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paolas_shelf's review
❓- So I am honestly unsure how to rate this book. I’ve never read a parody before. I’ve watched parody movies, but never a book. I did find myself rolling my eyes and laughing at the things said. Everything was so unserious it was comical. Many of the references made will definitely date the book, but I enjoyed the references. I often times asked myself “why am I STILL reading this?”
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
2020 reread! This was great fun and just what I needed at this moment. I love all the references in the book from Twilight to well anything Tom Cruis (Earl Grey has a big man crush on him) and finding those references and then giggling in delight that the author used them. Anna is such a nitwit, I at times wondered how she knew how to breathe as she didn't seem to know the most basic of things. It amazed me she was able to live mostly on her own (with a roommate but given the roommate... I will count it as living on her own) and going to university.
The romance was silly, over the top and full of cliches and tropes and I loved it. It was meant to be parody so I don't mind the instant love this time.
Earl Grey was possessive and a tad mean and way too loaded (in more than one way) and didn't know that tailored condoms were a bad idea which had me in stitches. This guy, so full of himself, yet doesn't know that.
I loved that Anna was not impressed by his Fifty Shames and that he kept trying to convince her that he was an evil person, while she was just shrugging her shoulders and telling him they didn't live in 1950. :P
I am just sad there never really was a normal sequel to follow this one. I would have loved more.
----------------------------------------
Just wow.. wow.
I never will read the Fifty Shades books, but I was really interesting in a parody book about it.
And what a ride. Like I was reading some superhero comic that added sex and romance and silliness mixed together in one colourful blend.
Some things were just unbelievable, but all in all it was an interesting and fun read.
Loved the twilight references/parodies, really silly. Also finding/reading all the references/parodies was interesting. :)
I might even try the second book (whenever it comes out).
I would recommend it to everyone (though I wouldn't suggest it to people under 18, there are enough scenes that are quite graphic).
The romance was silly, over the top and full of cliches and tropes and I loved it. It was meant to be parody so I don't mind the instant love this time.
Earl Grey was possessive and a tad mean and way too loaded (in more than one way) and didn't know that tailored condoms were a bad idea which had me in stitches. This guy, so full of himself, yet doesn't know that.
I loved that Anna was not impressed by his Fifty Shames and that he kept trying to convince her that he was an evil person, while she was just shrugging her shoulders and telling him they didn't live in 1950. :P
I am just sad there never really was a normal sequel to follow this one. I would have loved more.
----------------------------------------
Just wow.. wow.
I never will read the Fifty Shades books, but I was really interesting in a parody book about it.
And what a ride. Like I was reading some superhero comic that added sex and romance and silliness mixed together in one colourful blend.
Some things were just unbelievable, but all in all it was an interesting and fun read.
Loved the twilight references/parodies, really silly. Also finding/reading all the references/parodies was interesting. :)
I might even try the second book (whenever it comes out).
I would recommend it to everyone (though I wouldn't suggest it to people under 18, there are enough scenes that are quite graphic).
ladybanecourt's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
✨3/5✨
The book was so over-the-top with its jokes that it seemed either not to deliver or to be so ridiculous. A lighter read, though, and the references are great.
The book was so over-the-top with its jokes that it seemed either not to deliver or to be so ridiculous. A lighter read, though, and the references are great.
jessicaline's review
3.0
Um empresário viciado em BDSM (Bards, Dragons, Sorcery, and Magick), fã de Nickelback e copycat dos personagens marcantes de Tom Cruise se apaixona por uma bocó de Portland que é assombrada por sua periguete interior, saida direto de Jersey Shore. 3 horas de leitura despretensiosa muito divertidas. Genial, nota 6.
alyssaindira's review against another edition
3.0
**No spoilers were harmed in the making of this review**
"I have found my purpose: to be a doormat for this ridiculously wealthy, attractive,impossible-to-resist man."
So right off the bat, this is a 50 shades parody, so nothing in this book is meant to be serious. You read this for fun, you read this for laughs, You arent supposed to be up in arms about this or deeply upset over...anything that occurred. I will say upfront, i couldnt get through the first 50 shades boook, it was too cringe, in the bad way, but the movies were sexy. But this book, yes, it was cringe. BUT, it was the fun cringe, not the grimance cringe, it was the kind of cringe that just makes you go 'oh mygoodness why' but still keep reading, not the kind of cringe that is like 'ooof....no, just no' That being said, I was laughing my buns off at this novel. The sexy scenes were the best part! Not because of their sexyness, but because of their HUMOR. I didnt know being in that environment could be so funny, oh ym goodess. And the dialogue, both the spoken and outspoken, just the remarks, hilarious. I do have tosay that the writing was either too detailed and clunky or too spacious and airy, there was no in between. And some descriptions/pattern of events did not make sense, But I think its because thats just how the pacing was supposed to be, idk. And the characters were....very one dimensional and just kinda there. Anna is clumspy and inexperienced. And Gray is domineering and sexy. YUp. thats about it. But those things do not really matter much, because the story is freaking hilarious and its a fun and quick read. And there were twilight references galore. Remember, this is all my opinion, if you want your own read the book
"I have found my purpose: to be a doormat for this ridiculously wealthy, attractive,impossible-to-resist man."
So right off the bat, this is a 50 shades parody, so nothing in this book is meant to be serious. You read this for fun, you read this for laughs, You arent supposed to be up in arms about this or deeply upset over...anything that occurred. I will say upfront, i couldnt get through the first 50 shades boook, it was too cringe, in the bad way, but the movies were sexy. But this book, yes, it was cringe. BUT, it was the fun cringe, not the grimance cringe, it was the kind of cringe that just makes you go 'oh mygoodness why' but still keep reading, not the kind of cringe that is like 'ooof....no, just no' That being said, I was laughing my buns off at this novel. The sexy scenes were the best part! Not because of their sexyness, but because of their HUMOR. I didnt know being in that environment could be so funny, oh ym goodess. And the dialogue, both the spoken and outspoken, just the remarks, hilarious. I do have tosay that the writing was either too detailed and clunky or too spacious and airy, there was no in between. And some descriptions/pattern of events did not make sense, But I think its because thats just how the pacing was supposed to be, idk. And the characters were....very one dimensional and just kinda there. Anna is clumspy and inexperienced. And Gray is domineering and sexy. YUp. thats about it. But those things do not really matter much, because the story is freaking hilarious and its a fun and quick read. And there were twilight references galore. Remember, this is all my opinion, if you want your own read the book
stephxsu's review
3.0
FIFTY SHAMES OF EARL GREY was at its best when it scathingly critiqued the (many) flaws of Fifty Shades of Grey and E. L. James’ writing. Alas, FIFTY SHAMES OF EARL GREY enjoyed itself too much too often, and the liberties it took with plot, characterization, and humor ultimately weakened my overall enjoyment of the book.
FIFTY SHAMES OF EARL GREY has an arguably unlimited source of material to parody, and that’s what it does best. I giggle-snorted the most when Merkin/Shaffer laid bare the utterly ridiculous inelegance of James’ writing.
On meaningless descriptions:
On using physical qualities to repeatedly characterize “her” characters:
On illogical progressions in story events:
On Christian Grey’s creepiness/unrealisticness/unattractiveness:
On the transparency of Fifty Shades of Grey being Twilight fanfiction:
So yeah, the book has some great biting lines about FSoG being an utter piece of crap. But, as I mentioned, it’s one thing to parody and criticize the original material’s ridiculousness, it’s another to add your own kind of ridiculousness. The liberties that FIFTY SHAMES OF EARL GREY took with content left me mostly unmoved. For instance, Earl Grey has a love for Tom Cruise that shows up in the form of multiple movie references. Shaffer explains this as being a running gag, but it didn’t do anything for me. Neither did Jin’s (Anna’s “ethnic friend,” ahaha poking fun at token minorities as “diversity” in literature) bronyism, Katherine’s alcoholism, or “Triassic Park.”
On Ana/Anna’s idiocy:
Actually, that last line illustrates another of the head-shaking things about EARL GREY: Anna Steal has a better head on her shoulders her counterpart. Ana Steele was too stupid in a blank, wish fulfillment kind of way for the author and susceptible readers; Anna Steal was over-the-top stupid (and also, might I add, cringe-inducingly horny), but she also hits it spot-on with her character analyses of Earl Grey. Such insight does not belong to Ana/Anna’s character; the fact that it does in FIFTY SHAMES OF EARL GREY makes readers wonder why she felt she deserved Earl Grey when she clearly deserved better than him.
My favorite lines from the book:
And the utter truth about FSoG, spoken about Anna (which, again, makes her smarter than her counterpart ever was):
Over and out.
FIFTY SHAMES OF EARL GREY has an arguably unlimited source of material to parody, and that’s what it does best. I giggle-snorted the most when Merkin/Shaffer laid bare the utterly ridiculous inelegance of James’ writing.
On meaningless descriptions:
“I gaze into his gazing eyes gazingly like a gazelle gazing into another gazelle’s gazing gaze.”
“We step inside the cabin and he turns the lights on. Wow. What a place. There are so many things, like couches and chairs and tables.”
“It doesn’t seem fair that one man could be so beautiful, and so talented, and so rich, but damn: Earl Grey is the total package. My inner guidette shakes her head. That’s like the fiftieth time you’ve said that, using nearly the exact same words, she says.”
On using physical qualities to repeatedly characterize “her” characters:
“I watch as he pulls his credit card out of his wallet using his long fingers, which I swear have to be longer than his forearms.”
On illogical progressions in story events:
“’I’m kind of glad you crashed into the ocean,’ Earl says.
‘And why is that, Mr. Grey?’
‘Because I’m throwing a masked charity ball tonight, and I’d love for you to come with me.’”
On Christian Grey’s creepiness/unrealisticness/unattractiveness:
“He’s just too good looking to say no to. I can’t quit him, even if I tried. Mostly because he would stalk me to the ends of the earth, but still.”
“’You’re doing so much good in the world, Mr. Grey,’ I tell him.
‘It’s to balance out the cruelty in my own heart,’ he says grimly.
I don’t say anything, because there’s no use arguing with Earl Grey when he’s PMSing.”
On the transparency of Fifty Shades of Grey being Twilight fanfiction:
“Earl is only six years older than me, but sometimes the gulf between our ages seems like something I can’t bridge. It’s like he’s a 104-year-old vampire in a twenty-seven-year-old’s body.”
So yeah, the book has some great biting lines about FSoG being an utter piece of crap. But, as I mentioned, it’s one thing to parody and criticize the original material’s ridiculousness, it’s another to add your own kind of ridiculousness. The liberties that FIFTY SHAMES OF EARL GREY took with content left me mostly unmoved. For instance, Earl Grey has a love for Tom Cruise that shows up in the form of multiple movie references. Shaffer explains this as being a running gag, but it didn’t do anything for me. Neither did Jin’s (Anna’s “ethnic friend,” ahaha poking fun at token minorities as “diversity” in literature) bronyism, Katherine’s alcoholism, or “Triassic Park.”
On Ana/Anna’s idiocy:
“Once I graduate, I’m going to start looking for a ‘real’ job. I don’t have anything lined up yet, but I’m not one to worry. In this economy, it shouldn’t be too hard for a fresh college graduate to find a new job.”
“I feel naked before him, mostly because I don’t have any clothes on.”
“Less than a minute later, there’s a reply from Earl Grey. Somebody clearly wasn’t busy enough.”
Actually, that last line illustrates another of the head-shaking things about EARL GREY: Anna Steal has a better head on her shoulders her counterpart. Ana Steele was too stupid in a blank, wish fulfillment kind of way for the author and susceptible readers; Anna Steal was over-the-top stupid (and also, might I add, cringe-inducingly horny), but she also hits it spot-on with her character analyses of Earl Grey. Such insight does not belong to Ana/Anna’s character; the fact that it does in FIFTY SHAMES OF EARL GREY makes readers wonder why she felt she deserved Earl Grey when she clearly deserved better than him.
My favorite lines from the book:
“He’s a nice guy. Like Mark Zuckerberg, only less autistic.”
“’Look, the point is, there are plenty of ponies in the sea.’
‘Yeah, and they’re called “seahorses,”’ Jin says, sulking."
And the utter truth about FSoG, spoken about Anna (which, again, makes her smarter than her counterpart ever was):
“’You act like there’s something wrong with you, like everything you enjoy is embarrassing or scary. News flash, Mr. Grey: This isn’t 1950 or whatever. Your sexual tastes aren’t as shocking or as deviant as you think. Neither is anything else you like. Maybe if you didn’t take your fifty shames so seriously, I wouldn’t be so compelled to laugh at them.’”
Over and out.
celjla212's review
4.0
When the young, arrogant business executive Earl Grey meets the virginal, naive Anna Steal sparks fly. Soon, he is buying her workplace so she can be with him. Then he tells her about his dirty secret--he has fifty shameful habits, such as shopping at Wal-mart and loving Nickelback. Not to mention, his sexual tastes are a little...different. He's into BDSM: bards, dragons, sorcerers, and magick. Will all this be too much for innocent Anna to handle?
Let me preface this review by saying I have NEVER read the Fifty Shades of Grey series, nor do I ever plan to. I believe it's overhyped, badly written fan fiction, and I cannot for the life of me understand why people keep buying it. A little piece of me dies every time I see that one of my friends is reading it. The bibliophile in me has a strong desire to kill it with fire.
That being said, I obviously cannot avoid it. If it's not on someone's book blog, it's being spoofed on Saturday Night Live. As much as I hate it, it's getting its' 15 minutes. So, I know the basics of the book. Fifty Shames is a perfect parody.
Earl Grey is the damaged, ridiculously rich sexual deviant. Anna is the less than brilliant, naive virgin. She covers her roommate Kathleen's interview with Earl, then falls instantly in love with him. Within a week, they're in bed together and he wants to control her. He buys her an iPad, which she can work despite never having a computer.
This book's parallels to the original are hilariously twisted. Where Ana is always saying, "Holy crap," Anna has, "Gasp!". Ana listens to her inner goddess, whereas Anna has an inner guidette. In the original book, Ana is never able to be a grown woman and use the words "penis" and "vagina", much less the dirtier terms. In Fifty Shames, Anna calls Earl's member such names as "turgid python" and "meatsicle."
The sex scenes are filled with ridiculous dialogue--though this book does it on purpose, unlike Fifty Shades. For example:
I would definitely recommend this book to Fifty Shades haters--I found some laugh out loud moments in it. If you're a Fifty Shades fan--well, maybe if you read this you'll see why everyone makes fun of the book all the time. Sadly (or luckily, for me), this parody book was written better than the book from which it sprang.
Let me preface this review by saying I have NEVER read the Fifty Shades of Grey series, nor do I ever plan to. I believe it's overhyped, badly written fan fiction, and I cannot for the life of me understand why people keep buying it. A little piece of me dies every time I see that one of my friends is reading it. The bibliophile in me has a strong desire to kill it with fire.
That being said, I obviously cannot avoid it. If it's not on someone's book blog, it's being spoofed on Saturday Night Live. As much as I hate it, it's getting its' 15 minutes. So, I know the basics of the book. Fifty Shames is a perfect parody.
Earl Grey is the damaged, ridiculously rich sexual deviant. Anna is the less than brilliant, naive virgin. She covers her roommate Kathleen's interview with Earl, then falls instantly in love with him. Within a week, they're in bed together and he wants to control her. He buys her an iPad, which she can work despite never having a computer.
This book's parallels to the original are hilariously twisted. Where Ana is always saying, "Holy crap," Anna has, "Gasp!". Ana listens to her inner goddess, whereas Anna has an inner guidette. In the original book, Ana is never able to be a grown woman and use the words "penis" and "vagina", much less the dirtier terms. In Fifty Shames, Anna calls Earl's member such names as "turgid python" and "meatsicle."
The sex scenes are filled with ridiculous dialogue--though this book does it on purpose, unlike Fifty Shades. For example:
"I'm going to do it to you doggy style," Earl says.
"Should I bark?" I ask.
"Why would you bark?"
"Well, I thought maybe that's why they called it doggy style."
I would definitely recommend this book to Fifty Shades haters--I found some laugh out loud moments in it. If you're a Fifty Shades fan--well, maybe if you read this you'll see why everyone makes fun of the book all the time. Sadly (or luckily, for me), this parody book was written better than the book from which it sprang.
blackeyedraptor's review
funny
fast-paced
3.75
OMG this book was so bad, but since it was on purpose I enjoyed it. I loved and hated this book. It's the most ridiculously outlandish book I think I've ever read; it read like a Wayan's Brothers script in just being weird and kooky and silly. Honestly though, the original material this book is parodying begs for a ridiculous retelling and this book does a good job of that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism
labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
Received via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair review.
Oh, sweet baby Jesus.
I have not read, nor will I ever read, 50 Shades of Grey. I did read the first 2 1/4 Twilight books, and know the backstory of EL James' plagiarized fanfiction rise. Honestly, I'm not sure who to hate more, her or Cassie Clare. But never mind that.
I choose to believe that this is exactly like 5S0G. From tips to tails. It will make me feel infinitely better when I see "Looking for my Mr. Grey" shirts all around. I may walk up and ask these Mensa candidates if they'd like a cup of tea.
I can 100% see this as a movie, in the style of Airplane! (I'm old) or the Scary Movie franchises. And who else to play Anna Steel than Anna Farris. This Anna is quite honestly written with her in mind, there's no doubt.
Much like those movies, there are some jokes that just fall flat. Occasionally, the story is too stupid for its own good. However, when it is funny, it is rip roaringly funny. I laughed my fool head off in my car, and in my house. I went to visit my best friend, and let her listen to a bit of it, and we were both just shaking our heads and cracking up.
I most definitely recommend this to everyone who gets a red film over their eyes regarding 5SOG. It will make you feel so much better.
Oh, sweet baby Jesus.
I have not read, nor will I ever read, 50 Shades of Grey. I did read the first 2 1/4 Twilight books, and know the backstory of EL James' plagiarized fanfiction rise. Honestly, I'm not sure who to hate more, her or Cassie Clare. But never mind that.
I choose to believe that this is exactly like 5S0G. From tips to tails. It will make me feel infinitely better when I see "Looking for my Mr. Grey" shirts all around. I may walk up and ask these Mensa candidates if they'd like a cup of tea.
I can 100% see this as a movie, in the style of Airplane! (I'm old) or the Scary Movie franchises. And who else to play Anna Steel than Anna Farris. This Anna is quite honestly written with her in mind, there's no doubt.
Much like those movies, there are some jokes that just fall flat. Occasionally, the story is too stupid for its own good. However, when it is funny, it is rip roaringly funny. I laughed my fool head off in my car, and in my house. I went to visit my best friend, and let her listen to a bit of it, and we were both just shaking our heads and cracking up.
I most definitely recommend this to everyone who gets a red film over their eyes regarding 5SOG. It will make you feel so much better.