Well, I was too young to read it at first, so I discovered it when the second movie was released.
I first watched the movies, and where I didn't like the first, I liked the second, so I decided to read the book, just to know the end. And, truth be told, I liked the books, but I found Ana was letting Christian go with too many things. I mean, I don't like when the first character is too docile, and Ana was like a lost puppy to me.
But a year later I found myself re-reading it, this time with the first book too, and I liked it way more. I don't know if it was because I grow up, or because I read the first book, but I now understand why Ana wasn't so outspoken: that's because she choose her battle, she couldn't fought about everything every time with him.
I often found myself sick of the people who criticise the book, when they didn't read it, or when they don't like the genre of the book to begin with. I mean, even if it's a very popular book, if you don't like the subject, but you read it anyway, you can't really complain.
Now, I think that
yes, it's not the best book around, and that's
not what we ask him to be.
But that clearly is not a true BDSM story. Yes, they like a little kink
in their relationship, and Christian clearly can be dominant when the situation ask for it, but that's not permanent.
P.S.: By the way, the Shadowlands series by Cherise Sinclair is the best series on the lifestyle that I ever read, and I recommend it if you wan to explore the subject