Written By: E L James
I am late to the party once again. I gave in and read this series last year after the craze died down. This Billionaire BDSM trilogy sparked inspiration and paved the path for other Erotic Authors to publish their work. Today it is much easier for an author to publish their work if the genre is erotica.
Billionaire - Love After Abuse - Erotica - BDSM - Possessive Hero - Timid Heroine - Rescue - Pregnancy - Opposites
Synopsis of Fifty Shades of Grey
Ana Steele, a college senior goes in for an interview with the billionaire Christian Grey in her friend's place. This interview was for their school newspaper but became more than just an interview. As powerful as Christian is he feels a draw toward Ana, as she does to him.
She, inexperienced, gets into bed with an overly knowledgeable Christian. Someone who will push the boundaries in the realms of pleasure and pain. Does Ana have to ask herself are the boundaries being pushed too far? Or can she live a life of restrictions and chill?
The Fifty Shades Universe
James intended for Christian and Ana's story to be a trilogy, even before it was Christian and Ana's story. Each book spans at least 500 pages long. Three years after the last book in the trilogy was published, "Grey" was published. This was the first in the companion trilogy that saw the novels from Christian's Point of View.
Was Was the Grey companion series a cash grab? In some regards, I can see the point, but there are scenes I have wanted to know what Christian was thinking or doing in simultaneous timing as Ana. You could read one trilogy and then the other or you could read Ana's POV and then Christian's POV. The flip-flopping might seem repetitive with mirroring scenes.
My Thoughts on the Fifty Shades of Grey Book Series
Twilight vs Fifty Shades of Grey
I think it is a step up from Twilight but a step down all at the same time. Both series romanticize abusive relationships, and what is crazier is you can feel the coldness of both Christian and Edward toward their partners. I would have a different opinion if I could feel the love between the two characters but I can't. I think poor writing contributed to the inability to feel the connection between the couple. Both Ana and Bella seem bland, inexperienced, and seem to be soft-spoken or shy.
Heart Attacks
(DISLIKES)
Become Educated From 'Bad Writing'
I have heard and read from multiple sources that E L James' writing is poor. I have read the background to the stance, but this is going to be my opinion before I researched. I intend to write a more intellectual breakdown of why her writing was not the best. But I will have to reread my writing books from my creative writing classes to feel comfortable doing so.
Where Was The Love Between Christian and Ana
I thought the chemistry between Christian and Ana was lacking. During the more "romantic" scenes, the atmosphere and feelings felt stiff. I could barely feel the love between the couple. Even worse Christian treated and talked to Ana coldly.
Romanticizing Abuse
At points in the story, it felt like E L James was romanticizing abuse. Now I am not talking about the BDSM element of the series, I am talking about Christian's treatment of Ana emotionally. Throughout the entire relationship, they were not equals. I read Christian seeing Ana as someone he needed to control in order to keep close. The relationship between Christian and Eliana was romanticized at points in the book as well. Christian basically said this predatory abusive relationship was consensual.
Eat Your Heart Out
(LIKES)
Interesting Storyline
I always love a possessive protective billionaire erotic series. Even though I questioned the chemistry in this series and disliked the amount of control I still found things I enjoyed. I thought the plot was interesting. I have problems concentrating while reading this series. Which often happens when I am not engaged or interested. These books had just enough suspense, that I could not put the books down. The storyline had twists and turns and enough conflict that created a book you could not put down. So much so that I even reread the books a couple of times.
How Steamy is Fifty Shades of Grey?
Adjectives In The Scenes?
What I know off the top of my head from my creative writing classes is... adjectives are a sign of poor writing and an amateur. But the problem is I often find this in the romance novels I read and it sticks out like a sore thumb. Without looking back I thought this was one of those novels but I reread sex scenes and regular scenes and it was not the case.
How Did She Describe The Sex?
The sex scenes were descriptive but not in the beating you over the head repeatedly in an adjectives way. She used verbs to describe what was going on in the sensual nature. In this case, it made the writing more engaging and I felt like I was in the room (in a non-creepy way).
More Sex Than Plot?
The unique sex scenes kept me engaged with each and every one. I often skip sex scenes if they are too similar. In Fifty Shades, however, each scenario was something new for the couple to try. I did at points think there was more sex than plot.