Okay, so every few days I see a post regarding the 50 Shades series. I chime in when I see them because frankly those books are some of the worst literature (using that term loosely) I've ever read. This has nothing to do with the content, I enjoy erotic novels, I especially enjoy reading them aloud to my husband, and the BDSM aspect while new to me, doesn't shock me over-all. I'm open minded about sex. It has to do with the fact that the writing is bland, the characters lack any real depth, the grammar is often poor and word choices redundant and sometimes juvenile, and it really should have been wrung through at least two more rounds of editing before ever being released.
So, this post is NOT about 50 Shades of Grey, this is for you ladies to chime in on what you would recommend instead.
If you like dark fantasy or paranormal romance I would recommend The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning; It has a great plot, interesting characters and sexy sex. Revolves around a young woman who can see fairies, and not just the pretty kind, and her investigation into the murder of her sister. Involves a very sexy male lead named Jericho Barrons, trust me, he's hotter than Christian Grey.
If you're not super invested in plot pick up one of the Dark Series by Catherine Feehan (they sort of intertwine but you don't have to read them in any real order). Tortured men of the Carpathain variety (form of vampire) and lots of well written sex of the passionate variety. The base story that runs through all of those novels and ties them together is kind of interesting and still better than 50 Shades.
I can't think of any others off the top of my head, but I've read my fair share so if I remember any more I'll add them in as edits.
Anyone else? Something you'd recommend over 50 Shades?
Yeah, I heard that. My old boss is apparently friends with the author (we live in the Seattle area) and clued me in... although since I never get into fanfic I can't really see the correlation with Twilight. I could see how it was originally maybe meant to be a shorter sort of spin off though... it has the feel of something not meant to be a full stand alone novel series.
Quoting smtxcowgirl:
I'm not too surprised about 50 Shades not being good. It was originally a Twilight fanfic. I'm not a big fan of someone stealing anothers ideas for her own profit. Even if you hate Twilight, you have to agree it's unfair for the author of 50 Shades to make money off characters that were originally Stephenie Meyers.
After the Twilight fanfic gained popularity, she changed the names and character personalities, but the characteristics are still there.
Well, for me it wasn't supportive of the BDSM lifestyle, it treated it as if it was something that needed to be cured, something only damaged people would be into. What Ana plays at isn't really much more than light bondage and quite a lot of people are into that. I'm not into BDSM myself, but I can see how the novels would be a negative for those who are, almost offensive in a way.
The issue I would have with her next book is that with other new novelist I usually can see progress from the first to the last in a series. I saw this with Twilight (and into Host), and with the Hunger Games, also with the Mortal Instruments series. There was a distinct improvement from one book to the next. I didn't see this with 50, in fact I haven't even been able to finish the last book because I'm so flippin' bored with it.
Quoting -mrs.mamma-:
I'd agree that the 50 shades series isn't the best I've ever read, it's not horrid. I love the story line and the plot.
I've heard it's not very accurate as far as BDSM.. but it fits what I'm interested in.
I have enjoyed reading them.
The series is also her first ever books.. so, I'll be curious of her next novels.
*shrug* doesn't change my view on the series.
Quoting IQuitCounting:Well, for me it wasn't supportive of the BDSM lifestyle, it treated it as if it was something that needed to be cured, something only damaged people would be into. What Ana plays at isn't really much more than light bondage and quite a lot of people are into that. I'm not into BDSM myself, but I can see how the novels would be a negative for those who are, almost offensive in a way.
The issue I would have with her next book is that with other new novelist I usually can see progress from the first to the last in a series. I saw this with Twilight (and into Host), and with the Hunger Games, also with the Mortal Instruments series. There was a distinct improvement from one book to the next. I didn't see this with 50, in fact I haven't even been able to finish the last book because I'm so flippin' bored with it.
Quoting -mrs.mamma-:
I'd agree that the 50 shades series isn't the best I've ever read, it's not horrid. I love the story line and the plot.
I've heard it's not very accurate as far as BDSM.. but it fits what I'm interested in.
I have enjoyed reading them.
The series is also her first ever books.. so, I'll be curious of her next novels.
I LOVE Christine Feehan..I have not started the Dark Series yet, but I have read her others..
Jacqueline Frank has a great Nightwalkers series (& Shadowdwellers as well) for those that enjoy the Vampire/Lycan/Demon type stuff. I really liked the books and I had never read that type of stuff before.
And I am in the middle of 50 Shades..I don't know how I feel about it right now. Not impressed, but yet I don't hate it.
I read ANYTHING that Nicholas Sparks writes. Message In a Bottle, Dear John, The Lucky One, currently reading Best of Me and SO MANY OTHER BOOKS are out there from him but I just haven't gotten to them yet.
The thing about fan fic that bothers me is that often times people come up with these great original stories and throw in character names from popular series. Just write a damn good story without having to rely on someone else's work! With Twilight fan fiction, there are stories that spin off from the series where the characters remain true to their nature (vampires, wolves, etc). They explore the "what if" scenarios or continue the story. The 50 Shades fan fic basically took the names and characteristics, made everyone human and stuck them in Washington. That's annoying. I'm a Twilight fan and knew about this being a fan fic, but if I hadn't known it's easy to pick up on the similarities. I've been able to figure out who each character was in the original (i.e. Kate = Rosalie, Jose=Jacob). It's pretty easy to match up her plot line to the original Twilight books. I've read the first 2 and plan to read the 3rd, but honestly I got tired of the same old sex every other page. I wanted an original, erotic story that's not repetitive. And you are definitely right in your original post about the grammar and repetitive word choice. I swear I want to take smack the editor that allowed her to use murmer and mutter every other sentence.
But I digress. :) I'm not sure if you've read the Sookie Stackhouse books. They're not very risque but quite good.
Quoting IQuitCounting:
Yeah, I heard that. My old boss is apparently friends with the author (we live in the Seattle area) and clued me in... although since I never get into fanfic I can't really see the correlation with Twilight. I could see how it was originally maybe meant to be a shorter sort of spin off though... it has the feel of something not meant to be a full stand alone novel series.
Quoting smtxcowgirl:
I'm not too surprised about 50 Shades not being good. It was originally a Twilight fanfic. I'm not a big fan of someone stealing anothers ideas for her own profit. Even if you hate Twilight, you have to agree it's unfair for the author of 50 Shades to make money off characters that were originally Stephenie Meyers.
After the Twilight fanfic gained popularity, she changed the names and character personalities, but the characteristics are still there.
Does your DH/SO....
Who do you love more,your husband or kids
- IQuitCounting
on May. 24, 2012 at 5:27 PM