It's softcore porn.  If that's what you're looking for you could do worse.

I've not read it either, but I did read this article on " '50 Shades of Grey' Speed Read: 14 Naughtiest Bits " and that was enough for me.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/16/50-shades-of-grey-speed-read-14-naughtiest-bits.html

Note: there are, obviously, some spoilers.

There  is a thread about this book in the Love & Romance forum.  Here's a link

http://www.paperbackswap.com/Fifty-Shades-Grey/topic/258177/ 

It's romance with low-level kink thrown in.  The few excerpts I've seen are painful to read.  A few people have noted that many entries are practically lifted from "Twilight"; of course, the reason for this is that the book started out as "Twilight" fanfic.

"50 Shades of Grey" is an adult novel, but it was originally based on the YA series "Twilight". 

just reading it now, about 1/3 done.  I like the slow build up and the character of Grey, but Ana is a bit lame and it's quite predictable.  I don't see the whole fuss yet.

I'm getting ready to start it.  My BFF bought a copy for her and I.  According to her, most of the clients that are coming into the salon lately, most of them who don't really 

even read much have been bringing it in and reading it or talking all about it.  I guess I am about to find out.  She's only heard great things about it, so I will have to check back

when I'm done..

Heather

I read the first two chapters for free on my phone, ehh.  My book club is reading it but I don't know if I can make myself.  I may wait and get someone's copy, don't think it is worth buying it.  But everyone is talking so I would feel left out of I don't read it.

I read the first chapter and have no desire going further:P

According to her, most of the clients that are coming into the salon lately, most of them who don't really even read much have been bringing it in and reading it or talking all about it.  

Normally that's a very good indication to not read the book, IME.

It's terrible.  I don't have a problem with the subject matter, but the writing is terrible. I slogged through all but the last 3 chapters and gave up.

Every time I read about Ana biting her lip or her "breath hitching" - and it seems to happen about every 3 pages or so -   I wanna punch her. 

I wanna punch the book, actually... it's that bad. 

MaryF

I read the first one, hated it, but felt I had too for book club.  I friend loaned me her Kindle with all three books.  I read the first one so I could discuss but had no interest in reading the next two books.  It was bad, and I didn’t even find the sex interesting.  The people that are loving this must not read much.

After missing the refrences to Christian and Ana oever and over, I read all three books. Wow was i disappointed. FIrst, it was made out to me to be very kinky, but I thnk a lot more people are doing the stuff Ana and CHristian did then will admit it. Admittely Christian was supposed to be a lot more kinky but we never read about.

I think the sex scenes were boring. I cant post it hear but she said a lot of the same things over and over and they always seem to be in a hurry. 

I also didnt like that the only reason Christian was so kinky was her terrible childhood and Ana had to come resue him. Yeck. FIrst of all normal people can get kinky and second of all lots of abused kids dont get kinky. Really we has his shrink as a character. 

I dont see what the fuss was about. It was just a harlequin novel with some kink thrown in. If romance novels are your thing, give it a try. Otherwise dont bother.