Review: 50 Shades of Grey

Originally, my first blog post was going to be a recommendation of my favorite PR novel. I had planned to re-read it after the series I was currently completing, take notes on my feelings and show you what my vision of liberating literary genius looked like. But then, it hit me. I don't want the first post of my blog to be safe - it should be something controversial, riveting, and a suggestion that may guide your tastes further than "vanilla." I mean, don't get me wrong, vanilla is delicious too, and you will see a lot of lighthearted reads on my reading list, however, who doesn't enjoy a brief trip through the darkness? :)

4.8 out 5 stars

Blurb:

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
 
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.


If you'd like to read my full review - please click below! :)

50 Shades of Grey was nothing short of captivating. I was on page 50 was when I first noticed my profound attachment to Ms. James' characters. I felt it in my gut, Ana's hurt was my hurt, her love was my love. This certainly surprised me because through the first pages a little voice was discussing how this trilogy may be one the media decided was interesting because of the shock value, not the quality of writing, character development and storytelling. Oh and before I continue, yes, there are two more delicious Shades to read through and surprisingly, I have found the self-control to post before continuing my compulsive need to read the sequel - which I keep glancing up to look at...hold on, I'm moving it out of sight. Annnd she's back! :)

Because there are reviews all over the internet with plot summaries and whatnot I am going to be very brief in this summary of this book. Ana Steele, a virgin about to graduate college, gets cajoled into interviewing a rich man (Christian Grey) who she knows little about for her best friend Kate's newspaper. They meet, they lust, their sex is hot with light BDSM and the enjoyment continues from there. 

As I've already stated, I feel very invested, interested, and slightly (or more than slightly) obsessed with these characters, especially Christian. I feel completely connected to all of them, even the minor characters. However, thus far, I do not like Ana's mom. Although I believe unintended, she seemed like a typical "I-love-my-daughter-but-don't-always-put-her-first-blah-blah" kind of mother. And then, when Ana visits her, she has some sort of crazy insightful insight? I just didn't buy that. It seemed out of character for her. 

Anywho, James' flow and the details in her writing, ideas, and the connections between characters, scenes, and even e-mails astounded me. I was entranced and read the first 300 pages in one sitting until I realized that my students would see the lack of sleep as weakness and completely pick away at my Hallelujah-it's-Friday resolve.

With all the good, alas, here is a negative and depending on your grammar radar either important or able to be overlooked -- there were editing issues...words missing, wrong word placement, spelling/grammar errors, etc. It was almost depressing to have a missing word or mistake interrupt the perfect flow of James' writing and that is why I couldn't give this novel a full 5 stars. Very minor mistakes I can (and will) overlook, but if I have to re-read a sentence to receive the meaning because of an editing mistake - grrr! (Oh, and I growl sometimes...)

I thoroughly enjoyed, sometimes a little too much, being a voyeur to all that is 50 Shades of Grey and implore you to BUY, borrow, rent, steal (well, stealing's bad...), or if you have to, sit at your favorite book store and read until close...because this book is well worth the effort and in return - it will ravage your mind.

Oh, and here is my character interpretation of Christian and Ana for the upcoming movie:

Christian Grey

Ana Steele

    Happy Reading!