Helpful Score: 3
This book is hilarious if you hated 50 Shades of Grey. It's even more hilarious if you read Twilight, upon which 50 Shades of Grey was originally based as fan-fiction. This book was laugh-out-loud funny (in a "Loaded Weapon"/National Lampoon's sort of way) and is the perfect cure for anyone who finds themselves physically ill for having wasted their time and money on the 50 Shades series.
Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
Helpful Score: 1
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 thats 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 gazelles 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 doesnt 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. Thats like the fiftieth time youve 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:
Im kind of glad you crashed into the ocean, Earl says.
And why is that, Mr. Grey?
Because Im throwing a masked charity ball tonight, and Id love for you to come with me.
On Christian Greys creepiness/unrealisticness/unattractiveness:
Hes just too good looking to say no to. I cant quit him, even if I tried. Mostly because he would stalk me to the ends of the earth, but still.
Youre doing so much good in the world, Mr. Grey, I tell him.
Its to balance out the cruelty in my own heart, he says grimly.
I dont say anything, because theres no use arguing with Earl Grey when hes 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 cant bridge. Its like hes a 104-year-old vampire in a twenty-seven-year-olds body.
So yeah, the book has some great biting lines about FSoG being an utter piece of crap. But, as I mentioned, its one thing to parody and criticize the original materials ridiculousness, its 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 didnt do anything for me. Neither did Jins (Annas ethnic friend, ahaha poking fun at token minorities as diversity in literature) bronyism, Katherines alcoholism, or Triassic Park.
On Ana/Annas idiocy:
Once I graduate, Im going to start looking for a real job. I dont have anything lined up yet, but Im not one to worry. In this economy, it shouldnt be too hard for a fresh college graduate to find a new job.
I feel naked before him, mostly because I dont have any clothes on.
Less than a minute later, theres a reply from Earl Grey. Somebody clearly wasnt 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/Annas 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:
Hes a nice guy. Like Mark Zuckerberg, only less autistic.
Look, the point is, there are plenty of ponies in the sea.
Yeah, and theyre 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 theres something wrong with you, like everything you enjoy is embarrassing or scary. News flash, Mr. Grey: This isnt 1950 or whatever. Your sexual tastes arent as shocking or as deviant as you think. Neither is anything else you like. Maybe if you didnt take your fifty shames so seriously, I wouldnt be so compelled to laugh at them.
Over and out.
FIFTY SHAMES OF EARL GREY has an arguably unlimited source of material to parody, and thats 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 gazelles 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 doesnt 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. Thats like the fiftieth time youve 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:
Im kind of glad you crashed into the ocean, Earl says.
And why is that, Mr. Grey?
Because Im throwing a masked charity ball tonight, and Id love for you to come with me.
On Christian Greys creepiness/unrealisticness/unattractiveness:
Hes just too good looking to say no to. I cant quit him, even if I tried. Mostly because he would stalk me to the ends of the earth, but still.
Youre doing so much good in the world, Mr. Grey, I tell him.
Its to balance out the cruelty in my own heart, he says grimly.
I dont say anything, because theres no use arguing with Earl Grey when hes 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 cant bridge. Its like hes a 104-year-old vampire in a twenty-seven-year-olds body.
So yeah, the book has some great biting lines about FSoG being an utter piece of crap. But, as I mentioned, its one thing to parody and criticize the original materials ridiculousness, its 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 didnt do anything for me. Neither did Jins (Annas ethnic friend, ahaha poking fun at token minorities as diversity in literature) bronyism, Katherines alcoholism, or Triassic Park.
On Ana/Annas idiocy:
Once I graduate, Im going to start looking for a real job. I dont have anything lined up yet, but Im not one to worry. In this economy, it shouldnt be too hard for a fresh college graduate to find a new job.
I feel naked before him, mostly because I dont have any clothes on.
Less than a minute later, theres a reply from Earl Grey. Somebody clearly wasnt 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/Annas 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:
Hes a nice guy. Like Mark Zuckerberg, only less autistic.
Look, the point is, there are plenty of ponies in the sea.
Yeah, and theyre 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 theres something wrong with you, like everything you enjoy is embarrassing or scary. News flash, Mr. Grey: This isnt 1950 or whatever. Your sexual tastes arent as shocking or as deviant as you think. Neither is anything else you like. Maybe if you didnt take your fifty shames so seriously, I wouldnt be so compelled to laugh at them.
Over and out.
