Fifty shades of Grey - Book Review

Fifty Shades of Grey – Book Review

 (Book #1 of the fifty shades trilogy)

E.L. James

18+ Readers

Synopsis:

When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind - until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time.

The unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her - 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 adoptive family – Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny.

Can their relationship transcend physical passion? Will Ana find it in herself to submit to the self-indulgent Master? And if she does, will she still love what she finds?

Review:

For the last few months or so, I have heard the title ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ floating around the blogsphere followed by declarations of how amazing it is and how everyone should read it. After a bit more prompting from some friends I finally caved and got hold of a copy and I have to say… it was deliciously risqué and I loved it. I will however advise anyone who has yet to try it, to not read this book in the presence of either your mother or grandmother as the story will more than likely have you blushing, giggling and swooning embarrassingly – it also leads to awkward moments when they ask what the books about! J

The story begins with Anastasia Steele, who covering for a sick friend, is allocated the job of interviewing extremely rich and successful businessman Christian grey for her college newspaper. Not only is Christian surprisingly young but also amazing good looking and Ana’s attraction to him is instant, however she can’t help but find him intimidating and is relieved (and a little disappointed) when the interview ends. Thinking she will never see him again, Ana is then astonished when Christian shows up a few days later at her work place to ask her on a date. But Christian’s intentions are much darker, and Ana soon finds herself in a strange and controlling relationship with an emotionally broken man, who she hopes, her warm and tender heart can fix…

I have to say, the characters in the book are just fantastic! Christian is dark and sensual with his many shades of messed up contributing to his dominant nature and preference for sexual BDSM. However he is also very sweet and in many ways innocent, especially in matters of the heart. His need to take care of Ana is endearing and shows how deep his feelings for her go, especially as he learns to compromise on certain aspects of his sexual lifestyle – something that until now, he has refused to do for anyone.

Anastasia is also brilliant and the protagonist of this story. Until she met Christian she was a virgin and although often afraid and unsure, she trusts Christian and is willing to adapt and explore her sexuality to be with him. However she is not by any means a weak willed character, stranding strong to her beliefs she refuses to let Christian take over her life and stays true to who she is - which really, only seems to make Christian love her more.

Also obviously this is a book that contains graphic sex scenes of Bondage and Domination but, rather than just being an erotic story, it read more like a romance -especially as each sex scene was used to enhance the development of Christian and Ana’ relationship. Revealing their growing love and trust for one another, I thought everything in this book was very tastefully done.

The only problem I had with this story was its cliff hanger ending. I was so engrossed in the story that when the end eventually came, I was gutted – mostly because I didn’t have the next book! However due to the nature of its contents, it’s a hard book to recommend but I think anyone who enjoys authors such as Larissa Ione, Kresley Cole or Katie McCalister would definitely like this book. As for the rest of you all I can say is, don’t knock it until you try it!

Emotional, Sensual and breathtakingly good, for me ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is easily 5 stars!