"Fifty Shades of Grey" by E.L. James

Title: Fifty Shades of Grey
By: E.L. James
Series: Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy
Publication: May 26, 2011 by The Writer's Coffee Shop
Format: Kindle
Genre: Adult/ Fan-fiction/ Erotica
Cover Rating: 4/5

From Goodreads: 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?

My Thoughts: Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the past month, then you have probably already at least heard or seen this series in passing. But, in case you have been living under said rock, let me give you a warning: This book is ADULT. What does that mean exactly? It means that if you don't know what BDSM is then you probably shouldn't read it. And no cheating- don't go look it up either!

When I first started this book I was completely aware of what it was: originally, an erotic fan-fiction of Twilight. Before this, I had never read an erotic novel or a piece of fan-fiction, so I tried my best to go into it with an open mind, and I think for the most part I did. What I discovered was that it had it's good parts and it's really bad parts.

So, as always, let's start with the good: The psychology behind this novel is original, intense, and captivating. Christian Grey has some serious issues- and not because he's way kinky. His past haunts him and he keeps it tightly wrapped away in the dark where no one can find it. This is what really kept me reading the book. I had to know what happened to Christian to make him who he is.

The bad: E.L. James gave an interview on NBC were she said "I'm not a great writer." Well, I agree with her. At best, it was mediocre. I say this for two reasons:

1. I often felt the flow of the novel was bumpy and dull.
2. It's fan-fiction.

Now, before I have a crap ton of people biting my head off let me just say I have NOTHING against fan-fiction. But, and this is a huge but for me, if you are looking to get something published don't just change the names of the characters, add in a new plot point, and throw in some sex to an already published novel at an attempt to make it your own "original" work. To me, that's theft. I say this, because there were so many scenes in the book that made me have that deja-vu flash-back to Twilight feeling. The characters are pretty much a spicier version of Edward and Bella.

This isn't to say the book was completely un-original. The friskier bits were very descriptive and I'm sure Erotica fans around the world will be thrilled with those scenes. They were extra steamy and hot and completely enjoyable.

Overall, I thought the book was okay. I'll finish the series, but I don't get the hype over it yet.

My Rating: