August 27, 2012

50 Shades...Adding My 2 Cents

OK, so I am definitely way late on this one, but I finally read 50 Shades of Grey.  Not that I have been very good about making time for reading, but I had decided long ago that I would make it my vacation read.  I naively assumed I could crank through all 3 while I laid on the beach/by the pool, but I must have gotten my current life confused with my past one.  As I relayed in my vacation posts, reading just wasn't on the agenda for most of my vacation as I had a toddler and baby to entertain.  BUT...I did get some reading done and then made finishing it a priority once I got home (only book 1 mind you, although I'm working on the rest now), so now I know what everyone else has been talking about.
                                           
Unless you've been hiding under a rock, I'm sure you have, at least, heard of the book.  And I'm sure many of you have already read it, so I'm not going to worry about giving away plot or anything (*so if you haven't read it and plan to do so, I'm warning you!).  So even though I am a bit behind the eight ball per se,  after hearing so much about this book...both positive and negative...over the past few months, I feel like I have to add my 2 cents to the discussion.
Overall, I would say it was on OK read.  I wasn't completely bored reading it or anything, but I also wasn't overly eager to get back to it each day as I usually am when I'm in the middle of a really good book.
 Part of that may have been the sex.  Now I'm no prude or anything, but honestly the sex (which I had heard sooo much about and was certainly prepared for) just got boring to read.  After about Chapter 3 or so, I found myself just skimming through the paragraphs.  And, seriously, who has that much sex anyway?!?  Even in a new relationship?!?  I mean, again I'm no prude, but I honestly found myself feeling sorry for poor Anastasia.  It seemed exhausting and I just wanted her to be able to take a good nap or something!  The second one seems to be much better at laying off the sex a bit, and in turn, I'm enjoying it more!
As I sat down to begin reading the book, I realized I actually had no idea what the plot line was...just that there was a lot of sex...and as I finished the first book, I realized that was probably because there wasn't much of a plot line (although in fairness, I'm just now about half way through the second book and it seems to be getting into more of his past so maybe this one will be better?).  I found the book to be pretty redundant and predictable...event, have sex, event, have sex, have sex,  event, have sex.  I really wish it would get more into the mystery behind Christian Grey (again maybe in the future books?) and the romantic in me really hopes she can begin to chip away at who he is and help him heal...I personally think it would make for a way more compelling read than f***ed up dominant takes advantage of hopelessly-in-love girl over and over.
On a positive, though, I did really find myself rooting for the characters. Again, maybe it's the romantic in me, but I wanted Anastasia to help bring this man out of his dark place.  And I wanted Grey to experience love and believe in it.  I believed that they love each other...and I guess, that's why I kept (and still keep) reading.
On a side note, though, I have no clue how the hell they are going to make this thing into a movie...or I guess I should say a movie that doesn't carry an X rating.  With sex pretty much being the plot, they're going to have to work some miracles or something!
So that's my take on it.  Anybody else read the books?  Do the second and third get better?   I'd love to hear if you agree/disagree.



1 comment:

  1. Loved the books! I also started skimming through the sex after awhile since it was just the same thing over and over again. I don't read often at all and I got so wrapped up in it that I somehow finished all three in just over 2 weeks ( my kitchen and whole house remained unclean forthat long since I spent nap time reading). A lot of it get predictable but I was happy I finished it. I loved it because I too kept wanting her to be able to change him :-)

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