Fifty Shades of Grey

"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, find 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 cast 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."

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As my friend, Carrie, told me when she let me borrow this book -- "You won't be able to stop reading until you finish." 

She was right. 

E L James' Fifty Shades of Grey does more than bring you into the novel. It binds you there. With just over 500 pages, this novel could easily stretch across a few days, but it consumes its readers without giving the slightest notion of a 'stopping point.' 

Anastasia Steele, 'Ana', is the main character of the novel. She's a young woman who is graduating from college with an English Literature degree and applying for jobs in publishing houses. She's also interested in Christian Grey - control freak, dominant, and ... erotic. 

Ana is as real to life as any character should be. Some of the things she does (or doesn't do) I doubted momentarily, but E L James not only explains Ana's actions, but also her thoughts and motivations. I felt a strong connection with Anastasia. Although, I did also graduate with an English degree, though it was in writing and not literature, and I share her future career goals. Though these two foundation elements are not a requirement to form a connection with the character. 

The personality traits Ana has make her a likeable character. She's somewhat clumsy (okay really clumsy), hilarious, honest, sweet, smart, has a vocabulary I would die for, and wants to fall madly in love. Plus, she can hold her own. She's a strong woman who when faced with a serious relationship decision (seeing that it includes being tied up) she doesn't fall to the feet Christian Grey but challenges him in every way possible.

The entire novel is from Ana's point of view; she is the narrator. This allows the reader to really form a connection with her, because E L James makes sure to share what Ana is thinking and feeling as she weighs her decisions concerning Mr. Grey. The book is an amazing read, but it is graphic. Some of the parts will have the readers wishing they were the ones experiencing the passion, and some will have them asking why Ana isn't running for the hills?

Fifty Shades of Grey 

on Amazon

   

rating: 4/5 cups