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

Absolutely Insufferable

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

Content is insufferable. Narrator might have been okay in another context but I'm not sure about that either.

Would you ever listen to anything by E. L. James again?

Never, ever. Jane Austen meet Ann Rice. Not pretty

What didn???t you like about Becca Battoe???s performance?

Felt flat. Maybe she thought the book was ridiculous too.

What character would you cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

All of them

Any additional comments?

This book was an absolute waste of a credit and, worst of all, my time.

HOLY CRAP and DOUBLE CRAP

What would have made Fifty Shades of Grey better?

almost anything could have made this book better.

What could E. L. James have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

ah...had someone else write it.

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

anyone. ABSOLUTELY ANYONE

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

it did make me laugh. i'm fairly certain that was not the authors intention, but i did laugh.

Any additional comments?

AMERICA.....don't do it.

I want my credit back

What disappointed you about Fifty Shades of Grey?

Everything... The story... the dialog... the narrator

What could E. L. James have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not slept through her introduction to writing fiction class.

What didn???t you like about Becca Battoe???s performance?

She sounded like a spoiled high school junior. No education or class.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger at wasting my credit

Any additional comments?

I worry for my country and culture if this is what passes for popular. Oh... right... I forgot that is why I don't watch television.

The Worst Book I've Ever Not Finished

Any additional comments?

I cannot believe how bad this book is and how much hype it has received. The writing is a joke, repetitive, and predictable.The narration didn't help things. I asked myself several times if this could possibly be a satire on romance novels because it was the only explanation for how terrible it is. I couldn't get past the second chapter even though I tried to hold out to see if it would get better. I am sorry to be so negative but I am trying to save someone else the pain and suffering of this book.

Narrator sounds like a parody of a bad voice actor

First let me qualify this review with the fact hat I have been an avid audible listener for seven years. I listen while I work, and I work a lot, so although I aim for a good story my priority is often duration. Once I have spent a credit, I will listen to virtually anything.

Of the hundreds of audiobooks I have listened to, I have perhaps reviewed only one or two, and until now, there is only one I found unlistenable. Fifty Shades of Gray was such a terrible assault on my brain, I was compelled to warn my fellow listeners.

Unprofessional does not even begin to describe the situation. The story is so bad that not even the contrived sex scenes make it interesting. Far worse, however, is the narrator whose performance is so unbelievably bad that she sounds like a parody of a bad voice actor.

Don't do it. don't waste your credit!

disappointing

What would have made Fifty Shades of Grey better?

interesting story

What was most disappointing about E L James’s story?

cliche

How did the narrator detract from the book?

her voice for the man was too cheesy

What character would you cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

both the main

Any additional comments?

I had heard great things about this book but it was not interesting or unique in any way.

worst book!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

This is the worst book i've read in the last decade. I'm certain i can come up with a more sophisticated and interesting story and I have no experience writing. The author takes the reader as an absolute idiot. I can't understand for the life of me why this book is so popular. The only thing i can think of is the detailed sex acts described, which is also whatever. There are many erotic books that are much more compelling. I would give it zero stars if i could, but it doesn't allow you.

You have GOT to be kidding me!!

What would have made Fifty Shades of Grey better?

A different storyline and a new Author!!

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

I will NEVER recommend ANYTHING written by E L James.. WHAT A JOKE!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

ANGER!!!!! What is all the fuss about with these books??? This is probably the most POORLY written book I've ever read! Seriously.. Someone buy this author a Thesaurus!! If I read the words "Oh My" or "Down There" or "Holy Cow" one more time, I may go off the deep end. I'm not against erotica, either... But there was NOTHING hot or attractive about any of the repetitive sex scenes in this book. I'm so ANGRY that I wasted hours of my life listening to this CRAP!!!

Any additional comments?

These books are for the simple-minded housewife who doesn't get enough attention from her husband... Anyone who recommends these books should be embarrassed.

Worst Book Ever Written

What could E. L. James have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The author should go back in a time machine, and not write this story.

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

I feel bad for the narrator. The writing and descriptions are so terrible, I'm embarrassed that the narrator had to read it with a straight face.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Zero. Zero redeeming qualities.

Any additional comments?

I just. . . I don't know why this book was so popular.

OMG!! OM!!

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

1. A story. 2. A reader that did not sound like a Junior High School 13 year old. 3. a real look at issues. Oh My !

Would you ever listen to anything by E. L. James again?

Not sure. I would review the book more carefully. However, I do occasionally read books I don't like and learn something from them.I don't think there was anything to learn. I also hate the readers accent for male characters. Anastasia, (is it a play on the real Anastasia?) is more than naive. I am 69 and I knew more of human anatomy at 9 than she does after college. Oh My, what is it "down there" Oh yes, It's my Sex! She not only could have used a thesaurus but a book of anatomy too.

How could the performance have been better?

A grown up with an adult voice and not the nonsensical affectation of the males.

What character would you cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

Before development you could cut them all they all have the character of library paste.

Any additional comments?

What a waste of time and money. Great marketing though; take one cheap novel, drag it out, make it three books out of what could have been a 30 minute short story.