Well I finally finished this book, it was every bit as bad as I thought it would be. There are several things that is wrong with this book:
One the writing - there is no getting away from it, it is poor, very poor. It's hard writing stories (I have attempted a few myself but don't claim to be an author or that good I just like writing), but the writing here is boring, lazy, immature and repetitive. This is a classic reason why self published books should remain just that self published. Any editor worth their weight would not have let this go to print without many changed, but since it was already out there in the ether nothing could be done. There are moments of promise, the reading through the contract, the scene with Spem in Alium (amazing piece of music) playing in the background, but then pops up an "oh my" "inner goddess" "holy crap" and completely ruins the moment. The sex scenes are pure fantasy, all those orgasms (from a virgin which is impressive), the man with a big penis (so cliched it's lazy). But there is no real titillation, no real description, just a few pages of sex in different places. You almost feel embarrassed reading it as she can't give any descriptive words for her genitals. Perhaps I'm just used to harder words and feel it childish when I read "my sex" or "I can feel it....there" It's hard not to try and put yourself in her shoes, but if I did I would need a good long break in between each session just to recover. I guess that got to me a bit, the virgin with the perfect sex drive and emotional ability to cope with it, just too unrealistic.
Two the style - what is this a romance novel or a sex fantasy book? If it is the first then I am deeply disturbed, if it's the second then it's too tame and too long. Why am I disturbed by the thought of it being a romance novel? I do not believe someone who is psychologically damaged makes for an "endearing" character. It is also a strange mix of someone who watched too much "The Hills" type shows and believes that how all Americans speak and someone who clearly liked old 60's shows. "Holy cow Batman it's the Joker!" and "What's that Mr Sulu?" "Well captain it looks like a new life form... oh my!"
Three the characters - Ana cuts a very pathetic creature, someone who is young for her age and really does appear to understand much. Christian, is a damaged individual who although warns Ana off him, can't seem to leave her alone. To the point of stalking. Speaking to someone's parents behind their back is not ok, and this book makes it seem that "oh it's just what he does". In all honesty reminds me of some of my own darker days of obsession and it brings back some bad memories and I feel these characters make light of these situations. Well the author does.
Four the subject matter - I am not prudish and was thinking that this book was going to have some decent sex and BDSM themes, but this couldn't be further from the truth. The author has clearly not researched BDSM very well, wikipedia has a lot on the subject and goes a little into explaining what people do. What Christian Grey does is not really BDSM, more aggressive/kinky sex. Anyone can get tied up and be spanked but it doesn't make you part of that scene. I'm sure any dom who read this would be appalled at Christian's behavior. If he has had 15 subs, then he would know when someone isn't right for them, yet he doesn't - how is that sexy or healthy? She clearly didn't understand what he wanted and he should have left her the moment she wasn't sure about any of it. Clearly the author just wanted to chuck as much at this story as she could. Oh for the record sexual abuse is not, repeat, NOT to be used as a casual throw-away story line where he is in contact with his abuser. Again I am disturbed that those who liked the book choose to over look this, and see it as "oh but I can help him change, and get what I want".... Hummmm in real life that will never happen. I know this is a book, but people are clearly swept up in all of this and I fear they may start to think they could have this. Stick by someone who is unhealthy to be around, in the vain hope that they can change them.
As you can tell I didn't like the book and will not be reading the other two - simply because I know how they end (thanks to the blurbs at the back of the book) and don't wish to waste anymore time on them. There is talk of a film, well it will be really boring as the amount of "sex" there is, will never make it into the film so what else is there? Not much.
The one positive I can take away from this is that my interest in BDSM has been peaked and I want to read more in the hope that I will find something better written.
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