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

[alteredbeast]

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

Maybe people keep saying "it's poorly written" because it is. Why should they come up with a different criticism if the first is still valid? (That's like saying, "You keep on about your ex-husband being a twat because he doesn't pay maintenance! Can't you find a different criticism of him? That one's getting a bit old now!")

Just out of interest, does she spend the entire half-million word doorstop tome having sex with just this one creepy bloke? [boggling at how this can be an interesting erotic novel]

So to be clear, if someone reads all 3 books then they may not criticize, but you may also not criticize if you didn't read it.

alteredbeast

(Spoiler alert)

Yes I did think that seeing as she dumps him and walks away at the end of the first book. I thought the series was going to be about her.

Tbh I think novelty value plays a part.

Having initially started reading it and given up within a couple of chapters, I went back to it when all my colleagues kept going on about it.

It's not brilliantly written & there's lots of irritating repetition, but it was something different & not completely boring. It killed a few hours over a quiet weekend, unlike certain proper works of literature that have bored me to tears, regardless of how well written they are I'm looking at you Madame Bovary.

I wrote this last week newpencilcase.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/50-shades-of-grey/

I read all 3. They were laughably bad and pure trash but, as porn, I'm not sure what people expected.

I find the phenomenon extraordinary though - especially given the abuse element.

Why are do so many women like it? The sneeriness and opposition is unhelpful in understanding what makes so many women find this attractive.

I'm a genuinely hated it.

But I think I made it to chapter 5 in Thr first book and that was enough.

"I knew a lesbian separatist feminist..............."

No, you don't!

What on earth is a Lesbian separatist feminist?????

I read the Twilight books at the request of the head of English depth who wanted me to write a scheme of work on them. Instead, he got me ranting about how terrible the books were because they set up young girls to believe that abusive relationships are glamorous. I couldn't bring myself to read 50 Shades. Twilight was enough.

MrsItsNow self described

Dont worry about it though, she didn't actually exist. Hakluyt has told me so

It was all a DREAM

Because ive read it (sorry skipped large parts of book 2) i can criticise it. If i hadnt read it how could i criticise something i know nothing about. I thought mr grey had issues and tbh the mills and boom books i read as a teenager where better written and sexier...

I read the first one . I proper had to force myself to keep reading but I had to because I hate an unfinished book .

No way was I wasted any more time on the tripe

I read all three searching for the big storyline...there wasn't one. They were badly written, dull and it got to the point that I was skipping about 4 pages each time a sexy bit started.

I kept thinking "surely if I read on I'll suddenly discover what the point of all this is..."

Curiosity got the better of me and I googled Lesbian separatist feminist and to my surprise they exist.

Although from the bit I read I don't think they'd be my cup of tea.