Christian Grey Series

[Skanky Vamp]

Hot dog!

Fifty Shades of Grey author E.L. James announced Monday that she will publish a new version of her bestselling novel from S&M-happy billionaire Christian Grey’s point of view. Fans won’t have long to wait for Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian—the book comes out on June 18, the character’s birthday.

“Christian is a complex character,” James said, “and readers have always been fascinated by his desires and motivations, and his troubled past. Also, as anyone who has ever been in a relationship knows, there are two sides to every story. It’s been a great pleasure to return to my happy place—writing, being with Christian and Ana in their universe, and working with the fantastic team at Vintage.”​

So, I know that Meyer wrote what was going to be a new series from Edward's perspective. I saw a few chapter form that. I wonder if James stole that as well for this book.

 

[brinkster130]

I find it a little odd how she talks about the characters Christian and Ana as if she truly created them and really know them. I wonder how much credit she gives Meyer for her success.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I find it a little odd how she talks about the characters Christian and Ana as if she truly created them and really know them. I wonder how much credit she gives Meyer for her success.

I was speaking with someone the other day, and upon comparing, beat to beat the two series, they really are almost a carbon copy. And the fact that she has admitted they characters were originally supposed to be Bella and Dedward I am surprised there hasnt been more bad blood or litigations.

 

[Blaze]

I've always wanted to read te POV of a mentally abusive prick...not.

Correction, this might be an interesting read if she was actually a good author, but she's not. I think that she thinks Edwa...I mean Christian is every girls dream boy.

 

[thetopher]

"Christian is a complex character"

Really, I thought he was every bad boy/stalker-type/considered-a-serial-killer-if-he-was-actually-poor 'protagonist' that I've ever seen in fiction?

He's a fantasy figure, and a sad, creepy one at that.

 

[Taake]

Of course you knew @Mr. Pole that I would not be able to keep my vitriol out of this thread 😉

This is pretty much my reaction whenever I see "EL James" or a mention of anything "50 shades"...

...and this case my friends was no different.

Yup Meyer's wrote something like "Midnight Sunlight"??? (sorry, can't remember the title) from Edward's pov.
So yup, this is James again showing just how original of a character she is... or her characters are... or wait... nope.

Like Blaze said, this could be interesting (American Psycho interesting) if James was a good author, BUT she's not and even worse she buys into the hype of Christian as some kind of "tragic love prince" or just a worth-while guy and not the manipulative sociopath that he is. In other words, her writing this, is kind of the same as any Anne Rice book about Lestat after "Queen of the damned" i.e. blinded by misguided love that's just basically an ode to an obnoxious, but pretty, boy. Though at least Rice is a better writer so her stuff is still kind of readable.

What I will find interesting will be to see, or rather hear from reviews, if this installment will actually spur James to research the BDSM world... that alone would be a refreshing effort!

 

[Buffy Summers]

This is why we can't have nice things.

😀

 

[EVIL UU]

I find Fifty Shades of Grey kinda interesting. Why?
1. It's fan fiction to an already unbelievably derivative franchise, basically full blown remix culture in literature.
2. It's puritan pornography that still manages to piss off puritans.
3. The extent of contempt and loathing it has towards its very own target audience is absolutely unreal. And yet they buy it!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

1. It's fan fiction to an already unbelievably derivative franchise, basically full blown remix culture in literature.

That is the most interesting part I think. I mean there are tons of no talent hacks out there writing fan[slash]fiction... so she actually should serve as an inspiration for all of them. If one hack made it, you can too!

And to think it all started with Bernie Sanders....

 

[Nix]

I think at the end of the day its personal choice, everyone I know that have read one book or three books, have different views on the characters and writing style. Some care about the origins some don't. Some see Mr Grey as being an evil bastard, some see him as simply scratching the surface of BDSM in a slightly un-informed way but again it's personal choice. I don't think you can bash someone for their own views and opinions on the books. Some like Twilight, some don't. It's life. People make money from others idea's everyday... right or wrong, it's been a huge success story for EL James. Just my 2pence worth of an opinion.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

everyone I know that have read one book or three books

How many are men? I don't know any men that have read it... or I wonder if they simply don't admit it.

 

[Nix]

How many are men? I don't know any men that have read it... or I wonder if they simply don't admit it.

Most are women but yes I know of 4 that will admit to reading them lol.

 

[Fuffy]

*groans* another one of them??? 😡

 

[Skanky Vamp]

It's already a best-seller on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles and that's just the pre-order.

 

[Taake]

scratching the surface of BDSM in a slightly un-informed way

... hmm, more like grossly un-informed, in my opinion.

And yes, personal choices... people can read all the "50 shades" they like, but that won't stop me from being outraged by the fact that dross like this is being unthinkingly mass-consumed. Certainly my experiences with abuse colors this opinion but it frightens me greatly to think that millions of women look at this relationship and think "romance" or even "acceptable"...

It has been a huge success for EL James but I'm not sure why this is a merit? Myriad Genetics patented the BRCA1 & 2 genes and charged the heck out of people wanting cancer diagnostics (before the Supreme court ruled against them). Is their success in earning money from this a merit? Apples and oranges I know, but her success rate as an argument is a bit baffling to me.

Anyway, yes, let people read on. Whatever. I always think it's a win when people actually read books. And for the duration I'll reserve my right to continue to stew in my corner and blow my cap whenever dudes everywhere assume that because I'm a woman, I love "50 shades" and secretly all women want to be treated like that by rich, white dudes.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

@Blaze oh contraire mon frere I know plenty of middle aged, and older, women that think that too! Not just teenage girls.

But again, are teenage girls really going to be as interested to read the book from the males perspective? I can ya know, understand it from the woman's.. but curious to see what the reception (they are high though already) will be like.

 

[EVIL UU]

Let's not dramatize, it's just a book. I mean, when I was a teenager I used to watch insex.com stuff and hey, I'm fine. On the other hand though, insex never pretended to be anything other than pornography so there's that. 50 shades pretends to be a love story, doesn't it?

 

[Lyri]

I'm honestly scared for humanity.

These books are disgusting and what's even more disgusting is that people, including James herself, are buying into this world. They see Gray and his relationship with Ana as goals, something to strive for. Now, I admit, I've never read the books and I'll never read the books, but from an uninformed perspective, I can't understand how anyone would be able to read and see what Gray puts Ana through and calls it love, calls it a healthy relationship.

Thankfully, I don't know anyone who thinks this way, which I think is a credit to my friends and my ability in choosing friends, lol, and I hope it stays that way.

The most horrible thing I saw coming out of this whole frenzy around this book was a baby onsie that said 'Nine months ago, my mommy watched/read 50 Shades of Gray'. Sickening.

 

[Taake]

But again, are teenage girls really going to be as interested to read the book from the males perspective? I can ya know, understand it from the woman's.. but curious to see what the reception (they are high though already) will be like.

Of course they are, because they want to understand men... only this will be a fictional guy written by a woman so it will be something that plays into a romaticized version of what they want to hear and not what a guy like Christian really thinks, or even what a guy thinks.

But it will definitely be very intriguing for women to see Ana straight from Christian perception, I have no doubt there will be a great excitement for it, because they want to read exactly how he falls in love with her and how wonderful he thinks she is.

Let's not dramatize, it's just a book. I mean, when I was a teenager I used to watch insex.com stuff and hey, I'm fine. On the other hand though, insex never pretended to be anything other than pornography so there's that. 50 shades pretends to be a love story, doesn't it?

I don't really object to the sex-stuff in the book, which is - at best - utterly ludicrous at times, what I mind is the pernicious and lingering message in pop culture (found in BtVS too to a lesser extent) that broken men can be saved through a good (preferrably a virgin) woman's love... It's the idea being passed on that as long as you stay by his side, through whatever manipulations and abuse (mental or physical), that he will eventually come around and become the 'prince charming' you always wanted... now I'm not saying that all women who read Fifty shades... are going to end up in abusive relationships, certainly not, but how can we expect young women not to be influenced by the powerful idea that they're somehow a cure and that it is not to be feared when a man is overly possessive or emotional manipulative because it just means he "loves you that much"?

Contrasted with [HASHTAG]#WhyIStayed[/HASHTAG] tweets I find it hard not to be outraged by the popularity of "50" because to me it suggests an opacity of our current ethos, and that is really what pisses me off.

 

[The Bronze]

Having watched the film and no clue about the books I can only think of one interesting question this might answer. What was it about Ana's lack of personality that would get Christian to start breaking his own rules? The guy has done this before and could find someone else to go along with it again so there's no need to change. Seriously it was like watching two cardboard cut outs interact. 
@Nix I'd suggest reading my review in the movie forum instead and saving yourself some time and money 🙂