movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Aug 28, 2014 9:35:56 GMT -5
Okay, I am 50 pages in and I don't find this book even remotely appealing. I avoided reading it back when there was a bunch of hype about it because I thought it sounded dumb as hell. Plus I remember drama saying it sucked and I generally tend to agree with her My best friend just read the series (I didn't even know there was more than one book until she told me), and she convinced me that I needed to give it a try. She talked about how it is actually a love story with deep characters. Eh, okay... I don't like either one of the main characters, don't find them deep at all, and think it is a poorly written book. I realize I am only a few chapters in but I really don't know if I can get through this book. Does it get any better?
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 28, 2014 9:49:30 GMT -5
It was originally Twilight fan fiction. . does that answer your question.
I had people assure me the next two books were "way better". Sorry but if I have to slog thru three books to find the better material I'm passing.
I find the book extremely off putting/creepy.
I feel like the author tried to combine Harlequin bodice ripper with two subcultures of sex that have nothing in common with the first one. If you know anything about the subcultures then the sex scenes are rather disturbing and you can tell she did no research into either subject.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 28, 2014 9:55:22 GMT -5
I just started book 3. (Started Book 1 on like Sunday). I think it does, but it is sort of my thing. Honestly, I could barely put book 2 down. But 1. I love romance novels. 2. I also read some erotica (as in all sex, no story line). 3. The main character at the end of book 1, beginning of book 2 grows a lot.
That said, if you can't get past reading the sex scenes (some a little disturbing), then put it down now and don't waste your time. I don't know I may come back on Saturday and say at the end of it all, it wasn't worth your time. But I did find book 2 really good. You might want to read the last chapter of book 1 (which will set up the start of book 2) and then read book 2.
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justme
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Post by justme on Aug 28, 2014 10:05:36 GMT -5
I liked them. But I wasn't looking for some deep book reading it.
I agree with mutt about the books. I can't remember how 3 started (these continuing stories all blend together for me) so I can't say for sure on book 3 itself. The end does tie itself up in a neat little bow, but most romance novels do that anyways.
A friend and I were both less than enthused about the trailer for the movie.
ETA: Definitely characters with more depth than the Twilight ones!
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Aug 28, 2014 10:08:51 GMT -5
I read it when I was taking massive amounts of narcotics and it was incredibly difficult to slog through, the adjectives I came up with were both insipid and trite. It was the first book I read on my iPad, so I bought the trilogy. By the time I got to the second book, I was just flipping through the pages and was only reading a sentence or two.
IMO, it really wasn't a waste of time, as I had it to waste at that time. But it WAS a waste of the $15 or so it cost me to download.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Aug 28, 2014 10:10:17 GMT -5
I don't really care for romance novels so maybe that's why I can't get into it. Thrillers/mysteries are my favorite books.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 28, 2014 10:13:57 GMT -5
Yeah, if you don't read romance novels, then you aren't going to like it. Because most (all) romance novels have an element of suspending reality for a while. Even the best romance novels are going be trite because 99% of them you know how the book ends (they live happily ever after). JMO
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Aug 28, 2014 10:14:38 GMT -5
I liked them, but like justme, I knew before I started that I wasn't going to be reading a classic. I don't usually read romance novels, so I can't rate it beside other romance novels. I did think it started out slowly, but I guess that's because of all the hype. I expected an immediately WHAM from it. It's also light porn or "mommy porn" as the more...discerning...porn readers call it. And from someone who hasn't allowed herself to be in an intimate relationship for a very.long.time, it was kinda hot!
It's sort of like the Cheesecake Factory thread. Nobody admits to liking it, but the line is always out the door!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 10:20:23 GMT -5
Dumbest books ever . . .
It took me a long time to finish the first one so I never started the others.
Super easy reading.
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Plain Old Petunia
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Post by Plain Old Petunia on Aug 28, 2014 10:33:48 GMT -5
I've just been reading these. A girlfriend of mine bought us tickets to see "Spank, The Musical" in October. It is a parody of 50 Shades. Having never read them, I borrowed them from another friend. The first book I read in a weekend. The second book I have been reading for three weeks, and I am almost done. I enjoyed the first book well enough, but just can't get interested in the second book. The third one is still waiting for me.
The writing is poor. I have lost count of the number times a character has declared something with conviction, then three pages later is "stunned" or "shocked" when that same thing is mentioned to them. The first time I saw that, I thought "Whoops, the editor let that get by". But no, it's not an error at all.
I also am confused how someone drops out of Harvard, borrows 100k to start a business, and maybe 7 years later (at the most) is a self-made multi-billionaire running a huge conglomerate. Bill Gates did not become a billionaire that fast.
Also, people who are into BDSM aren't necessarily survivors of abuse and unable to sexually express themselves any other way. They don't choose to take up a fetish because they are full of self-loathing. I can see why the BDSM community finds this book offensive.
Just yesterday as I was reading, there was a part where one of the main characters referenced an event from earlier in their relationship, and the other character says "Oh, that was so long ago". Mind you, at this point the characters have known each other for six weeks.
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justme
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Post by justme on Aug 28, 2014 10:47:14 GMT -5
Now you've made me want to go back and read them again so I can pay attention for those declarations and shock three pages later. I obviously turned my brain off when I was reading these and didn't notice that.
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nogooddeed
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Post by nogooddeed on Aug 28, 2014 10:48:15 GMT -5
Two friends raved about the books, so I borrowed them. Started the first book, ending up skimming it. I thought the books were degrading. But, then again, I would never be told to kneel in the corner, keep my eyes down and not say anything until my master decides it's time to play.
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swasat
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Post by swasat on Aug 28, 2014 10:54:41 GMT -5
I only read the first one and by the end of it I was totally creeped out. The Heroine....oh what a dumbass!!!! Had no personality, no spine, absolutely no confidence at all. People tell me she was much better in the next two books. But in the first one I wanted to reach through the pages and slap her senseless. Who in the era does not know how and what to use a laptop for? The woman didn't know email? Someone had to set it up for her? And the last sex scene was just way toooo creepy for me. I didn't find it hot or erotic, I found it one sided and obsessive. The entire book I leaned more towards Christian Grey. At least he was honest and he knew what he was doing. The girl.... uggh!!
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 28, 2014 10:56:42 GMT -5
I can see why the BDSM community finds this book offensiveI can too. One of the biggest things about BDSM is consent and being able to 100% trust your partner. Yet when she signs the "sex contract" Christian tells her that he won't do anything she doesn't consent to.. . then in the next paragraph it states in the contract he has the right to override her and do whatever he pleases whether she consents or not. WTF? I couldn't get past that because anyone who tells you they will ignore your willingness to consent is someone you should run far far away from.
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snapdragon
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Post by snapdragon on Aug 28, 2014 11:23:22 GMT -5
I decided to read the books after my DAD told me he was listening to the audio books!!! I just skipped over most of the sex scenes and read it for the story alone. They were OK but than I was smart and got them from the library.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 11:28:16 GMT -5
What? These are sex books?
<MPL checks budget and heads to Amazon>
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Aug 28, 2014 11:29:01 GMT -5
I didn't read it. Not my thing.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Aug 28, 2014 11:31:25 GMT -5
I have not yet read them, but I really should.
For a birthday present, one of my friends gave the book to her boyfriend on his birthday and told him to pick a chapter. It went over very well.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Aug 28, 2014 11:35:20 GMT -5
I read the first one out of curiosity... I went into it not expecting a great piece of literary work. It was okay. I did grow more fond of the characters at the end of the book but not enough to download the other two books. I laugh when I hear people act like they're offended that it was so poorly written... dude.. it's just a book! You're taking life way too seriously! Exactly! It's entertainment. Different strokes and all that. I'd rather shove ice picks in my ears than listen to opera, but some people really like it.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Aug 28, 2014 11:43:13 GMT -5
I decided to read the books after my DAD told me he was listening to the audio books!!! I just skipped over most of the sex scenes and read it for the story alone. They were OK but than I was smart and got them from the library. Is there a story here? I am actually wanting to get to the sex scenes because currently I am bored out of my mind.
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imawino
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Post by imawino on Aug 28, 2014 11:47:02 GMT -5
LOL. Yeah, if you go into a smutty romance expecting War & Peace, you're probably not going to enjoy it!
I haven't actually read these books - but I've read plenty of smutty romance. It's brain candy, not veggies. That said, some are way dumber than others, so if you start to feel like these are hours of your life you are never going to get back, put it down.
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cktc
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Post by cktc on Aug 28, 2014 11:47:38 GMT -5
I decided to read the books after my DAD told me he was listening to the audio books!!! I just skipped over most of the sex scenes and read it for the story alone. They were OK but than I was smart and got them from the library. Hopefully you got an electronic version, the library copies have tested positive for herpes and cocaine. I downloaded the series from my library, found enough enjoyable to get through the first book, but then started the second and just couldn't keep going. They announced the movie shortly after so I figure I'll just wait for those to come out on DVD to finish the series.
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justme
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Post by justme on Aug 28, 2014 11:48:03 GMT -5
What? These are sex books? <MPL checks budget and heads to Amazon> The library is free
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justme
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Post by justme on Aug 28, 2014 11:49:31 GMT -5
I decided to read the books after my DAD told me he was listening to the audio books!!! I just skipped over most of the sex scenes and read it for the story alone. They were OK but than I was smart and got them from the library. Hopefully you got an electronic version, the library copies have tested positive for herpes and cocaine. I downloaded the series from my library, found enough enjoyable to get through the first book, but then started the second and just couldn't keep going. They announced the movie shortly after so I figure I'll just wait for those to come out on DVD to finish the series. Seriously?
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 28, 2014 11:49:48 GMT -5
What? These are sex books? <MPL checks budget and heads to Amazon> The library is free My library only had the first book. After I read it and liked, I bought the trilogy from Amazon.
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justme
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Post by justme on Aug 28, 2014 11:50:36 GMT -5
The library is free My library only had the first book. After I read it and liked, I bought the trilogy from Amazon. Mine has all three in their ebook library. The hold list has like 200+ for each book!
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 28, 2014 11:50:44 GMT -5
I decided to read the books after my DAD told me he was listening to the audio books!!! I just skipped over most of the sex scenes and read it for the story alone. They were OK but than I was smart and got them from the library. Is there a story here? I am actually wanting to get to the sex scenes because currently I am bored out of my mind. Yes, but I felt the story didn't get off the ground until the end of the first book (personally).
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 28, 2014 11:51:04 GMT -5
When I found out it was originally Twilight fan fic that explained A LOT. I intensely disliked Twilight too. Once someone pointed it out then yeah I could see the similarities. I must be weird because I found the sex scenes (besides creepy) rather vanilla and childish. For all the hype surrounding it and how it "revolutionized the American bedroom" I wasn't impressed. I thought I'd at least read proper terminology for certain body parts. You want some intense erotica read The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice (it's under one of her pen names I can't remember). Now THAT is freaking hard core.
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imawino
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Post by imawino on Aug 28, 2014 11:51:37 GMT -5
Hopefully you got an electronic version, the library copies have tested positive for herpes and cocaine. I downloaded the series from my library, found enough enjoyable to get through the first book, but then started the second and just couldn't keep going. They announced the movie shortly after so I figure I'll just wait for those to come out on DVD to finish the series. Seriously? More so than all the other books that a zillion random people touch? More so than dollar bills? I doubt it.
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Aug 28, 2014 11:52:23 GMT -5
When I found out it was originally Twilight fan fic that explained A LOT. I intensely disliked Twilight too. Once someone pointed it out then yeah I could see the similarities. I must be weird because I found the sex scenes (besides creepy) rather vanilla and childish. For all the hype surrounding it and how it "revolutionized the American bedroom" I wasn't impressed. I thought I'd at least read proper terminology for certain body parts. Read the Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice (it's under one of her pen names I can't remember). Now THAT is freaking hard core.
That's also a triology. I can almost remember the name she does it under.......
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