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

Underwhelmed

Abrupt ending. Far too many unanswered questions. Average character development. Ultimately, lacking in content. Hollow and left many holes in the story. Story felt rushed from the onset.

Fun and Sexy Book

I have hear better narrators before. This is fun and sexy book. An easy and fun read/listen. Let go and enjoy!

Riveting as always

This is a book I can never get enough of. I love how the author is so descriptive but I don't understand why it had to happen in Seattle. Is Seattle something she got from the Twilight books?

Alright... Didn't care to finish it.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I didn't really know what to expect, and I was intrigued for a bit, but I got bored and it seemed to get really repetitive.

What do you think your next listen will be?

The Fault in Our Stars, Gone Girl, or This is Where I Leave You

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

I haven't. This had excellent narration, just wish it had more of a storyline.

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

When she reads the email correspondence, it's REALLY irritating that she has to read "To: Anastasia Steel, From: Christian Grey, Time: such and such, Subject: Bla bla bla," and then at the end of each email, "Signed: Christian Grey, CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc." When she's reading a series of email correspondence and each email contains two sentences, it gets really super duper annoying.

A very good listen

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

A very good listen - an interesting storyline and the much rumored "smut" is not that at all
due to presentation. Language is risque, so not for tender ears.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait to listen to book 2

A realistically unreal love story

I loved it. I've now read all 3. I hated it was over. Whom ever reads this and think it is just about kinky sex needs to read all 3 then judge.

Enjoyable

I did like the story. The narrator was good. I find the author a bit redundant, however. I understand there were a lot of things that had to be discussed, as some readers may not be familiar with this subject matter. That being said, there was a whole chapter that was dedicated to "the contract". I didn't find this necessary but someone else may. I also find Christian's use of the BDSM/SM relationship as a crutch for his own personal abuses is a poor example of such a relationship. This basically suggests that if you're abused, it's okay to do it to others. It is just a book. But books are a matter of the readers interpretation.

50 Shades ...

It took a bit for me to warm to the narrator but as the storyline progressed she seemed to fit, added that level of innocence.

A bizarre listen but wanted more

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

yes, I tried reading the book and kept getting lost was so much easier to listen to the narration.

What did you like best about this story?

it was strange and just couldn't help but keep on going

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

loved how she tried to change her voice to each character

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

I don't know how they are going to make a book about this but I know they are

Beauty at it's worst and best

It displays love so very well. it depicts life in it's beautifully cruel realities at every word.