Sunday, August 19, 2012

Review: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Title: Fifty Shades of Grey
Author. E.L. James
Series: Fifty Shades #1
Publication: April 3rd 2012 by Vintag (first published May 26th 2011)
Genre: Adult ~ Erotica
Format: Paperback, 514 pages
Cover Rating: 5/5
Content Rating: 5/5
First Line: I scowl with frustration at myself in the mirror.

~Synopsis~
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.


My thoughts: 
I loved Fifty Shades of Grey! There, I said it. I loved it. It kept my attention and before I knew it I couldn't stop reading. It was one amazing read! Ana and Christian are definitely one of my favorite book couples now. And I can't wait to read more of them.

I started this book for several reasons. It's been a hype for a while now, so I figured it was finally time. I've seen lots of reviews about it. Some bad, some awesome. I did notice a lot of 5 sta reviews though. A few of my bookish friends had read it and loved it, trying to make me start it but I never did until a few days ago. Shame on me! (Spank me, Mr Grey ;D)
Also I had it with me on my vacation and was running low on awesome books to read so I picked it up. Am I glad I did!

The writing was good! I thought it would be terrible because a lot of people kept whining about it. Yeah, it wasn't that bad. Not at all. 

From the moment I met Christian Grey I was simply hooked. 
"So young—and attractive, very attractive. He's tall, dressed in a fine gray suit, white shirt, and black tie with unruly dark copper colored hair and intense, bright gray eyes that regard me shrewdly."
Christian is very intense, and tortured. Just the way I like my men in books. But he also has a funny and sweet side that I simply adore. He's very protective over Ana... or should I say controlling? He does really care about her, and maybe even love her. Even though he can't say it (yet?). There's still so much to know about his past. We've caught a few glimpses of it, but not the full story yet. I'm sure the next two books will give us more insight into his past, how sad it may be. 
Christian definitely is one of my favorite guys in books. He's sexy, dark and just complete sin. No wonder Ana couldn't resist the temptation that is Christian Grey.


"Oh, fuck the paperwork,” he growls. He lunges at me, pushing me against the wall of the elevator.

I know a lot of people think that Christian is... to put it in Ana's words... "one fucked-up son of a bitch". And it's true, at some level. He's fuck-up by whatever happened in his past when he was so little. So really it's no wonder he needs to control and dominate.
“Why don't you like to be touched" Ana whispered, staring up into soft grey eyes.
"Because I'm fifty shades of fucked-up, Anastasia”

But not all is as dark as it seems. I loved the moment where him and Ana have this chemistry that's beyond anything I've read. It's crazy! And for Ana, Christian was willing to to being more! How amazing is that? Christian Grey who "doesn't do the girlfriend thing" wanted to try more and they were. They really were.


Our main character is Anastasia "Ana" Steele. She's the typical klutzy, insecure type of woman. She literally falls into Christian's office when they first meet. Way to make a first impression huh? I did like her a lot. She was funny and ballsy at some point even though I don't usually like those insecure main characters. But I did like her. And her "inner goddess" was just hilarious. I loved how when she mails Christian how honest she is to him and can tell him anything that way. The emails also were beyond funny. The subject titles alone had me laughing out loud. My favorite Christian line: "Later baby" One might wonder why Ana let Christian do those things to her and the answer is simple. She wants to be with Christian. But also, I know she kinda loves the thrill of this lifestyle Christian has. And she sure is intruiged by his "red room of pain".
“I gasp, and I'm Eve in the Garden of Eden, and he's the serpent, and I cannot resist.”

 Ana was a very honest and clear headed (except when it came to Christian) character to me. Everyone she does seemed natural. She was just real.

One of my other favorite characters was Ana's roommate and best friend, Katherine "Kate" Kavanagh. Trust me, that you would want her to be a friend of yours. Kate was fucking hilarious, spunky and a great friend. She knows there's something off about Christian and doesn't really like how affected Ana is by him. This next quote of hers is my favorite of the entire book.
"Grey—you're on my shit list and I'm watching you.”

I love that Kate is dating Christian's brother, Elliot. They're so cute together, but it's so different from what Ana and Christian have. You can't help but compare even though Elliot isn't Christian's real brother. Sometimes is made Ana jealous and I can understand that. Sometimes Christian is so closed and you can't get close to him. It's sad, really. But I'm sure Ana can get through all the walls he's build.

Since this book is about BDSM the sex was hot and kinky. But it was not over the top shocking or anything. I know a lot of people don't want to read this book because of it, though in my eyes sometimes the sex/romance was kinda sweet and touching. Especially when Ana gets closer to Christian. But very steamy, indeed.
“I want you sore, baby,” he murmurs, and he continues his sweet, leisurely torment, backward, forward. “Every time you move tomorrow, I want you to be reminded that I’ve been here. Only me. You are mine.” 


The end of this book was breaking my heart. I know it's not a final end because yay two more books! But still... it was sad. Ana... Christian... *sigh*
Fifty Shades of Grey is a book full of complex characters, confusing relationships and hot chemistry between Ana and Christian. If you've been thinking about reading it, don't think about it. Just do! You'll be hooked right away.







~Favorite Quotes~
The candle flame is too hot. It flickers and dances in the over-warm breeze, a breeze that brings no respite from the heat. Soft gossamer wings flutter to and fro in the dark, sprinkling dusty scaled in the circle of light. I'm struggling to resist, but I'm drawn. And then it's to bright, and I am flying too close to the sun, dazzled by the light, fried and melting from the heat, weary in my endeavers to stay airborn. I am so warm. The heat... It's stiffling, overpowering. It wakes me.
He grabs me suddenly and yanks me up against him, one hand at my back holding me to him and the other fisting in my hair.
"You're one challenging woman," He kisses me, forcing my lips apart with his tongue, taking no prisoners.
"It's taking all my self-control not to fuck you on the hood of this car, just to show you that you're mine, and if I want to buy you a fucking car, I'll buy you a fucking car," he growls.
This is a man in need. His fear is naked and obvious, but he's lost. . . Somewhere in his darkness.
His eyes wide and bleak and tortured. I can soothe him. Join him briefly in the darkness and bring him into the light.
“What is it about elevators?”




About the author:
E L James is a TV executive, wife and mother-of-two based in West London. Since early childhood she dreamed of writing stories that readers would fall in love with, but put those dreams on hold to focus on her family and her career. She finally plucked up the courage to put pen to paper with her first novel, Fifty Shades of Grey.

E L James is currently working on a new love story...

Visit E.L. James at: 

http://www.eljamesauthor.com
Find her also at: 
Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Youtube


4 comments:

  1. seriously everyone is entitled to their own thoughts but u actually gave this a 5/5? *ugh* *wow*

    Le' Grande Codex

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I do that with books I enjoyed. :P I loved the characters and the writing and I read it pretty fast so why not. :D

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  2. I liked this series too! Especially the third one!

    I personally didn't think the writing, itself, was that great. But the story definitely kept my attention.

    And OMG Matt Bomer is HOT!!! He would make an awesome Christian, however, I'm really hoping they pick someone who isn't planning on making any other movies, because I'm not so sure I could take him seriously after playing Grey...he would always be Christian Grey to me after that. Lol

    Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! I'm already looking forward to read the other two books. :D

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