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

Please note: This audiobook contains graphic adult content.

The book everyone is talking about. When Ana Steele meets Christian Grey.... Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, Fifty Shades of Grey is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind – until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out.

Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more. But Grey is tormented by inner demons, and consumed by the need to control. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Grey keeps hidden away from public view.

©2012 E L James (P)2012 Random House Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"In a class by itself." ( Entertainment Weekly)

"The book that made women want sex again" ( Mail on Sunday)

"It’s the book everyone’s talking about, becoming a word of mouth hit, topping the bestseller lists, and the film rights have just been bought to bring it to the big screen… a good steamy read. 4 Stars." ( Heat)

"E L James's erotic novel, one of a trilogy, has become a phenomenon." ( Telegraph Online)

"E. L. James is the talk of the book world thanks to her Fifty Shades... trilogy." ( Daily Mail)

"It has become the topic of choice for water cooler chats, school run tête-a-têtes and whispered conversations over the garden fence... Erotic novel Fifty Shades Of Grey is conquering best-seller lists around the world." ( Herald Scotland Online)

"Fifty Shades of Grey…is now a mainstream publishing sensation." ( Guardian)

"It's the definition of a page-turner… Ultimately, James’s exploration of the dynamics of sexual power is both troubling and intriguing, and women will undoubtedly be discussing it for years to come." ( Telegraph.co.uk)

"Fifty Shades of Grey isn't your average bonkbuster. It could change our sex lives forever." ( Fabulous, Sun on Sunday)

"..it was a proper love story… If my review has at all persuaded you that Fifty Shades of Grey might be more than just a kinky book full of sex, then I urge you to pick up a copy and try it - I'm sure you won't be disappointed! 5 stars." ( ChickLitChloe.blogspot.co.uk)

"This is erotic fiction that firmly falls into the by women for women category. I’ll be buying copies for all my girlfriends this year... an intriguing read 5 stars." ( Bookbag)

50 Shades of Crap

What would have made Fifty Shades of Grey better?

A plot! Less repetition. Anastasia may have been surprised by some events but the reader was not. If the sexual episodes were cut then the book would be about 2 hours listening. It was like coming up for air when the book eventually ended.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Certainly not the sequel to 50 shades of grey!

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

Becca did a splendid job with the material given. Can't shoot the messenger and she was really very good at bringing the book to life.

What character would you cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

The inner goddess and the subconcious were soooo annoying. Between the IG high fiveing and the subconscious wagging finger and tapping her foot we are left with the vulnerable but worldly Anna, ready to try anything rather than remain a virgin, and "oh my" ,having multiple orgasms at every turn of the page.

Any additional comments?

E L James has stated that this trilogy is the result of her middle-aged fantasy. She's certainly tapped a vein and deserves all the accolades she receives; thanks to her readers.

Boring

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

The content of this story was just so pathetic, I didn't even bother to listen to more than half an hour of it.

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

It was so predictable and silly. I did not find this book arousing. I bought this booking thinking it might be sexy, but was very dissapointed.

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

No, I think someone else could write a much sexier book than this.

Any additional comments?

I think it's time that a good author took up writing sexy books. There is obviously quite a lot of money to be made and people interested in reading this type of book.

Excruciating. Do not waste your credit.

Let me preface this by saying that I have listened to and read many unashamedly rubbish rom-coms, light fiction and chick-lit and appreciated them for what they were. However, this book is utterly terrible. It is poorly written, repetitive and the characters are unbelievable. I have only managed to listen to about an hour of it. Don't be fooled by the hype. I would like my credit back.

Sex Sells: The ONLY reason this book was published

What would have made Fifty Shades of Grey better?

The story is weak at best and contains three adjectives that are repeated over and over again. What is most saddening is that young girls might actually believe all the rot about how unbelievably easy it is for woman to reach such “heights” so to speak, which will leave them feeling as lacking in their own abilities as E L James is lacking in her imagination!

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

The one and only reason I will get the next book is because I've heard the story gets better. It simply has to get better - it couldn't possibly get any worse!!

What three words best describe Becca Battoe’s voice?

Nasal, whining and young.

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

No. Only peer pressure.

Any additional comments?

The narrator is really annoying at first with her nasally whining voice, but if you can manage to stick it out past the first few chapters you can tolerate it.

Romance novel for someone else.

What would have made Fifty Shades of Grey better?

Nothing comes to mind. No pun intended.

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

No

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

No

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

Don't know. I could only stomach the first 10 or so minutes.

Any additional comments?

I can't remember what inspired me to buy this one. Major mistake.

Indeed very Grey

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

Having listened to the performance and taken note of the storyline I can see very little literature merit in the story and unfortunately the performance left a lot to be desired. Lady Chatterley it is not. It reads like a Penthouse forum letter and is at best a disappointment given the undeserved hype the book has received.

A better reading of the text would have improved the audible side of things but the content was just not there to begin with. Sorry but a poor storyline compounded by a just so performance.

OMG it is like, SO bad!!!

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

If you are a 20 year old girl who like, speaks, like, omg, you know in that teenage american way you may like it. As a nearly 40 year old it was embarrassing! If this girl blushes one more time or trips over falling on her face one more time I shall scream. It is a Mills and Boons for teenagers. Maybe it was just the narrators voice. Maybe reading the book would be better. I don't think so. The target audience is definately late teenagers early 20s.

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

If I had known it was a Mills and Boons genre I wouldn't have read it.

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

Shocking. That is as a 40 year old. If I was 18 I would probably have loved it.

Any additional comments?

For anyone over the age of 22 don't waste your money.

Not Impressed. Absolute filth!!!

What would have made Fifty Shades of Grey better?

This book was not well written for all its hype.

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

I do not usually read books that have such explicit material in them. I am wondering what sort of world we live in that such a book can become a best seller. No, I am not a prude or a religious fanatic.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator's voice was very grating and probably added to my overall distaste of the book.

BORING

What disappointed you about Fifty Shades of Grey?

It was like I imagine Mills & Boon with some sex

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

Generally I wouldn't consider the genre at all

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

Because of the poor writing the performance had no chance

What character would you cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

All of them

Any additional comments?

I am amazed at this book's popularity. I listened after the great Potato Factory and it was just hogwash. I couldn't even finish book 2.

Boring in the extreme

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

The storyline was predictable and boring as were the characters. Nothing could have made this a 4 star listen.

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

No

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Nothing. It was the story that was boring

Any additional comments?

A boring, predicable storyline with steriotypical characters and spiced with kinky sex. Not worth your money or time