Loved the book, narrator was ehh... I loved that it was an easy read for everyone. The story was sweet and sassy and what can I say about my favorite character..."CHRISTIAN" Dreamy!!

Great storyline. Awful narration! Narrator used a seductive voice throughout the story in places where it was not needed. And the emails???? Ugh

Decent story line. Gave "outsiders" an inside look into a different lifestyle.

Her seductive tone in everyday activities was unnecessary and didn't tie in with the innocent character.

NO!

Overuse of Holy Crap, Oh My.....I realize the character is a recent college graduate, but really??????

Quite a few things:
1. The first thing I noticed when listening to this book (apart from the narrator which others have discussed at length), was that it required a certain suspension of belief. Here we have a graduating English major (or lit major) with a vocabulary that consists of not more than crap, double crap, and holy crap he's freaking hot.
2. The emails (which were painful to hear read) were a bit excessive considering this takes place in 2011 and text messages are readily available.
3. The sex scenes really do overtake the book leaving not much if any plot. I've read erotica before, but I can't remember not being able to go a few minutes without another sex scene.
4. The characters of the book all seemed to have a very child-like outlook on life and even when the author attempted to make the characters complex, they largely came off as immature and one-dimensional.

Disclaimer: I am by no means a literature buff, but I read a lot of popular fiction. I can't say that any other book I've read stood out to me as shallow before reading this one. This could largely be due to the narration.

Probably not. I will not be finishing the trilogy.

I feel bad for Becca Battoe because while her voice was very annoying and all of the characters sounded like variations of a valley girl, there was not much she could do with the writing she was provided.

While the BDSM didn't bother me at all, what did bother me was the description of what appeared to be an abusive relationship. While it is one thing to voluntarily enter into a dom-sub relationship because that's how you get your kicks, it's quite another to let someone beat you and try to become the type of person they want because you got turned out. To be afraid to say how you feel or stand up for yourself because that person might whip you. There were quite a few uncomfortable moments in this book, and for me none of them were during the sex scenes.

If you're looking for something along these lines with less intensity and amazing narration, try Outlander. If you're looking for something with intense BDSM sex scenes and a more intricate plot, try the Kushiel series. Both are period pieces. I personally saw very minimal similarities to Twilight by the way.

For starters,it would be really great if the author had written this at an adult level. The characters were childish and the repetitive phrases drove me crazy. Words and phrases were used over and over (and over and over) like "holy crap!" "holy hell!" "I clambered into" "he smells like Christian and body wash." Then every once in awhile she'd throw in a word that you might have to look up to know it's meaning, like maybe someone told her to vary her words and so she threw in a few good ones here and there.

As for the speaker, she was fine with the Anastasia character but her voice used for male characters was SO annoying. Why can't they just employ a male actor to do that part?

No

Her voice for male characters

The childish emails back and forth ... and back and forth ... and back and forth

Absolutely not by the author, but the narrator could not help the trash she had to read. I was built up to this book by people that read it.. I honestly do not think reading or listening to this book would have helped my review. This book is awful and as GREY as it's title. Save your credit(s)

God, where to start... The OVER-USE of words was horrible. The story was boring, the female character reminds me of a spoiled rotten twit who at 21-22 years of age, has NEVER touched herself or had sex AND has been through college? Hard to believe.. SAVE YOUR CREDIT!!

Male voices were a little... ehh.. lacking, but then again, the story line was not her fault.

Umm.... the fact that it ended... Honestly, folks... that is my honest opinion. I think the cliffhanger is how they end the book, but honestly, I am not riveted enough to download the other books to find out. I could care less...

Again.... SAVE....YOUR....CREDIT... Perhaps read the book and create your own opinion, but honestly, it is the way this book is written. Maybe if you read it, you can skip through all the "holy crap" parts.... Download Megan Hart's Stranger... a much better "listen"... Trust me..

Adolescent males, as it had very little depth and every adjective available to describe sexual acts

I was very disappointed by the gratuitous sexual discussion. Greatly detracted from the story.

If I would like to read about sexual acts, I'll buy a Penthouse. I like to read books to challange my intellect. I felt like I was in a high school boys locker room for most of the book.

NO! The story line is as predictable as any romance novel. Becca Battoe has anything but a professional voice. I felt as if I were listening to a 10 year old reading porn.

Probably not unless James can come up with multidimensional characters. Ana and Christian were both a little flat. To title the book 50 Shades of Gray is wrong in so many ways. I agree Mr. Gray had many psychological issues, but his character was also predictable.

Her voice is too childlike with the inability to change it to sound like different people.

I probably wouldn't publish any of it. Take out the sex and what you have is a love story for teen girls. Also, the sex became predictable. Totally a waste of a credit and listening time.

Even the cliffhanger scene at the end is not enough to get me to purchase the second or third book.

I was curious, like many, about this book that was getting so much attention. The storyline sounded intriguing and erotic. I have to agree with those who mention the absolute poor writing skills of this author. If the subject had not been so titillating, we would have never heard of this novel. Imagine an eighth grade student writing about a tenth grade student's sexual fantasies. It's already been mentioned, but the repeated metaphors and declarations (oh my , holy crap , exquisite, my breath hitched, in my belly or my behind.....) and the emails were literally painful to listen to. Becca Battoe might be perfect for some roles, but not for the characters in this story. There are so many performers who do a brilliant job with male and female character voices. Becca simply lowers her voice for the men. Anastasia's Valley Girl sound made me want to slap her. I had thought I might listen to the trilogy, but I don't care what happens to these people. EL James will make a lot of money from this sensational book, but she won't win any prizes for her writing skills. Save your credits.

Not at all, as I stated in the headline the story is mildly entertaining as it's kind of fun listening to the character get all worked up and being so intimidated by Grey, but as far as 'good writing', it makes me think that any child 'not left behind' can write OR EDIT a book nowadays. Too much repitititititition, and cheesy references to things. I think it could have been made way more erotic and sensual, and the character can still come off innocent, without sounding like a complete stiff-sounding twit. This "Becca Battoe" sounded like she was uncomfortably reading from cue cards. Also, if I heard the words "Holy Crap", "Double Crap", "Crap", or any other fecal-exclamation, I might have jumped out a window.The only thing that keeps me interested is my simple fixation on hoping that the 'hot but bossy' "Christian Grey" beats the "Holy Crap" out of the narrator. =)

I might consider it, if they have someone tolerable, maybe even captivating to read for the audio.

Drew Barrymore (I just like her), Heather Jane Hogan, I'm not sure--Someone who can do "Innocent" but still bring a little life to the role.

Yeah, beg for my credit back, and maybe call up a FWB and make my own story ha-ha.

I doubt I check out the other two books in the series, and by no means am I a prude, because I can read and write some erotica for that matter, and I don't mean to be a literary snob, but this book is just not something I would recommend unless you are easily entertained, and NOT EASILY agitated by annoying narrators.

Probably not. Just because everyone else is reading it doesn't mean you need to. It's definitely popular right now, but I don't think it was particularly well written.

"Seriously?!"

Frustrating. Annoying. Mispronounced.

Yes. Because I read the book. ;)