well i got drawn into the hype like so many others. it turned out to be one of the worst books i have bought. The characters lack credability, the storyline is weak and in places farcical. The dialogue reptative and listless. The sex scenes are written like a victorian dirty book and are also completley lacking in credability. This stupid woman does not appear to own any clothes, after four years ar university expresses amazement that she has her own email address and her strongest expression is 'oh my'. The man is not believable and creates neither pity or loathing, merely irritation. i won't put any more money into EL James's pocket nor more imprtantly waste hours of my life that i won't get back listening it.
And as for the narration, flat whiney voice, i only survived it by listening to the last half on double speed.
Its RUBBISH!

Oh My! what a victory for media hype! This book is a load of badly written 'panties'. No plot, shallow characters, primary level adjectives, ...even the supposed saucy bits are more cheap mayonnaise than tabasco. Don't waste your money.

Think that says it all. This was Long, Tedious and Repetive. After the first coiuple of chapters I started listening to this at double speed; then after what became so repetitive I would have speeded it up further but couldn't one more chapter I gave up forwarded it to the last chapter which was basicly no furthe on than the third as far as I could see. This has got to be the worse book I have ever listened too.

love the book but the womens voice on this is wrong!!! have a listen to a sample first!

Just about the worst book I've ever read. No plot, idiotic dialogue and shallow characterisation.

Why is this so popular its got no content and lacks any erotic plot. Poor writing style.

My god what an appalling bit of writing. It's just a mucky little book but read by a girl you just pray dies at the end of the book. It was a toss up which one of these two horrible people I wished would kick the bucket the most but I think the girl just edges it.
The narrator is rubbish and it's just comical when the dappy bird tries to sound like the dominant man telling her to bend over and grab her own ankles while he pops in the Chinese worry balls or whatever they were.
It really pains me that this is a trilogy. I think I might go sniff my walking boots just to try and snap my senses back into life after this truly awful book has turned my brain to tapioca.

Loved the books, thought I'd try the audio version, but am really struggling to listen to it as I really really hate the narrators voice. It really spoils it. Will not be getting the other 2 audio books because of this. Highly recommend the audio book people to re record the books with a much better narrator, who can actually do different characters.

First time ever that I think: This voice and reading is sooo wrong... - How is that possible?

Read all three books, not a strong story or well finished characters. Many reprtitions etc. BUT still interesting.

Might not buy other two books because of voice.

I tried to persevere with this book but couldn't. Badly written, with the most annoying central character imaginable, she may have come across a little better if she had been portrayed without the inane catchphrases...as for the erotic scenes, these were cringeworthy; I half expected a plumber with a handlebar moustache to turn up.