Is 50 Shades of Gray a teenagers book?

jocampo · 11-10-2014, 03:08 PM

I'm kind of shocked that my brother gave this to my 14 years old niece. A little bit upset, to be honest. I don't consider this a teenager book. And I'm not judging the quality of the content, that's a separate conversation, only pointing that it's not suitable for minors.

While I do live un USA and consider myself open minded, I think is an adult book.

Do you guys agree? I would like to hear opinions.

Byrdie · 11-10-2014, 03:47 PM

Canadian here and very open minded but no, I personally think 14 is a bit too young for that sort of book. (Unless the 14-year-old is very mature, there are always exceptions to any "rule".)

16 or 17? Well, maybe. But I would first discuss it with them, make very sure they understood that things portrayed in fiction are not necessarily just like that in real life -- I have a 40-plus cousin who still thinks what he sees in porn flicks is the way that sex really is and when it doesn't go that way (because hello, "actors" faking orgasms!) Something Is Wrong Down There. Definitely NOT the way to learn about adult life & relationships!

Books like 50 Shades are ok for entertainment but certainly not for sex education. There are much better sources for that.

crich70 · 11-10-2014, 03:50 PM

I agree. Definitely not a book for kids. As I understand it the book deals with BDSM and a 14 yr old is just learning about dating and relationships in the ordinary 'vanilla' world. They don't need to get their signals crossed up by dragging in an alt lifestyle.

Catlady · 11-10-2014, 04:01 PM

So am I reading this right, your brother gave it to his daughter? Why on earth?

Has he read it?

jocampo · 11-10-2014, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

So am I reading this right, your brother gave it to his daughter? Why on earth?

Has he read it?

He says he did, I doubt it. Hard to tell, as he lives in a different country so I can not confirm or deny.

But I know my brother, lol... I can detect when he's full of you know what ...

ccowie · 11-10-2014, 04:08 PM

I'm as shocked as others. It certainly reads like a 14 year old wrote it, but ain't appropriate for any 14 year old to read.

jocampo · 11-10-2014, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

I agree. Definitely not a book for kids. As I understand it the book deals with BDSM and a 14 yr old is just learning about dating and relationships in the ordinary 'vanilla' world. They don't need to get their signals crossed up by dragging in an alt lifestyle.

Ok.

So it's not me being too conservative.

I'm latin, living and married with American woman. I wanted to hear other opinions because to me, this is NOT for a 14 years old girl.

I'm upset beyond comprehension as there is nothing I can't do about it. Also, the fact that he's a medical doctor makes it even worse to me. He should know better.

pwalker8 · 11-10-2014, 04:23 PM

I haven't read it myself, but they call it mommy porn. I don't know that I would give a 14 year old anything that is described as porn.

crich70 · 11-10-2014, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocampo

Ok.

So it's not me being too conservative.

I'm latin, living and married with American woman. I wanted to hear other opinions because to me, this is NOT for a 14 years old girl.

I'm upset beyond comprehension as there is nothing I can't do about it. Also, the fact that he's a medical doctor makes it even worse to me. He should know better.

Nope. You're not being too conservative. You're being a concerned uncle.

Catlady · 11-10-2014, 10:33 PM

Frankly, I think it's pretty sick. If I had a 14-year-old daughter and an adult male gave her that book to read, all sorts of red flags would be popping up. It's really creepy.

It's very different from her picking up the book for herself, which I would just consider normal adolescent curiosity.

jocampo · 11-10-2014, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

Frankly, I think it's pretty sick. If I had a 14-year-old daughter and an adult male gave her that book to read, all sorts of red flags would be popping up. It's really creepy.

It's very different from her picking up the book for herself, which I would just consider normal adolescent curiosity.

Well, maybe I did not express myself properly.

It seems that she wanted the book, and he bought it for her, he gave it to her. But still, that's something that I wouldn't do anyway, even if she asked.

crich70 · 11-10-2014, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocampo

Well, maybe I did not express myself properly.

It seems that she wanted the book, and he bought it for her, he gave it to her. But still, that's something that I wouldn't do anyway, even if she asked.

I think if I had a 14 yr old daughter and she asked for a particular book I'd ask her what it was about that she couldn't get it for herself with her allowance. I'm guessing that the books (there are 3) are somehow restricted by age due to their content.

jocampo · 11-11-2014, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

I think if I had a 14 yr old daughter and she asked for a particular book I'd ask her what it was about that she couldn't get it for herself with her allowance. I'm guessing that the books (there are 3) are somehow restricted by age due to their content.

That's probably why she couldn't get them by herself.

Catlady · 11-11-2014, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocampo

Well, maybe I did not express myself properly.

It seems that she wanted the book, and he bought it for her, he gave it to her. But still, that's something that I wouldn't do anyway, even if she asked.

That does put it in a different light.

But I don't get why she wouldn't just buy it for herself. It's hard for me to imagine a girl asking a parent, especially a father, to get her a book like that.

Byrdie · 11-11-2014, 12:50 PM

And it reads like a 14 year old girl wrote it because it's actually recycled Twilight fan fiction. The main character is really Bella or whatever her name is in disguise. If your daughter is into the Twilight thing she may have heard about that and wanted the book because of it. Also factor in basic teen curiosity, especially if some of her friends have read it and are raving about how awesome it is.

No, I have not read it. I did try, with a borrowed copy, but two paragraphs was about as far as I got before adding it to my Wall Bangers list. Ugh!

11-10-2014, 03:08 PM	#1
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	Is 50 Shades of Gray a teenagers book? I'm kind of shocked that my brother gave this to my 14 years old niece. A little bit upset, to be honest. I don't consider this a teenager book. And I'm not judging the quality of the content, that's a separate conversation, only pointing that it's not suitable for minors. While I do live un USA and consider myself open minded, I think is an adult book. Do you guys agree? I would like to hear opinions.

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11-10-2014, 03:47 PM	#2
Byrdie Walking Library Posts: 234 Karma: 3869938 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle Paperwhite 5, 16 gb version	Canadian here and very open minded but no, I personally think 14 is a bit too young for that sort of book. (Unless the 14-year-old is very mature, there are always exceptions to any "rule".) 16 or 17? Well, maybe. But I would first discuss it with them, make very sure they understood that things portrayed in fiction are not necessarily just like that in real life -- I have a 40-plus cousin who still thinks what he sees in porn flicks is the way that sex really is and when it doesn't go that way (because hello, "actors" faking orgasms!) Something Is Wrong Down There. Definitely NOT the way to learn about adult life & relationships! Books like 50 Shades are ok for entertainment but certainly not for sex education. There are much better sources for that.

11-10-2014, 03:50 PM	#3
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I agree. Definitely not a book for kids. As I understand it the book deals with BDSM and a 14 yr old is just learning about dating and relationships in the ordinary 'vanilla' world. They don't need to get their signals crossed up by dragging in an alt lifestyle.

11-10-2014, 04:01 PM	#4
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	So am I reading this right, your brother gave it to his daughter? Why on earth? Has he read it?

11-10-2014, 04:08 PM	#6
ccowie Hiding with an ereader Posts: 391 Karma: 3987376 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kitchener Ontario Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony PRS 950, Ipad 2, PRS 350	I'm as shocked as others. It certainly reads like a 14 year old wrote it, but ain't appropriate for any 14 year old to read.

11-10-2014, 04:23 PM	#8
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,195 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	I haven't read it myself, but they call it mommy porn. I don't know that I would give a 14 year old anything that is described as porn.

11-10-2014, 10:33 PM	#10
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Frankly, I think it's pretty sick. If I had a 14-year-old daughter and an adult male gave her that book to read, all sorts of red flags would be popping up. It's really creepy. It's very different from her picking up the book for herself, which I would just consider normal adolescent curiosity.

11-11-2014, 12:50 PM	#15
Byrdie Walking Library Posts: 234 Karma: 3869938 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle Paperwhite 5, 16 gb version	And it reads like a 14 year old girl wrote it because it's actually recycled Twilight fan fiction. The main character is really Bella or whatever her name is in disguise. If your daughter is into the Twilight thing she may have heard about that and wanted the book because of it. Also factor in basic teen curiosity, especially if some of her friends have read it and are raving about how awesome it is. No, I have not read it. I did try, with a borrowed copy, but two paragraphs was about as far as I got before adding it to my Wall Bangers list. Ugh!

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