Book info

• Title Fifty Shades of Grey
• Author E. L. James
• Year 2011
• Genres Romance, Adult fiction, Erotica

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.

Review

If I’m honest, I never had any intention of reading this. It’s not so much that I was judgemental about the whole thing but I vividly remember when this trilogy first came out and people were excited about them but when pressed had to admit that they weren’t written very well and that the story wasn’t the best. So I could never understand what all the fuss is about.

I decided to bite the bullet, you know, eight years later, after watching Book Club which revolved quite a lot around this first book. In the end, I’m missing out on some culture so I need to get on board.

Having finished the book, I really do not get it. The graphic descriptions are not particularly erotic, the story is non-existent, and this guy, this Christian Grey is an absolute asshole. She needs to stay well clear of him, and whilst the end of the book has her in tears because they’ve all but split up, I really felt like she was well shot of him. Controlling, stalker-ish, and with some odd tendencies that don’t preclude him being a nice guy but with the other personality traits layered on top, well, yea, just steer clear.

I’m also astonished that a book can be so very famous when there’s a good half a chapter dedicated to the intricate details of a legal document. If I wanted to read legalese I would study for the bar. Being a lawyer is impressive and sexy, reading legal documents… not so hot.

So I don’t get it. I’ve read it and now I know. And I’ll steer clear of the rest. (Except maybe need to see the film to see how on earth they make a two hour movie from this nonsense. And because Jamie Dornan is worth looking at.)

Rating: 1 / 5