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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not understand why people criticise 50 Shades but have read all three books.

64 replies

alteredbeast · 12/02/2015 17:07

I read so many threads about how awful 50 Shades is. So why did these people read it? Or even all three books?

I think some people secretly enjoyed them but can't admit it to themselves or others. They have to assume a 'I hate 50 Shades' false identity to cover their shame.

Those that stopped reading early on, fair enough. But those that read all three can't really expect to be taken seriously.

Yes they are badly written in places, repetitive etc. But I think they've created a snobbery. It is possible to like a wide range of literature and have read these for fun, curiosty about the hype, a turn on etc

OP posts:
MrsFionaCharming · 12/02/2015 17:54

I've read the first few chapters and gave up, as it was so badly written. I only did so, because I figured I couldn't critisise it without having read it, and based on articles/conversations/blogs about it, it did sound like abusive trash.

I read far enough in that I think I can critisise it - only to about the 2nd sex scene, but enough to have read that he stalked her to where she worked, and got angry when she spoke to her male boss, tracked her phone illegally, and took her home drunk and got into bed with her, when he could just have easily dropped her at her own house.

Also, the whole thing makes me generally angry, because there are so many brilliant and talented Fanfiction writers, who are now all being tarred with the same brush of bad writing and awful plots.

Sallyingforth · 12/02/2015 17:56

Dunkling good for you to let him read Mein Kampf.
I also read it in my early teens to try and understand what justification Hitler had for his actions. Glad I did, because it confirmed he had none other than a twisted brain. I'd recommend it to anyone who wanted to understand that period of history.

shellistar · 12/02/2015 18:03

YABU I read them because someone bought them me as a joke and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. They're terrible, both in writing and storyline but I continued because 1: I hoped against hope they would get better and 2: I found by reading them non judgementally I enjoyed the terrible cringeworthiness for what it was, a laugh. The books did nothing for me other than make me frustrated at the characters really.

Oh my.

Latara · 12/02/2015 18:20

I tried to read 50 shades but gave up because it was so rubbish.

QueenInTheNorth · 12/02/2015 18:28

Can't tell if it is a good book or not unless you've seen how the story ends! What I dislike is that he violates her consent at some parts of the novel, its quite uncomfortable to read at times, but I did finish them.

MightyMightyToros · 12/02/2015 18:31

Because thats typical MN.

I've never read the books and most likely never will. Therefore I cannot criticise it.

I think people love to hate it because it somehow makes them feel superior. Again like a poster already said, MN hates The Daily Mail yet the majority of them read it online.

I do get sick of reading the same comment about 50 SOG - "it's poorly written" - argh! Come up with a new line already! This exact same line gets trotted out every single time.

Alisvolatpropiis · 12/02/2015 18:31

Grin @ ghost.

I have read it, as it goes it reads as you might expect, the manic ramblings of an egomaniac.

I've not read Fifty Shades of Grey. I've read extracts, sniggered at how appallingly written it was and felt no need to continue. Just because it is "for women" doesn't mean it can't be even vaguely well written.

Bridget Jones Diary was "chick lit" but wasn't poorly written shit.

MrsPiggie · 12/02/2015 18:34

I can't comment on 50 Shades as I haven't read them, but I've read plenty of series that I didn't like. I carried on reading them because :

  • I wanted to see if they get any better
  • they had reviews saying "the second one is so much better than the first, give it a chance"
  • I had bought all of them and had nothing better to do so carried on reading
  • they weren't particularly cringeworthy, just poor but ok for a night when I didn't want to engage my brain
  • they were strangely addictive although I could see they were poorly written
Just because I read a whole series doesn't make me less capable or worthy of saying that the books are shit. If anything, I feel more entitled to this opinion than someone who put the first book down halfway. So I think overall Yabu.
YouKnowNothinJonSnow · 12/02/2015 18:37

I haven't read any of the books. Nor have I (or will I) see the film. I am bored to back teeth of seeing and hearing 50 shades of fucking shite everywhere I turn though! Hmm I can't get away from it, it was the same when the books came out. I can't turn on the TV, put on the radio, go on a website or walk down the fucking street (it's advertised on all the fucking buses) without seeing it or hraring about it. It's driving me fucking mental! I feel like moving to Outer Mongolia FFS! Angry

YouKnowNothinJonSnow · 12/02/2015 18:38

hearing

Chebs · 12/02/2015 18:40

I enjoyed them as chick flick books. I think they would have been a more compelling read had they started with his childhood, and ended up with the first book last IYSWIM?

Got a bit bored of all the sex to be honest!

skylark2 · 12/02/2015 18:53

I'm with Hakluyt - I never criticise a book I haven't read. But you're damned if you do and damned if you don't - either it's "if you didn't like it why did you read it?" or it's "how can you know you don't like it if you didn't read it?"

The fanfic was sufficiently bad that I have no desire to pay money for a souped up version.

Original poster
alteredbeast · 12/02/2015 19:26

I take on board the comments about having to read a whole book to critique it. But not a whole series of books of this nature. It was obvious that the style wasn't going to change!

So I still maintain that a lot of those who read them all and criticise are hiding the truth.

I read them all but I've also read War and Peace! Not a boast, just that it is possible to enjoy 'good' literature and trashy novels.

OP posts:
FlyingRincewind · 12/02/2015 19:35

I bought them as a trilogy. I read the first book and cheered when she left him at the end. Read the second book hoping it would be about her moving on and experimenting with someone else, when it became apparent I was wrong I was tempted to stop but I always like to finish a book Iv started just in case it gets better. I read the third because it was the only thing on my kindle that I hadn't read when I was stuck in hospital bored out of my mind!

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 12/02/2015 20:06

I haven't read them, but spent a whole afternoon yesterday reading a wonderful Irish blog, that summarised them, with commentary. I sobbed with laughter. Can't remember the name of the blog, but it was linked to, on the "50 shades should be banned" type thread yesterday.

Original poster
alteredbeast · 12/02/2015 20:35

'read the second book hoping it would be about her moving on'

'read the third because it was the only thing on my kindle'

Come on! You really thought after the first that she would ditch Grey and the rest would be about her moving on Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
alteredbeast · 12/02/2015 20:39

There are four types of 50 Shades reader

Those who genuinely loved it.

Those who know it's a bit shite but enjoyed it anyway.

Those who genuinely hated it.

Those who harp on and on about hating it because they can't bear to admit they actually enjoyed it.

OP posts:
DancingDinosaur · 12/02/2015 20:46

I'm in the category of I know its a bit shite but I enjoyed it anyway. Even if I did find myself skipping past the sex scenes in the end to try and get to the actual story Grin.

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 12/02/2015 20:54

Only read the first book to see what all the fuss is about, load of crap. Haven't read the 2nd or 3rd and nor will I.

Thurlow I've heard the opposite to what you mentioned. Apparently anyone who doesn't like it must lack imagination and have a pretty shit sex life.

A big fat whatever to that me thinks!

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 12/02/2015 20:56

I knew a lesbian separatist feminist who read loads of romantic (straight) fiction 'for research purposes'

jus' throwing that out there in case anyone wants an excuse to read it

jeez tho what was Sam Taylor-thingysorrycan'tremember THINKING?

£££££££

Pixel · 12/02/2015 21:02

Dh bought me a kindle as a present and he'd loaded all three books on to it. I think he thought he was being hilarious Hmm.

I got my own back by reading the most cringeworthy bits out loud when he was trying to concentrate on his own book Grin.

Must admit once I got past the most terribly written bit where they first get together I became more immune to the dreadful dialogue and started to get a bit addicted. But then I'm another one who has to finish a book once I've started. I've just spent weeks struggling through a really dull but ridiculously long book even though I've got a pile of stuff I had for Christmas waiting for me, just because I couldn't admit defeat. Must stop doing that. Life's too short really!

readyforno2 · 12/02/2015 21:11

I read them all.
Quite possibly the worst trilogy I've read. Unfortunately I am one of those people who can't stop reading a book half way as I think that the good bit must be on the next page. Or book..

geekymommy · 12/02/2015 21:31

Some people complain when someone who hasn't read a book, or hasn't read the whole thing, criticizes it. Who does get to criticize a book?

DadOnIce · 12/02/2015 21:37

You don't have to read an entire book to know it's rubbish. Especially not a 1500-page one. If you had a bottle of wine that was corked, would you drink it all to prove a point?

Editors often make decisions on the basis of three chapters and a synopsis - that's the standard package to send in. And they very rarely read all of that. They can usually know if it's shit within a page, and I think a reader probably has some idea too. I usually give books 50 pages.

Hovis2001 · 12/02/2015 21:40

Haven't read FSoG, but I do know what happens in each and every book due to reading these fantastic recaps:

www.snarksquad.com/category/books-2/fifty-shades/fifty-shades-of-grey

Sufficient knowledge of the contents of the book to criticise it, but enjoyed a very amusing read rather than an (apparently) cringeworthy and - at times - distressing one.