Fifty Shades Darker - E.L. James

Goodreads Summary: Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house. But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven, and demanding Fifty Shades. While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront her anger and envy of the women who came before her and make the most important decision of her life. Erotic, sparkling and suspenseful, Fifty Shades Darker is the irresistibly addictive second part of the Fifty Shades trilogy.

Why I Read This Book: I read book one in this trilogy to see what all the hype was about. I didn't really enjoy it, but I am just the type of person who has a hard time starting a series and never finishing it, especially when it's only a trilogy. If this was 10 books long, I might have to call it quits.

Review: This is not my normal genre of book, but I certainly do think that I would have liked it if 1) it had any semblance of a decent plot 2) it wasn't written so poorly. I felt like James didn't really have any idea where she intended for this book to go, she just sat down and started writing. The book was extremely repetitive, with interactions between Ana and Christian just being sex - conversation - sex - same conversation - sex - lets talk about the exact same thing for a third time - more sex. There wasn't even really any 'exciting' sex in this book, it was just the exact same session over and over. Also, I felt like James would throw in random "big" words every now and again that didn't flow with the rest of the text, she clearly made friends with a thesaurus for this one. Christian's abusiveness and Ana's passive/whining personality really irritate me, I couldn't get through more than two chapters in one sitting without wanting to smash my ereader.

I had been saving writing this review, because when I was reading this I made notes about it, but I feel like I don't have anything much new to say, this book is either loved or hated by the masses, so I will stop here, I just have to say, I'm not looking forward to the next book, but I'm a little curious to see what happens. I will read it, but I think I will put it off for a few months. I have way to many books I'm excited about to start reading one that I'm not.

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Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Goodreads Summary: 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?

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever

Why I Read This Book: I might as well just be honest, I had to see what the hell all the hype was about.


Review: Apart from all the BDSM, I think I could write a better book. Don't get me wrong, the sexy parts are pretty sexy, but the story line in pretty poorly written. When I found out this was originally Twilight fan-fic I was very surprised, as this just doesn't fit the Twilight story at all, unless you consider that Ana always bites her lip like Bella. Which is probably one of the most annoying things about Twilight.

I do however like that this book received the hype that it did, not because it was deserved, but because it represents something for women that would have previously been too taboo to have published and spoken about on the news.

All I can really say is that James has a pretty wild imagination, or a very wild recreational side! I will finish the series, but really, I don't think I would recommend them to anyone unless they wanted some sexy time alone, cause it will at least do that much for you!

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