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

Don't Listen to the Negative Reviews on Narration

Where does Fifty Shades of Grey rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'm a big fan of audiobooks, so I think this rates around a four star rating.

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

I wouldn't compare this book to anything else, it's a bit dark like Black Dagger Brotherhood, but it's a wonderful love story.

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

Becca Battoe is not as talented as many other narrators, but neither is she a complete flop on these books. After a while you forget her as a narrator and just listen to the story. I was originally inclined to listen to the "mean reviews" of Becca Battoe, and therefore went ahead and bought the ebooks. Later, I thought I'd give the audiobook a try, and I was pretty mad that I listened to all the nay-sayers. Becca did a good job--not outstanding--but far better than the nasty reviews she's been given. I am completely happy with the narration.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The love story is amazing. It's flows and makes sense, and it's just a beautiful story, well written and inspiring.

Any additional comments?

Don't let others turn you away from this audiobook series. It has a near 4-star rating for a reason on Audible. I have never written a review on Audible, but Becca Battoe does not deserve the vehement negative reviews she's been getting on this series. It is a lovely narration--not the best I've ever heard--but still lovely.

Such a captivating story

What did you love best about Fifty Shades of Grey?

The plot and point of view brings you into the book and forces you to feel what the main characters are feeling, you feel hurt when they do, you feel joy when something good happens, excitement during the intimate parts and sorrow with their losses.

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

The kiss, no spoilers, but the kiss at the bar, read and you'll see what I mean.

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

no, so far I love this performance, she captures the audiences attention and the persona of the characters.

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

I did laugh, yell and cry during different parts of this book.

Any additional comments?

Love it, can't wait to finish the series!!

worth it overall.

What made the experience of listening to Fifty Shades of Grey the most enjoyable?

honestly, i was not a fan of the narrator. the voices were pretty unexciting and becca battoe made me feel like Ana was a regular teenager. however, audible seems to be the only way to "read" with a 7 month old needing my attention full time. so it's great that i can listen while doing things for my baby boy! i can bear through the odd narrating.

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

there are many! i will give nothing away..

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

did it match the pace? eh, in most places.

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

it made me want to read the second!

Any additional comments?

i could have gone without the continuous "oh my!" "he was, SO hot!", the overused word "exquisite" and all the other lame wet dream teenage vocabulary girl would use. but overall, i loved the story line and am eager to read/listen the next book. thank you audible!

In the mind of a young woman & relationship

Would you consider the audio edition of Fifty Shades of Grey to be better than the print version?

Yes, for a man reading this book it will require us to try to unlock a part of our imagination that will probly make most of us just give it up.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Main character, because of her point of view from her innocent

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

No,

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I don't know, but I can't wait to see who get to act the of Anastasia Steele & Christian Grey.

Could Hardly Wait To Listen To It!

If you could sum up Fifty Shades of Grey in three words, what would they be?

My Own Imagination

Who was your favorite character and why?

Amanda who is curious to find a partner.

What does Becca Battoe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She has a wonderful voice.

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

This is a must read book!

AWFUL narration. Good heavens, it's bad. OK story

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

Since I listen in the car, it's time OK spent.

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

None...it's in a league of it's own

Would you be willing to try another one of Becca Battoe???s performances?

Absolutely not! The reading is AWFUL. Dreadful. Slow.. bad....just bad...

Any additional comments?

I have to admit, I do want to go on to learn more about Christian and Anastasia. Unbelievably, I am interested in the next book. I did buy the Kindle version, though...no way could I stand another audio version!
This series is getting a lot of hype, so I decided to check it out. It's not all that and a bag of chips. I can't imagine this 'spicing up my marriage' - but my marriage is already great. I can't understand that viewpoint, though. The book is OK. The writing is bad. Very obviously a first book by someone who THINKS they're an author. It's not good. Obvious that she's thrown words in just because she thinks they'll sound good. Doesn't flow. It's bad. But, I have to admit, she did something right, because I want to know what happens in the next book. The writing is very elementary (aside from the subject matter of course), but the story is overall OK. Maybe it's like a train wreck, I have to look....

More than gratutitous sex...

It took me a bit longer than everyone else to pick this one up. It's not a genre that I spend a lot of time on... However, I was very pleased to learn that although there are plenty of hot, descriptive sex scenes, this book is also a story of love, communication, compassion, and healing. The narrator's voice has a sexy quality that makes listening to the book more fun than I think it would be to read with one exception: it is a bit distracting when she tries to do foreign accents, but that is a minor defect. The treatment of BDSM behaviors touches both the pleasure and the pain aspects honestly and thoroughly. It provides ideas for improving variety and spice in a relationship with an undercurrent of caution regarding what can happen if people become controlled by their passions. For me, this book was fun, educational, and cathartic, and Book 2 is even better!

an amazing book

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

Yes would recommend it to a friend. I think everyone could use a little of Mr Grey in their life..

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

The contract..

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I felt angry toward what happen to Mr Grey at 15 and Cried during the last chapter of the book. Sorry won't give to much away. Want to know more listen to the book..

First great audio book I have ever listened to.

If you could sum up Fifty Shades of Grey in three words, what would they be?

Breathe taking, Titillating, Suspenseful

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

When Anna walked out on Christian.

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

No I have not.

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

Yes, I will try to do that with the next book.

50 shades of terrible!

While the voice acting was good, the story itself was just terrible. I had heard so much about these books I thought sure, I'll listen to it. But I could barely get through it. It was really just that awful. It took me several months to listen to this. But no complaints on the production values or the voice acting, just on the story. I really have no idea why this book was such a huge hit. There just must be a lot of sexually repressed people in need of an outlet. And if that outlet happens to be literary sexual fantasy so be it. But this book was so not for me. Maybe my expectations were artificially inflated because of all the buzz I had heard. But I was really disappointed and I'm definitely not reading the next two books.