion so I would get it. I'm in public and trying not to laugh to myself as I type this.

 

[LuisDantas]

But honestly I'll be too embarrassed to whip it out on a train.

"50 Shades" turned out to be a major factor in establishing that there is a market for ebooks in Brazil.

It seems that people feel a bit more confortable reading it from a computer, tablet or ereader than they would be in carrying the book around or even keeping it at home.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

"50 Shades" turned out to be a major factor in establishing that there is a market for ebooks in Brazil.

It seems that people feel a bit more confortable reading it from a computer, tablet or ereader than they would be in carrying the book around or even keeping it at home.

Lol! I don't have an e book though. I like holding books, smelling them, turning the pages...

 

[Draka]

Lol! I don't have an e book though. I like holding books, smelling them, turning the pages...

My mom was the same way, said the same thing, and then my brother and I bought her a Kindle Fire for Mother's day last year. All she wrote. She's addicted to that thing now.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

My mom was the same way, said the same thing, and then my brother and I bought her a Kindle Fire for Mother's day last year. All she wrote. She's addicted to that thing now.

It actually would be useful when I want to read a collection. I have a HP Lovecraft collection and it is hench! I've only taken it on the train once and people were like :areyoucra

 

[LuisDantas]

Lovecraft collections are dirty cheap in ebook form, since you mentioned them. When they are not all-out free.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Lovecraft collections are dirty cheap in ebook form, since you mentioned them. When they are not all-out free.

Yeah but yeah but... This book is hardback, black, with gold lettering and a Cthulhu ooohhhhh

 

[LuisDantas]

Well, that changes everything.

 

[Penumbra]

I understand the sensitivity toward anything showing female submissiveness because of how it has been abused throughout history, but I really enjoyed the books because there finally has been a romance story that isn't so sickeningly vanilla.

I'd expect the topic of dominance/submissive to itself stir controversy.

Some of what I've heard, though, is that even people from BDSM circles have criticized the books as being on the unhealthy side, or associating consensual submissiveness with genuine insecurity. Much like how Belle was portrayed in Twilight (as this, after all, was originally fan fiction of Twilight).

 

[Rakhel]

Read all three books. I started reading them in much the same reason as I started Harry Potter and Twilight. To see what all the hubbub was.
It was okay. Didn't like the ending or the "his (short) version of events."
I could see what could be considered abuse in his absolute obsession of her but I also loved the the way she was able to stand up to him and put him in line, which is rare, if it happens at all, in abusive relationships.
The books were erotic without being pornographic and, I agree, not well written. However, it did allow those with little knowledge of BDSM a glimpse into the scene.

 

[LemonGrenade]

I managed to endure the first one and some of the second. Poorly written, unimaginative, dull.