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Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)

E.L. James

Start date: December 15, 2016

Finish date: December 23, 2016

Discussion: Buddy Reads

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Aug 15, 2012 Andrea rated it liked it

Edit:It has been a few years since I read both the book and this review. My love of this series has come full circle. I'm not editing my review because in many ways I still think much of this. BUT my love for EL James and her characters and what she and they have done for readers and authors has been amazing to watch. EL James inspires authors (myself included) everyday to be true to yourself, support each other and give back. I think CG and Ana would approve.

I'll be the first to admit that I di Edit:It has been a few years since I read both the book and this review. My love of this series has come full circle. I'm not editing my review because in many ways I still think much of this. BUT my love for EL James and her characters and what she and they have done for readers and authors has been amazing to watch. EL James inspires authors (myself included) everyday to be true to yourself, support each other and give back. I think CG and Ana would approve.

I'll be the first to admit that I did not go into this book with high expectations or enthusiasm. Was I pleasantly surprised? Not at all. BUT I was surprised that I didn't loathe it and honestly didn't hate it as I expected. I do not consider myself a literary soul but I do love to read and I love a great romance. Not necessary a romance novel but I do read them still. I am also by no means a prude, I am far from it. I went into this book months after almost everyone I know has read it along with most of the free world. I was told it was "amazing", "life changing", a must read"...I even had to swear that I would read it. I did not think it was amazing, it didn't change my life and would I consider it a must read? Perhaps. If for no other reason than to create a little conversation. I love a good debate, I love to see people talk about things that they otherwise wouldn't, I love an opportunity to talk frankly about sex without anyone freaking out. I don't want to recap what everyone else has said about this book but I would like to point out items that either didn't sit well with me, I liked, or that I just feel are fun and interesting.

Christian Grey: I love the name Christian Grey. It instantly tells me that the man is going to be successful, handsome, intriguing, brooding and sexy as hell. Perhaps it is because this CG is ridiculously successful to the point that it isn't believable that I take issue with. Are there mega zillionaires out there in their 20's? Sure, we all know Mark Zuckenberg is worth more than we can ever imagine. Are these young billion/zillionaires sexy, mysterious, approachable and hung like a racehorse? Doubtful. Do they have some sort of mommy issue like our own CG? Probably, if not mommy then some issue. I found CG to be a lost soul. A man who struggles to know who he is and not be identified by what he has become or how he became it. We don't need a major backstory to know that something happened to him as a child. He doesn't like to be touched, he has scars, he's adopted, he tells us he struggled to be a perfect child in a perfect family. The man himself doesn't know who he is.

Anastasia Steele: Ana is her preference and I can't argue that. Ana isn't my favorite character and in fact she may be my least favorite after Jose (you know, the good looking artsy guy in love with her but she thinks of as a brother). I think Ana is a twit. I cannot think of a better word to describe her. She is 21. Ok, I'll give you that. But by 21 with Kate as your roommate you want to tell me you've never (1) been attracted to anyone (2) been drunk (3) been tipsy enough to play "just the tip"? I don't buy it. Do I think that she is a insecure, suffering from her own issues of a mommy that is always chasing after the happy ending, and unaware of her sexual being? Yes. Yes and Yes! I am to believe that this girl whom everyone in her life tells is beautiful and smart and interesting is so full of herself that that doesn't see her looks and will turn down any guy that offers to take her out? Sounds like mommy isn't the only one chasing the happy ending.

The "Red Room of Pain": I feel that the room is its own character. Mysterious and dangerous with a smidge of sexiness and desire. Take from it what you will. Yes, there are chains and whips. Yes it is where you go to be "punished". But, it is also where you go to let go of your inhibitions, where you go to explore what you may not know you desire. Just because you CAN be beat to holy hell with a whip doesn't mean you will. It's the knowing it is an option that gives you the mystery and danger.

The "contract": While so many see this is a negative thing I actually find many positives in this so called contract. At first glance it seems that the Dom is in it to control the Sub. But like our CG explains to Ana, in reality it is the Sub that determines what remains in the contract. So in actuality, isn't the Sub in control? I noticed that many of the clauses are things that most consenting adults in relationships expect of their partner - no STDs, birth control, monogamy, being advised of actions, having sex....while the specifics of the contract aren't necessarily something people discuss in a mainstream relationship, maybe they should. Perhaps knowing that your partner is turned on by the idea of sex toys or the idea of a smack on the ass may avoid problems down the road. Perhaps knowing that things such as watching porn isn't okay. These are what main stream relationships refer to as deal breakers. In the contract they are clauses. I notice that this contract never discusses feelings. This leads me to believe that our CG is truly so inept when it comes to feelings, expressing those feelings, and understanding those feelings that he would never tell his Sub -- Clause 19, do NOT fall in love with me. This is CGs version of a relationship. What he knows,how he knows how to express his feelings and desires. Do I agree with it? No.But we find that he doesn't either. He concedes to all of her requests. He allows Ana to call him Christian. He allows Ana to look him in the eyes, to sleep in his bed, to meet his parents. He uses the G word -- Girlfriend! While it say contract, and it is expected to be signed, it really isn't that different than a mutual understanding of a monogomous relationship.

Being mega rich: The lifestyle is its own charcter as well. Charlie Tango anyone? Sign me up!! The fleet of Audi vehicles?? Yes sir. A private jet? The ability to come to me when I am missing you? Hells yeah! Sadly the ability to push too far. To overwhelm a person with extravagent gifts - first edition books anyone? I appreciate the fiction that is this lifestyle for most people and embrace it in a book of fiction but I would say that I APPRECIATE the part of how this is portrayed and that CG is honest in his ability and desire to spend his money because he can.

Supporting characters: Kate, Elliott,Mia, the parents, Taylor, the excessive number of blondes...Mrs. Robinson. Love them all. I've already said I wasn't a fan of Joses and not because he was annoying and came onto Ana but because I don't buy it. I'm sure with Kate around he wouldn't have had a chance to keep pining for her, Miss Kate would have told him what was what. Knowing that Kate was very pushy and "inquisitive" as Ana called her it made me glad to see her being a friend to Ana throughout the book. Perhaps she needed to ride the line of tact a little better but she was still shooting from the heart. Elliott, I guess he's the anti Christian. Sweet, affectionate, kind, helpful, and obvious. He's smart and successful but more down to earth than our CG. That makes him "normal" and for that he's filler. Mia is the typical annoying little sister with the tendancy to have very VERY poor timing. The parents. Sweet as can be and loving to their children. Grateful that their children who have been so alone and truly in need of being loved by someone other than parents has found someone. But, in typical parental fashion they fail to truly see who their children are and how much they need to love themselves. Taylor. Oh the brooding, quiet and faithful Taylor. We know that he prefers to call Ana "Miss Steele", we know that he is always around, somewhere, and that he must have his own GPS in his brain because he can get anyone anywhere without directions. The blondes. Christian tells Ana in the Red Room that he loves brunettes. Granted, he is braiding her hair so that he can yank it but he must surround himself with blondes because there is no temptation. Smart man, a man with a type. Mrs. Robinson. I prefer that to her actual name of Elena. I like the humor that comes with referring to her as a fictional character that has made such an impact on pop culture. I agree with Ana that she is a pervert but I don't see that our Christian was ever a boy. Nor do I think he was ever coerced to do anything he didn't want to do. Do I believe that Dr. mom would have a close family friend that saw her 15 year old son and thought "I'd like to tie him up, gag him and spank him", yeah not so much. But, it makes it easier than saying he was molested. Do I buy that they are only "friends" and "business partners"? Yes. Because I think once CG got a taste of the Dom side of this lifestyle, he was balls out (pun intended) and was taking the role and Mrs. Robinson wasn't going to be his Sub.

So what does all of this tell us? I believe that alot has come from this book. It is not by any means a work of literary art. It may not even make a good movie. However, it has made women express their desires. It has allowed it to be okay to read books with a "taboo" subject and then TALK ABOUT IT. It has made alot of husbands out there very very VERY lucky. I only hope that those husbands are also talking to their wives and exploring what really turns them on and what they can expect in the future because once the fantasy of Christian Grey fades .... to gray, they'll be left holding the ..... you fill in the blank.

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