Fifty Shades of Criticism

Feb 18
NabanitaDhar
I remember reading ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ for the first time in 2013. And again late last year when there was a buzz about a movie being made on it. Now, I must admit that, as a reader, I love thrillers and crime novels more. And when it comes to romance, I’m more inclined towards the kind Nicholas Sparks writes. But that doesn’t mean I don’t read other genres. Of-course, I do and I enjoy the variety too from time to time.
With ‘FiftyShades of Grey’ there was certainly a curiosity because of the talk it generated, more negative than positive oddly. So I had to pick it up to see what the fuss was all about. But honestly I failed to understand the burst of criticism for it. Now you might not like the genre or be comfortable with it, but that certainly doesn’t make it a bad book with bad writing. Does it?
An excerpt from my review of ‘FiftyShades of Grey’:
“What perhaps is the bone of contention among readers is the quality of the language used in the book. Whether it could have been better? Certainly, there are times when you would wish that the language was superior. Whether it is too kinky to be even called a bestseller? Well, since the genre of the book is erotic fiction it would be silly to expect it to not dwell extensively on the subject.”
My only qualm about the book is, rather was, the female protagonist’s character. I personally would have liked it better if Anastasia Steele wouldn’t have been so submissive towards Christian Grey’s whims and fancies. But then, I guess, if that were the case there wouldn’t really be any shades to talk about, right? And so during my second tryst with the book I found the characters actually suited the story line. So maybe the book, or rather the tale, had grown on me with time.
But what I don’t understand is the book being widely vilified by critics for its poor use of language. Certainly, there are some mistakes, but for some strange reason critics seem to find a lot of pleasure slamming ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, the book mind you. What I fail to understand is why every other person has something to complain about when it comes to E.L James’ work?
Due to this the Grammarly team actually took it upon themselves to uncover if these allegations of poor language actually carried any weight. Hence, they went ahead and reviewed the book. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, you name it and they checked it all. And do you know what they came up with? Well, the book has a few mistakes, sure, but certainly not of catastrophic proportions as was being made out to be. In fact the errors are actually similar to ones in many celebrated romances. Yes, believe it or not, it’s true.
In fact, why don’t you check out this info-graphic and see for yourself what I mean?

Grammarly: Fifty Shades of Grammar
Source: grammarly.com/grammar-check

 
See even Nicholas Sparks, William Shakespeare & Jane Austen feature here. So don’t you think that E.L James too deserves a break? Think about it. And while you do just remember that love really isn’t dependent on the correctness of language.
***
PS: Apologies for the Grammatical Errors in this post J

32 thoughts on “Fifty Shades of Criticism”

  2. I read the e-books… N have nothing to say as a critic.. They are complete time pass that I wouldn't mind once in a while but as for becoming a dying fan of the series.. well, I am happy with Lord of the rings 😛 🙂

  4. Yeah, really all this fuss just for language doesn't seem fit. The image you put up for all such errors is a slap in the face for those who think best authors don't make mistakes.
    Good one.

  6. I just read this book and I was disappointed. I really don't understand the hype although there was a lot of hot sexual tension in the "50 Shades of Grey" but very little sex. It was more about the contract and whether she was going to go along with it or not. I thought it was kind of stupid and got a little old by the end of the book. Loved reading your take. I wouldn't read it again…wasn't worthy of the time I put into it.

  9. I guess most people who read the book had a view in their mind a certain level of expectation n they were really disappointed by the movie, where as others loved it !

  12. Yes I understand… I guess we are all open to liking and not liking a story and even the way a book is written..But sometimes we go overboard in panning books just because we find the premise too bold…

  16. Yes, absolutely Kathy we may or may not like it, story wise and even with respect to the writing…But here critics are panning it on grammatical errors which were even present in classics, which somehow isn't fair I feel

  22. Good post !I didn 't read the book, neither saw the film!
    I read most of the books you mentioned and saw the movie of Notebook. I loved it.
    Thanks for your post.
    Wil, ABCW Team

  23. I read the book after seeing so much of hullabaloo about the book. And I didnt understand the hatred for it. Though I found the BDSM techniques very twisted/ outrageous/ ridiculous! 😀

  24. Totally agree with you Naba…i guess its basic human instinct to criticise anything that's grown quick to people's imagination. Slow, painful graph is something ppl love to eulogise.

  25. Interesting, so many mistakes in top writers' works 🙂 I have the book at home but haven't started reading it yet, many more to finish reading first 🙂

  26. Finally a fair take on the book! I'm so glad I found it. And you are right, the book is erotic fiction and is openly about BDSM and then for people to go read all three books and come back complaining that it was "too much" or poorly written, I think it is an entirely a different issue altogether.
    I didn't particularly like it, but I didn't hate it either. It was okay, like a lot of other book.
    I fail to understand why we love to hate on poor Ms.James. Maybe it's the 'I'm too cool for what everyone's liking' theory, but almost everyone is dissing the book in public, but reading (and watching) it nonetheless.

  29. There was so much talk about the book and someone likened it to Pride and Prejudice and that made me order the Trilogy online. I have to say I quite regretted it. I have nothing against the language but it's a genre I wouldn't read – all that violence kind of turned my stomach.

  30. I read the book with my copy editor's hat on – as well as my fiction lover's beret. Rarely have I been subjected to such amateurish writing, especially when it has topped the NY Times Best Sellers List. Her use of prudish language, such as "there" when she meant "vagina," was galling. The constant "Damns" were silly. I apologize for being so blunt, but I don't think comparing Fitzgerald's "to-night," which was an accepted spelling at the time the book was written, to the scrawling of E.L. James is a valid comparison. I know, I sound like a snob. That's fine by me, hee hee hee. Amy

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