Fifty Shades of Grey

Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy

By: E. L. James

Narrated by: Becca Battoe

Length: 19 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Please note: This audiobook contains graphic adult content.

The book everyone is talking about. When Ana Steele meets Christian Grey.... Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, Fifty Shades of Grey is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind – until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out.

Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more. But Grey is tormented by inner demons, and consumed by the need to control. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Grey keeps hidden away from public view.

©2012 E L James (P)2012 Random House Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"In a class by itself." ( Entertainment Weekly)

"The book that made women want sex again" ( Mail on Sunday)

"It’s the book everyone’s talking about, becoming a word of mouth hit, topping the bestseller lists, and the film rights have just been bought to bring it to the big screen… a good steamy read. 4 Stars." ( Heat)

"E L James's erotic novel, one of a trilogy, has become a phenomenon." ( Telegraph Online)

"E. L. James is the talk of the book world thanks to her Fifty Shades... trilogy." ( Daily Mail)

"It has become the topic of choice for water cooler chats, school run tête-a-têtes and whispered conversations over the garden fence... Erotic novel Fifty Shades Of Grey is conquering best-seller lists around the world." ( Herald Scotland Online)

"Fifty Shades of Grey…is now a mainstream publishing sensation." ( Guardian)

"It's the definition of a page-turner… Ultimately, James’s exploration of the dynamics of sexual power is both troubling and intriguing, and women will undoubtedly be discussing it for years to come." ( Telegraph.co.uk)

"Fifty Shades of Grey isn't your average bonkbuster. It could change our sex lives forever." ( Fabulous, Sun on Sunday)

"..it was a proper love story… If my review has at all persuaded you that Fifty Shades of Grey might be more than just a kinky book full of sex, then I urge you to pick up a copy and try it - I'm sure you won't be disappointed! 5 stars." ( ChickLitChloe.blogspot.co.uk)

"This is erotic fiction that firmly falls into the by women for women category. I’ll be buying copies for all my girlfriends this year... an intriguing read 5 stars." ( Bookbag)

Omg totally captivating

So much better than reading it through a book the slight voice control and expression gives your imagination that little bit more.

Riveting!!!

What did you love best about Fifty Shades of Grey?

I've just finished this audio book and I have one question...When are the others coming out on audible? The story is definitly worth the hype it has been getting.

Oh My!!!!

What did you like best about Fifty Shades of Grey? What did you like least?

It was something different and light entertainment but a little repetitive.

Has Fifty Shades of Grey turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not really

Did Becca Battoe do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

She was quite good but perhaps a male voice for Christian would have been better

Any additional comments?

It was entertaining enough - a bit of a laugh - nudge, nudge, wink, wink

good

story was good. some times repetition and unfinished sentences were bothering. naration could be better.

Excellent Trilogy

I really enjoyed listening this trilogy. It was a well written, interesting, entertaining story with good character repoire. There was a little bit of eroticism which added to the story line rather than being THE IDEA around which the story was woven. In the end - love conquers all!

All three books have their own story as well as combining for the overall story of the triology.

I am now going to get the books to read as well.

Interesting story with an excess of sex

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, It took me on a journey and was really interesting. It was completely unexpected as based on the way it is being talked about, I was expecting a highly trashy erotica, and it's not. It's a love story, and follows the journey of both parties as their boundaries are fully tested. It took me through a range of emotions, and made me reflect on myself, my boundaries, the emotional baggage people carry around with them, and the lasting impact people can have on each other. Don't judge it until you've read it for yourself.

Which character – as performed by Becca Battoe – was your favorite?

I was expecting this book to be following a girl being led into becoming a submissive, but it's not. I found the way Ana is played by Becca is totally believable, and found her responses to mirror my own so well, that I almost felt like I took the journey with her.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was surprised just how quickly I could become almost bored with their sexual exploration. There clearly is a capacity level for sexual content and this book pushed and exceeded mine. But not by shocking or surprising, as I actually didn't find it that shocking or surprising, as I had expected to do, but instead, by its sheer excess. Although I did feel that level of sex in the first months of a relationship is not unheard of, and their capacity to climax is pushing reality. However this is the ultimate fantasy man externally, so why not give him the ultimate fantasy capacity also. I didn't get to the point of wanting to spin on over the sex scenes, but I know people who did.

Any additional comments?

I actually really enjoyed this, and not only that it inspired reflection, which was a great. This book took me on a journey, and is different to any other book I've read. I find it's composition and origins fascinating, in that it is said it was transposed from twilight fan fiction and I can see this at times, but despite this, it's still good, and I supect far better than it would have been in it's original form. I think hearing it might actually have improved and lifted the text. Certainly youtube clips of others reading it make it sound so different.

great book.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes.great story line. left me wanting more

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fifty Shades of Grey?

When Christian went to Atlanta to see Anna.

Have you listened to any of Becca Battoe’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Who was the most memorable character of Fifty Shades of Grey and why?

Christian.. He's all man, cant help but visualize him

Any additional comments?

great story line. left me wanting more

Fastest-selling adult novel of all time - Really??

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Implausible characters mixed into a predictable storyline. It really took some effort to get myself to finish this audio book.
Finally I just couldn't get past the ‘violence to women fantasy’ disguised as S&M. It just made me so angry...
“Christian Grey is just a controlling, unpleasant man whom, even 30 years ago, no sane heroine would ever have married, however Holy-hell-sh*t-I-can't-breathe hot he was.” - Zoe William - the Guardian. I TOTALLY AGREE!
So what happens in book two and three? Who cares... (Ok I must admit I went to search for ‘spoilers’/summaries of the next two books on the web just to confirm my suspicions... :-))

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Becca Battoe?

This narrator’s portrayal of male voices was just agonizing and I tend to think that some of my issues with the credibility of the characters might have to do with the fact that she gives emphasis to the wrong words. (She has a good voice though.)

Any additional comments?

Despite the hype - I loved it

What did you love best about Fifty Shades of Grey?

I am so glad I read this book BEFORE all the incredible hype that followed its publication. Yes it is flawed, yes those flaws are many but you know what - its a damn good story and the characters are so tortured they are riveting! I got the audio books ( got all three) because I loved the books - and all in all I am not sorry to have spent the credits.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fifty Shades of Grey?

Hey I hated the Bitch Troll as much as Anna I just wanted her to get hit by a big red bus!

Did Becca Battoe do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Ahhhhhh - my one problem with this audio book was that the narrator was just so - so, I was not wrapped in her narration, and I can't say why. I guess I wanted .... more .... but It wasn't like I cringed through the whole book. - it was oookay.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Any additional comments?

worth having in your audio library.

Poor service

What would have made Fifty Shades of Grey better?

Maybe a different narrator, but I did not rate the book either.

Has Fifty Shades of Grey turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, probably just the author

How could the performance have been better?

Maybe with two narrators. Male and female

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

Did not listen to enough of it to answer this question

Any additional comments?

I tried returning this book but the system would not let me. I then emailed about it and I did not get a reply. I was disapointed in the pour customer service.