Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is the first in the trilogy by British author EL James and is currently the New York Times, No. 1 book.

When literature student Anastasia Steele offers to help her sick friend out and interview successful entrepreneur Christian Grey for the college magazine, she has no idea what the future has in store. Drawn to him but also intimated by this charismatic man, she leaves the meeting convinced that it went badly. So she tries to put the man to the back of her mind until one day, he turns up at her work and invites her out.

Naive young Anastasia, is shocked to discover that she wants Christian, but when he warns her to stay away, this seems to make her want him even more. Unknown to Anastasia, Grey has issues of him own and is consumed by the passionate need to control. Suddenly the two of them begin their passionate affair and Anastasia discovers her own desires, as well as finding out the dark secrets that Christian keeps hidden from the public.

Wow, what can I say about this book? I’ll be honest with you. I was in no way prepared for “Fifty Shades of Grey”. For some reason in my own naive Anastasia like mind, I thought it was the new “Twilight”. Something I thought I had heard through the grapevine or maybe it was the similar cover that me think that. But as soon as Christian revealed himself to Anastasia, I realised that this was no teenage, vampire, love story.

Packed to the brim with graphic sex scenes “Fifty Shades of Grey” is not for the faint-hearted or the easily embarrassed as the couple embark on their torrid affair and Christian introduces the young inexperienced Anastasia to the world of fantasy. Never has a book shocked me so much, but that seems to be the overall effect that this erotic novel has had on the world. Ironically the author of the book seems embarrassed by the attention of the book, the book that she created for bored housewives to provide them with some escapism. I find this slightly bemusing. Why write about something so graphic, if infact you are somewhat shy? But hats off to the woman for creating such an controversial read.

Overall the concept of “Fifty Shades of Grey” is an interesting one, that does remind me of “Twilight”. The awkward young girl who meets the charming, reclusive boy, falls for him and is in awe of him only for him to warn her to stay away. Cue forbidden love.

Although I found the book entertaining, I occasionally found it very repetitive, lines and scenes being repeated. The line “Don’t bite your lip” which is rife from start to finish and Christian constantly moaning “baby” that in my own opinion cheapened the story.

Christian as the villain/love interest/hero was an interesting character, one that I immediately began to dislike. His controlling manner and rapid mood swings incensed me at times and then with Anastasia and her willingness to obey shocked me even more, that a woman would allow herself to be treated that way.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is an insightful read, that regularly made me gasp in shock and other times snigger like an immature teenager at the pornographic sex scenes.

In conclusion “Fifty Shades of Grey” is definately a page turner that can occasionally turn you fifty shades of red, not for the shy this book is hardcore. I still found that I couldn’t put the book down. But, if you are like me and even though you are shocked by the sexual content, you will end up reading the concluding books of trilogy, because you have to know how the saga of Anastasia and Christian will end.

You can buy [amazon_link id=”0099579936″ target=”_blank” ] Fifty Shades of Grey on Amazon [/amazon_link] and other good bookshops.