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

A sappy romance novel

I expected a more adult book with some substance and depth. Although the story was intriguing, it was written in an embarrassingly teen-dreamy style. My husband and I were listening to it together on a driving trip an gave up and quit about 1 1/2 hours into it. Not a great introduction to audible listening.

How old was she?

Predictable and poorly written. The thoughts/words of the main character could "sounded" as if they were coming from a high school freshman not a college graduate. .

Like looking at a horror you can't look away from.

I read the whole trilogy because I found it so comical and silly, I couldn't stop reading it. It made me laugh and have so much fun discovering the utterly rediculous plot line, I just had to read the next to books. It was like reading a sketch performance of Saturday Night Live or Mad TV. Darkly cheesy.

Needs a new Narrator

Would you try another book from E. L. James and/or Becca Battoe?

Yes to E.L. James
Hell No to Becca Battoe, unless she was reading a book on valley girls, then it would be a great fit.
She was way too Valley girlish and made Christian and Anna sound ridiculous. I was actually nice in giving her 1 star.

Would you recommend Fifty Shades of Grey to your friends? Why or why not?

Not the audio version of it.

What didn’t you like about Becca Battoe’s performance?

Nothing I'm afraid. She made the book unbearable to finish.

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

The book would have been great if you had a better narrator.

Any additional comments?

Redo it with a better narrator and let me try again.

What’s all the hype about

This book just made me angry. I wondered from the beginning why the protagonist is written to be such a pushover and let’s herself be taken advantage of. Nothing redeeming about this book. It’s just shock value I think, and not a very good story or interesting characters.

I couldn't read it, he writing was preschool level

Grammar, style, and performance were horrendous. The repetition of cliches and the upspeak were too much for me and I abandoned it. I wish I could remove this from my library.

Not sure why its so popular

The author filled the pages with recurring phrases and no character depth. It was hard to listen to the main characters constant shock that her love interest was into BDSM. And then she reacts to him as if he is physically abusing her.

Worst Narrator Ever.

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

I hope the author didn't pay the narrator for her work. It was truly painful to listen to her. I did not take the time to listen to a sample, as I was on my way out the door to work. I had been reading the novel on my Kindle Fire and thought I could listen on my commute, as the story was simply a good little story, simple, yet, fun. Well, I seriously had to TURN IT OFF it was SO AWFUL. Do not waste you money on this narrator. The narrating is terrible.

Hero is narrated badly.

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

I love this series. I have read all 3 books, and I would love to buy all 3 in audible. The hero's voice is narrated badly. I just could not buy the second and the third book in audible. I hope if they change to a strong hero voice then I will change my mind to buy them.

What didn’t you like about Becca Battoe’s performance?

I don't like her hero voice.

Poorly Written Porn

Would you try another book from E. L. James and/or Becca Battoe?

Anyone, I found miss Battoe's voice childish and
Annoying, it grated on my nerves, her portrayal of
The men's parts were especially bad and took away
any enjoyment I may have received from the book

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

1. Better more imaginative writing
2. Better story development
3 less vulgarity, sexuality can be
expressed In less vulgar more imaginative
terms and still be sexually stimulating
4.for audio books, a narrator who is experienced in voiceover
Work and Proficient in both male and female
Voices

What didn’t you like about Becca Battoe’s performance?

I just wasn't pleased with the story in general, miss Battoes performance was no
better or worse than anyone else's, however, on my audiobook, I found her voice
childish and annoying, her portrayal of male parts took away any enjoyment I may
Have gotten out of the book

What character would you cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

I found all of them equally dull and uninspiring

Any additional comments?

I plan to return/ exchange this book, haven't been so deeply disappointed in
audio book in a very long time