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

Interesting

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

The narrator is annoying to listen to. Her choice for Ana is a bit too OMG Valley Girl and she cannot seem to do a good male voice for Christian. Not sure I am going to get book two in audible if it has the same narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

Hot, sexy subject matter

How could the performance have been better?

Better narrator

What character would you cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

None

The Narrarator is AWFUL

What disappointed you about Fifty Shades of Grey?

Ahh this Narrarator makes me want to take a screw driver and use it to gouge out my ear drums. I feel as though a prepubescent, teen valley girl is constantly whining in my ears!

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

ANYONE ... I would rather listen to Fran Drescher or Joan Rivers for 19 hours than listen this person.

Bad Writing

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

No

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I can't think of anything I liked.

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

Not really

Any additional comments?

This was terrible! I've been in a d/s relationship for almost a decade which began quickly and intensely, has not lost any of the magic, and developed with love and trust. I thought some of the reviewers just didn't understand how much it can mean to find someone you fit with as part of a d/s dynamic. NOPE...it was just bad. The writing was juvenile, descriptions lacking, and no true development of characters. On top of that, it was so unrealistic. How many times did we need to here "From....Subject...Time...To..."? The whole thing was repetitive, pedantic, and ridiculous! Finally, Kim Harrison's sexual tension without explicit sex scenes are far more stimulating than Mr James' redundant and predictable descriptions.

alful

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

No one should enjoy this book It is about dominance of women!! disgusting

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

absolultley!!

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

no one

What character would you cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

all of them

Any additional comments?

do not read

NO NO NO i cannot understand this is a Bestseller!

I am not shocked, or surprised by sex beeing so explicit. But this is BORING It is a book for grown up teenagers. Pritty Girl, The indecent Proposal, mixed in a bowl, and to topped all, no plot, no inside, no intrigue, no nothing.
Only important thing is to be on top, bellow, in your back,or in front.
Even the words are allways the same.
What a waste!

Just poor all together

What disappointed you about Fifty Shades of Grey?

Everything, I find this book to be demeaning toward women. It encourages the submission of women for "love," not an acceptable mantra. Actually since the characters and conversation are so incredibly rudimentary, it is worse, it encourages the submission of women for sex. Its really just a sex book, so if you want to read about rough sex, buy it. However it is not a piece of decent work by any stretch of the imagination.

What character would you cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

All of them. Each and every character in this novel is superficial with no depth at all. It is really startling that this main stream, best selling fiction.

Any additional comments?

Overall this a sub par book, that is poorly written, most of it is impassible as English. Character development is non existent and the conversation rivals that of the most basic tween novel. It encourages the dominance of men over women in the name of "love" and literally provides absolutely no compelling motive to do so, except for sex.

Couldn't take it anymore

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

No, I admit it I bought it because of the hype. Lessons learned always listen to the sample. This is the worst narrarator I have ever heard in all of my years of listening to audible books. If it were a paperback book or hardcover I would use it as a doorstop. Instead I use it to put me to sleep at night. The endless email readings are better than counting sheep. Do yourself a favor and save your money, unless you need a sleeping aid.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I bought the trilogy but doubt I will make it through them either. I just started a new series that blows 50 out of the water. Grabs you from the beginning and is truly erotic, try The Immortals series on for size. The narrator is great, an authentic Scottish accent to boot. When Emma talks you forget the narrator is a man. Cannot wait to get back to it!

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

Almost anyone would do it better, but the writing is so immature I doubt a different reader would make it any better.

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

I am still wondering why she wasted her time writing it.

Any additional comments?

Unless you are into a controlling freak who is into bondage and leather walk away and save your money. It rang too close to my first marriage for comfort. Control freaks are not my thing.

Love the story, hate the voice :/

What would have made Fifty Shades of Grey better?

Having a narrator who didnt sound like one of those annoying teenagers who say like every five seconds. Her pitch was up and down a lot and when it flowed over into christians character it was even worse.

What other book might you compare Fifty Shades of Grey to and why?

The crossfire series, similar character set up

How could the performance have been better?

She didnt sound like a mature adult at all

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

None

Any additional comments?

I rarely complain about the narrator but this was just too much. She has a nice voice, just not one i care to listen to for hours on end. When they choose s narrator for a book don't they listen to oh i don't know.... The voice? The only image that keeps popping into my head is of someone i saw on reality tv that sounded like this, ruined it for me completely. Her pitch was not steady. It changed often in the space of each word, she made many words sound like they had an extra syllable and even made a lot of sentences sound like a question because of her pitch change. :/ very disappointed in this purchase. I apologize if this comes across and harsh or rude. But when you have a book you enjoy its hard to see it ruined because of poor choice in narration.

Narrator is the WORSE

I love this series. I have read it more time than I can count. I even enjoy the movies. I listen to audio books on my daily commute. Sooooo the fact that I cannot get through this audible version is crazy! The narrator is the absolute worse and the sound of her voice is worse that nails amplified on a chalk board. Someone get this re-recorded and I will pay again for the updated version. My ears are bleeding!

inappropriate voice for the material

The story is weak to begin with. The child-like voice of the narrator was wholly inappropriate to the subject matter.
That element made an already awkward book even more awkward.
I returned it - thanks Audible for that option, for members.