Fifty Shades Of Grey

3/5 Stars

Fifty Shades of Grey

By E. L. James

First in 50 Shades Trilogy
Self Published? (April 03/2012)

Genre: romance/erotica?

Whilst browsing the Kobo website, this book popped out at me or rather the second book with the mask on it.  I think to myself 'hmmm... I wonder what this is about." (I'm a sucker for masquerades) and upon further investigation I find it's part of series, and that apparently is doing quiet well.  So I say to myself, "Let's do something mainstream right now! I'll probably be more applicable."  I get me a copy of this book, because well the kobo description isn't that telling and I just skimmed other user reviews.  Let me say, though I saw mentioned that it was erotic, I didn't know to this extend!  Holy cow!  I was completely unprepared for it.

Synopsis:

At first glance of this book, I thought it was a Twilight rip.  You start reading it and you're introduced to this 'plain' klutzy brunette named Anastasia, who has never been with a man before, but still has guys tripping over themselves for her attention -which she ignores- and has a low opinion of herself.  Through a series of events she ends up meeting (or rather interviewing) a very keep-to-himself millionaire and owner of Grey Enterprises, Christian Grey.  Immediately she is fluster by his crooked smile, copper hair, beyond beautiful looks, and his eyes seems to sparkle with a dark secrets. Hmmm... does this sound familiar?  To top that off she has a man-of-few-words 'father' and is ex-military (I think), and a loopy mother who lives in the scorching desert of Las Vegas. Christian immediately tells Anna that they're wrong for each other and they should stay away.  But can he? Of course not, a few days he shows up at the place she works, and so the ball starts rolling... They even describe Christian as 'dazzling' a few times. Did I mention he plays the piano and she talks in her sleep? Anna is of course immediately smitten by Christian, and he's hiding something from her, a dark secret that he cannot divulge, until some paper work is signed? Hmmm... okay...  But here's the twist, and when the book no longer resembles Twilight, his big reveal isn't that he's a vampire, which would probably be more acceptable, he's into BDSM. Saaaay what!? And not just a little bit. Hardcore.  He exposes Anna to his dark world of whips, chains, and every other BDSM  paraphernalia under the sun. I want my romantic sparkly vamp back, :(! But instead of running and screaming like you think most virgins would do, she agrees to try and indulge in his fantasy.

The books gets its title from a way Christian self-describes himself as fifty shades of f****d up. Christian is beyond controlling and stalkerish, and at some points impassive towards Anna, which just mounts onto the confusing feelings she has towards him.  He wants Anna to be his submissive and do exactly what he says without question, and Anna just simply wants to touch him and be loved by him.

So the real question is can they make this bizarre relationship work?

My Opinion:

I guess this is supposed to be fanfic of Twilight, thus the blatant similarities, basically a kinky ass porn version of it.  But for me, it doesn't really stack up to it.  Is Twilight a great book? No, the writing is just okay, but the story is what keeps me.  Yes Edward gets obsessed with Bella in a way that borders slightly on creepy and wants to protect her because she is liable to fall down a manhole and die, but at least there's beauty in their love. I find this book doesn't do much tugging on the heart strings as much as burning in the loins.

After finishing this book -which was like A THOUSAND pages on my kobo - I was sort of left sitting there going "ummmm...?"  I'm not sure what the climax of the books was, aside from the non-stop ones Anna was having, or really what was the point... Really I have no idea when the crapola hits the fan in this book. Was is just to show people that BDSM isn't as taboo and scary as they thought it should be?  That's is gloriously kinky?

I was left disappointed not knowing Christian's story, it's so vague as to what has made him the controlling, kinky man he is today.  Also, everything he did to Anna sent her reeling into earth shattering orgasms, even playing with her nipples!  I know some girls are easier to please than others BUT COMMON. Another thing that I didn't really like was Anna sort of had an angel and devil on her shoulder sort of going on.  Apparently an inner goddess who delights in Christians dark sexual exploits (basically saying a women's inner goddess is a kinky sex freak and that's her empowerment, err....), and her sub conscious who is always scrutinising her.

Though there was content lacking in the book and I'm pretty sure there were more sex scene's in it than a porno, the characters were still pretty well written. And clearly the sexual lifestyle was very researched or the author is into that themselves. I laughed a could times at the snarky remarks the exchanged or e-mail to each other.  The diction was also really rounded, there were a bunch of words I had never seen before, but the character's seemed to speak beyond their years with air of sophistication to them through out most of the book. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.  Was it sexy? I have to admit to myself that some parts were very steamy.  Would I continue the series.  Honestly I haven't decided yet... it is a trilogy and I really do want to know why Christian is so 'ef'd up, but I just don't know...  If you want to ready this racy novel that has become hugely popular I won't stop you!