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

More than 150 million copies sold worldwide.

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too - but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success - his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family - Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

This audiobook is intended for mature audiences.

Look for E L James’ passionate new love story, The Mister, coming April 16, 2019.

©2011 E L James (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

• Finalist, GoodReads Choice Awards, Best Romance

Who Chose This Narrator???

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

No, I can't even make myself finish this book. I cannot tolerate the narrator "trying" to be erotic!

Any additional comments?

I cannot even force myself to finish it!! Maybe the book is better since I won't have to listen to that voice again!

Enjoyed the book but not the narrator

I read this book first and completely enjoyed it. I thought it would add to my enjoyment of the story to listen as well but this narrator made Christian sound silly. I know a female narrator can do justice to a sexy male character because Davina Porter does a wonderful job with my all time favorite romantic literary character, Jamie Frasier, in the Outlander series. The Fifty Shades books have an unrealistic plot and are not Pulitzer Prize material by any means but I recommend them for pure enjoyment. The sex scenes are described in detail and are fun to read. Christian is a very appealing character, confident and cool. I don't plan to listen to the other books but I will read them again.

Ummmm.... WOW!

Before listening to this I read reviews and was unsure whether I wanted to listen to it as some were saying that the writing was awful. They couldn't have been more wrong! I think the author captivated each persona of Anna and Christian. I did like it better by listening to it on the faster narration speed of 2x. This is the only book I've ever listened to at higher than 1.1x. However, it made it more captivating. I loved the narrator. Her voice was perfect for Anna and how she changed it for Christian. Warning...if you have any prudish tendencies...you WILL NOT like this book. Any reservations at all about listening to very steamy books you WILL NOT like this book. If not, you will like this book and although Christian is a very different type of guy, you will feel drawn to him...laters baby...:)

Subject: Smart Anna

The book cast Anna as a 4.0 college grad and virgin, ok fine. But why does it make her sound so dumb. Just because you're a virgin doesn't mean you're oblivious to sex acts. Also if she is smart why would she not research things on her own. This would show she is wantting to see what type of acts Christian likes. Also she should know what limits are. Christian never said he needed the hard core acts with her. Plus the fact that he is having crazy hot sex with her everywhere but the play room, mostly, should be a clue. He always said she was in controll, why is she portraied as dumb to this. I understand she is new to sex but stupid to his words come on. It should have been as untrsting instead.

love the book, not the voice.

while I'm sure the narrator is a wonderful person, I just couldn't listen to it. I've read the books several times myself but thought this would be a nice way to listen to a book I like while going about my daily activities... But I could not continue to listen to the voice.

Love the book, hate the narration

I've read the books multiple times, and I love them without a doubt. The narrator's voice makes me physically laugh out loud and at the same time cringe. I hate her. I'm sure she might be fine for other books, but this series should not be narrated by a valley girl who have almost no inflection. It is boring and makes me feel as if I have wasted so much money on these audible books. I would love it if there was another narrator option.

Trashy Guilty Pleasure

This trilogy is a guilty pleasure, no doubt about it. It is not a literary work of art. It is not a challenging read. Much of the story is predictable. Some parts are cheesy. That being said, it's an addicting story. I'm not ashamed to say I enjoyed it.

Could have been better - Grade C-

I liked it, but I did not love it. The storyline was fine, but Anastastasia was a whiny, crybaby and Christian was not the alpha I would have thought he could be. He was a soft, pushover.

wanted more of the story....

so bought the next book....
can't wait to understand why he is the way he is. just like Anna I'm sure

Twilight for grown ups.

What other book might you compare Fifty Shades of Grey to and why?

The concept is similar to Twilight - a shy young girl drawn to a mysterious, dark, astonishingly good-looking young man. Just this time, he's not a vampire but a multimillionaire with a dark sexual desires.

What aspect of Becca Battoe’s performance would you have changed?

Her voice doesn't fit so well with the supposedly attractive, 21 year old protagonist.