So I did it, I really did it.. I sat down and read Fifty Shades of Grey.. I will have reviews on this series soon but I wanted to express some of my thoughts.
Fifty Shades of Grey is the first book in a trilogy, it isn't a stand alone book. If you read it as such you miss so many of the nuances.. the storyline AND the love story..
I took my time to read Fifty because there was so much bad press.. but honestly, I thought it was a pretty well crafted story.. About so much more than Sex and control. It was a story about two people that grow into each other..
I don't feel it accurately depicts the BDSM lifestyle (like I have a clue) but rather some people who participate in it and what their reasons could be. The trilogy rather than being about BDSM is about acceptance and honestly couldn't we all use a little of that?
I literally devoured this trilogy.. each book had so much to share although at times I felt that the third book dragged it did help to tie up so very many threads.. yeah and not just on Ana *grins*
I find the general jump to judge attitude about these books disconcerting... I have seen more sex in other books.. the sex in this story was there for a reason and it worked.. As for the "older" man ''younger" woman concept.. she is 22 and he is 27.. that is pretty much in the norm of many relationships.. and in just about every relationship I have seen, one member is more knowledgeable than the other.. sometimes, one is more knowledgable in some areas and the other member in others. Which as we actually see in the Fifty trilogy..
My suggestion.. don't be in such a hurry to judge.. don't feel the need to jump on the bandwagon.. this is a well written series that touches on issues that so very many of us have. Everyone of us is looking if not for love then acceptance.. a reason to validate who we are and what we believe in.
Reviews to come later..
Shauni
And please don't call it 'mommy porn'! : )
ReplyDeleteExcellent point Amy
DeleteSee... I think the story itself seems interesting, but for me the actual writing was not there... I've read the samples for ALL three books and the writing hasn't changed. I'm not going to pay for a book if I can't get interested from the samples...
ReplyDeleteVery well said! I can not wait to read it! I am usually the first one to read/look into anything that is "negative" or wrong. I just always have to see what all the chatter is about. Now I am just looking forward to reading the series. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd if we were talking about some vampire novels there are centuries between some characters, where is the uproar to that?
Thanks to you, Shauni....I started it last night!!!! And, like you, I couldn't put it down!!! I thought I figured out my thoughts, but I haven't....I want to say SOOO much...
ReplyDeleteThere is sooooo much more going on than what you've read in the papers! Of course, I'm just getting to the point where they become intimate. :) While there is an undeniable attraction, it begins with a genuine fondness for each other. While normally a very reserved man, Christian finds himself irresistibly drawn to Ana and he fights the attraction....for her "protection". She's about to unravel the mystery behind his deliberate reluctance....OH MY!!!
I am really enjoying this book and I hope I still feel that after I've read about their first time together. Thus far, the hype is WORTH the read; it's really a diamond in the rough: GREAT POTENTIAL!!! I'll chime in a little later, if you don't mind. ;)
Ok....so you really did pick a series to mess with my head, Shauni! And I thank you for it! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's been challenging to say the least. I 'm not a judgmental person by nature, so I'll say that I respect Christian's "choices", but they're certainly ones I'M not comfortable with...thus making it difficult to accept it without unease. And they're still in the "vanilla sex" stage!!! :D
As much as I'm struggling with what Christian's used to vs. what Ana's used to (NOTHING in comparison), I truly appreciate the different sides of opinion that we're being forced to consider. It's been rather heartbreaking to hear Christian urge Ana to accept his conditions (it's all he's ever known)....it's choked me up to hear Ana condemn herself for considering a relationship that goes against her innocent expectations...and yet it also warms my heart that they're both unwilling to quit and walk away without compromise. Christian is battling through his standards (demons?) to keep Ana happy. Ana is being courageous to submit, point intended, to his preferences. This is no easy love story and I am impressed with the various layers of complexity.
Wow....just wow....
The things is.. Grey (the book) is really intense and plays with you in so many ways.. if you stop after just this book you walk away with a feeling of at best WOW..
DeleteI agree with you on the levels of complexity it is a well crafted story. I agree Christian is hard he wants so much and just doesn't know how to deal with all that want..
Can't wait to hear more of your thoughts
Now that I've checked in on Rob, ;), let me say that I was up till 1am reading all about the insatiable Grey & relentless Ana. They seem to be heading towards a happy medium...but knowing that there are still 2 books to go...it can't be THAT simple. Am I right? :D
ReplyDeleteWhat drives me bat-shit crazy, yes, I'm at THAT level, is the back & I'm forth I'M feeling right alongside Ana. She vacillates between refusal and acceptance...and it's mostly because she A: Doesn't want to lose him and/or B: It's really not all THAT bad?
I'm especially perturbed, lol, when Christian shocks us all with a tender response or makes a gesture of genuine love for Ana. I myself am not immune to those machinations of his.
I understand that he's "50 shades of effed up", LOVED that line btw, but he is capable of remarkable restraint. Personally, if he likes it "rougher" than most, and, seriously, the "vanilla sex" was AMAZING, why can't he just keep it like THAT in the bedroom? Why the full control OUTSIDE in the real world? But it's more than that for me. I still haven't read WHY he doesn't like to be touched, so I hope it's an excellent explanation. Things like touch and sight ENHANCE a loving relationship....why is she deprived of those intimacies???
UGH....I was 90% done last night so I'm on a mission this morning. I'm seriously obsessed with this book and I want to talk more and more and more about it. Join me??? ;)
When Ana calls Christian out on a double-standard, he is genuinely affected. Ana tells him "What if I told you YOU couldn't touch ME?"...or...."what if I worked with Jose?"...these are all legit points she's making...but he always has his reasons and to him they're simple and required. Christian does have the innate sense to yield when he senses a possible breaking point for Ana and I swoon at his recognition. UGH....again and again! ;D
ReplyDeleteChristian is trapped.. he has such capacity to love but has absolutely NO Idea how to show it. All he knows is how to control himself. He has great focus in all that he does but doesn't understand the nuances of human nature. He gets it.. he understands what he needs to control those around him. But in a way he surrounds himself ONLY with people whom he can control.
DeleteHe is devoted to his family, but he doesn't understand that, that is LOVE..
Oh I loved the scene when his mother walks in..
And the emails are the very best! such a great way to share these two characters with us..
OH yeah, Ana is confused because of her "imaturity" which I hate that term for Ana..
DeleteShe is a young woman just coming into her own, she doesn't understand her power. I see a lot of Ana in many women who get involved early in relationships.. Their true selves are just emerging so they tend to ignore that side of them.
It used to be a saying that if a woman married twice she was much happier as a person in her 2nd marriage.. Why? Because first time off she was all about pleasing him, making him happy and pushing her true self down.. then when she started emerging as a person, an individual things tended to fall apart. When she married the second time, she met the guy with a "this is who I am attitude, like it or leave it" Consequently she gets someone who loves HER.. not an image of her..
In a way Ana, is that young girl.. she is trying to figure out how to have Christian and yet grow into her true self..
I've got to go yoga....desperately. I'll be about an hour. Someone text me if the convo is on, please!!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm finished....and feel bereft. The knot in my throat is painful. I am far from done with these two.
ReplyDeleteI feel kind of miffed at Ana right now, though. She told him to give her his "worse", yeah right, we both know it could have been double that. Anyway, she wanted it to know exactly what her hard limit was. And when it's delivered, she gets angry and rebuffs him. While I understand ALL of that, she did effing ask for it! She really thought he WOULDN'T take her up on that?! Damn her and him for that last scene! :D It's all over now! :{
It's too much. He completely panicked when she told him she had fallen in love with him; killed me. I seriously thought he was going to reciprocate in a similar, less potent way! Instead of even considering it, Christian rejected it. And yet he, she, they both don't want to walk away. Poor Ana kicking herself for ever broaching the subject. The emotional pain is incomparable to anything physical. Man....which one is next? I MUST start it now!!!
The thing is.. Ana is finding herself..
DeleteLike I told you on the phone, she is like a southern belle.. many misinterpret that quiet submission (for the non important things) as a weakness and yet they (the belles) are usually the ones that run a family.. Iron fist in a velvet glove..
As a woman, Ana is still coming into her own.. as an individual it is easy to confuse her ability to let people take over aka, Kate and Christian, as a weakness. Rather she is just a woman who chooses to pick her battles.. She also has to learn how to fight the important ones..
I am still confused at the uproar over this trilogy!! It is compelling and an excellent story about human nature
Hello Ladies! I am sorry that I have been a ghost lately but I was scared that I would encounter some spoilers.
DeleteSo here I am, I have read the fist book!
Um, Effing amazing! I loved this book! I could not put it down! I only had 25 pages left last night before sleep one the battle and I just passed out.
Ana is an amazing character! I love everything about her. I too was mad at her at the end of this book at how the reacted to getting the belt. Um, i dont know what she was thinking. But I do think that she got over it rather quickly. She just needed time to process it all out. When she told Christian she loved him, i believe, that she was over the belt thing. I believe that she was going to try to make it work no matter what. It was the fact the Christian didn't want her to love him that was the deal breaker for her. I really can not blame her for that. Why would you want to be with someone who doesnt/can't love you? I KNOW the he loves Ana, he just doesn't know it yet. Like Shauni says, he just doesnt see it as love.
I can not wait to start the next book. You know it is a good book/series when you are reading while walking to the dang bathroom!!! While cooking! During comercial breaks, making excuses to get your husband out of the house! I just want to lock myself in the bedroom and not come out until I know how it all ends!
Fifity Shades Darker is next :)
DeleteOh yes! I wanted to share a few moments in the book that I loved or broke my heart.
DeleteWhen he wore the tie to the graduation! Ah! I was laughing like an idiot!
The night that he spanked her and she was crying in bed by herself... I was crying along with her. I was happy when he came back though.
The emails, which have already been mentioned, loved them!
When he showed up in GA!!!! Swoooon! That is so sweet!
I love how Ana refers to her Inner Goddess and her Subconscience as little people in her mind. :) It is fun to read.
I am giddy!!!!! Shauni....you have set this ball rolling and Lisa and I are swooooooooning all over the place!!!
ReplyDeleteLike you said, Shauni, are you ever wrong?!, book 2 is just as exhilarating!!!! I am OBSESSED, and yes, my Rob is fine this morning, thank you very much. LOL.
Christian going back to Ana with a vengeance is something that I anticipated and my man delivered!!!! They're trying, really, truly trying to be there for each other. Christian is evolving by leaps and bounds! Though still not for ME, Ana is submitting to a level of comfort that surprises even herself. Good for them. Whatever it takes to keep these two together!!!
OMG, Lisa...if my Kindle wouldn't get ruined in the shower, MUST PROTECT AT ALL COSTS PER MR. GREY'S ORDERS....I would read there, too!!!!!!
The emails....as delicious as ever....the lovemaking....steamy and yummy....the declarations of love????? SWOOOOOOOOOOON!!!!
*makes note to self* do not take Kindle in the shower.. *grins* and here I thought they were water proof!!
DeleteI have to giggle at you Carmen.. I am so sending Albert a letter telling him about your inner goddess
HA!!!!I am approaching the halfway point on Book 3 and I'm as charmed as usual. Mr. Grey has that effect on me. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat I will say, and this is QUITE unexpected given my EARLY impressions of Christian, but ANASTASIA is bothering me more than usual. It's complicated. Christian is NOT an easy man to love, he's complex and tortured and fragile. But this is everything she wanted; all 50 shades, remember? Take care with this man. I'm not saying deny yourself anything, but over-reacting and under-reacting are almost serious offenses. At least to Christian they are.
These two need to communicate. A misspoken word, a jest, and the other is trying to analyze what the other meant. A little exhausting.
Will I put it down and take a breather? Not on your life!!! Back to my 50....ok, hers, but for the time being....MINE. ;)
Halfway through Freed and I understand now what you meant by having to add different scenarios to keep the series going. Thus far, I'm still addicted and haven't found the extra story lines unbelievable. This couple is developing and still learning how to be together in a healthy relationship.
ReplyDeleteAlbert and I are STILL learning! ;)
I think if this book had been at the beginning I would have been ok with it, but since it was last, I expected more.. Although, I will admit she got me thinking.. I kept wondering if maybe Christian's Dad was somehow involved... and I never really liked Elliot.. kept suspecting him of all manner of things..
DeleteOh and you never commented on what you thought of the Mrs. Robinson smackdown!! I loved when his mom found out.. oh yeah go mom!!
I MEANT to start off with the lemony concoction thrown right into her predator's face! Poor Grace had to learn of the affair THAT way.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what you mean by Carrick's involvement, but I am oh so intrigued! Elliot. Yeah, I don't know? Seeing him with Gia in Aspen, however brief their greeting. Then he....with Kate...don't want to spoil anything!
Just read the visit with a "reformed" Leila. WAIT! That's a spoiler, too, isn't it? I was furious with Ana myself. That's all I'll say for now. I know Lisa just finished Book 2 and will be dying to talk here later. ;)
Still not done with Freed, but I see the finishing line. Am I intentionally delaying the inevitable end? Most likely. ;)
ReplyDeleteWOW. Ms. James has really packed a punch. I still don't find any of the new stories "forced" or unbelievable.
I thought Christian's reaction to....was spot on. Cruel, but true to his volatile self. I was CRUSHED by the text Anastasia found. WOW. She did overhear Christian telling his mother that "they" talked because he NOW realized what "they" did was wrong. What SHE did, the predator!!! Anyway...Anastasia's just awoken at the hospital and is begging to have the catheter removed. HA.
Does Ms. James have other works in progress???
Hello ladies! I had to search for this post. :)
ReplyDeleteFinished the series! Love it :) It is like crack for me, i have gotten at least two other people to start reading it too! I am telling you now that Chrstian has given me some things to think about. ;)
So I was a little dissapointed that the book started off on their honeymoon. We have been with this couple from the beginign and I felt giped that we didnt get to see the wedding unfold. I know that we got to see glimpses of it in flashbacks but it still wasn't enough for me.
I just couldn't get over Ana being so... not understanding. She married this man MARRIED him and she is still being kind of childish towards him. I wanted to DIE when she slept in the playroom. When you marry someone like Christian you are just going to have to realize that you are going to have to give him special exceptions. He is NOT like every man out there and she should have known that by now. I was pissed when she was thinking that she rushed into marrying him! Then why oh why did she do it??? I know that every one has those thoughts at some point but I just felt like she was never giving him the benifit of the doubt. Even though she said she was.
I am not going to lie.. i found myself skimming over the sex scenes in the thrid book. I just wanted to know what was going to happen in the story I felt that sometimes the sex was getting to be too much. Her begging to go back to the playroom and then using the safeword... I was not okay with that. I mean i know that she should use the safe word if she needs to, that is why it is there, but I feel like she was asking too much of Christain.
Poor Grace finding out about Christian and the troll bitch. That part was so sad. But I am happy that Christian finally started to see Mrs. R for what she really was. Oh lord when he told Ana about how their relationship first started out I thought I was going to puke. It was so sad.
I weep for Christian and how he sees himself. It is so sad. I liked seeing the first meeting with Ana and Christian from his POV. I would rather every single book on the planet be in third person omnicent so we knew what was going on with everyone but I liked hearing from Ana's inner goddes and subconscience. :)
I think that is all... sorry for the mouth vomit.
I wish we could hear more of what Christian was thinking, too. I enjoyed hearing his thoughts at the end, there. He was such an arrogant ass! He really has come so far from where he started, aye? He still breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteAs for the scene when Ana safe worded him:
Ana was overwhelmed. He has told her over and over if it gets too much, to use the safe word. I think she was awfully brave for going into the room with him at that point. He said he was "burning with rage" mad at her, and wanted to beat the shit out of her. Wow, those words scared the hell out of me! She did not ask to in to the room with him that time. She came home and he was already dressed in 'those' jeans, and said, "I have been waiting for you". He took her in there to punish her. She didn't know how far he was going to go, and realized that his treatment of her wasn't about love, but torture. She was afraid it was going to lead to the belt again. She got spooked, and safe worded him. I was happy she did that (as was Christian by his own admission) He was carried away, and beginning to be cruel. He was so horrified about his actions. He needs to learn that love making is about 'love', not punishment. She stated she is not his submissive, and he accepted that. As with any ingrained behavior, it does not change overnight, and takes time to evolve. Ana is trying to drag him into the light.
As for the text from the Bitch Troll...(love that name!) I would have been pissed, too. Yes, perhaps hiding in the playroom was a bit childish, but, she is young herself. Everyone questions their judgments and their decisions they make, especially in the face of such betrayal. I applaud her calm anger towards Christian in the morning. He really did f#@k up that time! He deserved every bit of anguish he went through because of his bad decision to seek out Mrs. Pedo.
I want this story to continue. Unfortunately, I think it has run it's course for now, unless the author decided to write more from Christian's POV. EL James said she is writing another romance. I hope it is about Mia and Ethan, that way we can see little glimpses of Ana and Christian. I wish she would say what she is writing about. Can anybody find it out there on the internet?
*looking over at the Queen of the Universe with a questioning brow raised*
Thanks for letting me speak my views. Please let me know your thoughts....
Oh Cathy you have some excellent points.
DeleteI agree with you on several levels.
First off, Ana handled Christian and his rage admirably.. if we look back to when we were just 22 did any of us have the maturity to handle such a man? Have the self esteem to love someone who was headed in one direction and yet gradually guide him to another? She walks a fine line dealing with his "playtime" and not accepting his "punishments" their relationship was never about the punishments.. and he had learn that then have it reinforced.. I would imagine it would be reinforced over and over and over again..
I loathe the Bitch Troll.. she was so well written, a decadently driven deluded devious demented d... ok, you get the point.. she really really really wanted to retain control of Christian and every time he went to her he unwittingly allowed her to retain that power. When she realized that he was changing that she really was loosing him she did everything she could to keep him on her leash. Literally and figuratively. Face it even when their "relationship" was over she got him to invest in her business, he kept bringing his women to her shops and thus allowing her to monitor what was going on in his life.. Even her "encouragements" were meant to control him. I loathe her.. did I mention that?
I agree on the continuation concept.. I think the only story that could work would be Mia and Ethan.. I will research and see what is going on. Although, I am not the research minor goddess that some are.. but I am sure there are hints out there somewhere..
and you can join in any discussion that you want to any time you want to
"decadently deluded devious demented".....demanding dominating deviant who doesn't belong in Christian's life!
DeleteI love how Ana handled her. At her age, I probably would have shreiked at her and made a huge embarrassing scene at the masquerade ball. Instead she calmly told her she is a pedophile child molester, and to leave her alone. Then walked away with her head held high, dignity intact. If it were me? I would have launced myself at her, pulled her hair, scratched her eyes, and ripped her dress. Christian and Taylor would have to pull me off her, hissing and fighting like a wildcat. They would have to pry my teeth off her shoulder, cause I would not have let go!
LOVED Ana throwing the drink in her face. Again, I would have made a huge screaming scene, probably ruining all my chances with Christian and his family at that point.
*sigh*
She is such a terrible Evil Bitch Troll! Grace did well to slap her face, and disown her as a friend. Can you press charges 13 years later for molestation? Even if the child is a grown adult doesn't want to? Carrick should look into that.
First of all, yay Cathy that we're still talking about this series!!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll be honest, I devoured this series so rapidly, the "burning rage" moment Christian had...is this the one where he was denying her "release"? Because I thought THAT use of the safe word....it just bothered me. I think Christian has evolved, OMG, he's matured by leaps and bounds, and yet Ana was the one who kept pushing him back into the playroom. Maybe I'm misunderstanding the level of Christian's need for control, but playing "a little" is like giving an alcoholic a wine spritzer? They just don't work together.
Christian seemed completely satisfied in the bedroom, albeit a little "relentless" in the lovemaking, but Anastasia keeps tempting him! That safe word, the one that's in MY mind, I, personally, thought prolonging the "O" was a bit exciting. SHE thought it was cruel. I didn't see it that way? But, Christian DID admit to being deliberate about his actions; so, yes, it wasn't entirely innocent on his part.
When Freed was over, I felt completely done with it. The deleted scenes and the extras at the end? I was like, ENOUGH. My final thoughts on this wonderful series is that it was a complex love story that allowed two people to find a happy medium. That their love for each other truly overcame all obstacles.
Did you happen to catch EL James on the View? I hated the interview. Sherry was the only one being really supportive, but she, too, was focusing on the S&M and the toys. Yes, that is a part of the series, but if you look past that, and finish the trilogy, there is an inspiring, tremendous love story going on. I swoon for all 50 shades of Christian Grey...... ;)
I seriously hate the way the media has treated this book. They are so desperate for titillation that they miss the entire story.
DeleteAnd, well ok here goes.. from what I understand about BDSM and those that live this lifestyle a lot of them aren't "damaged" like Christian was this is just part of who they are. In all honesty I felt if this was a book about BDSM it was a failure.. but it wasn't. It's about finding your way both as an individual and as a couple, acceptance, forgiveness and all the other intricate pieces that make a strong couple.
I agree Carmen their story is finished BUT I wouldn't mind seeing them later.. how are they doing now and all that..
Oh and great use of alliteration, Shauni!!! ;)
ReplyDelete*grins* I just got started and couldn't stop..
DeleteCathy! Thank you so much for talking about this series! I could talk about it all day! I made my sister read it so I could talk to her about it! She loves it too, well I mean come on! It is so effing good!
ReplyDeleteOkay...
One, This is a book about a man who is a Dom who is into BDSM, and he meets a girl and is immediately smitten with her. And she is not a Sub in any way. I really don't understand how anyone is seeing it as anything other than that. Really in the three books how many times are they in the play room as a Dom and Sub? Twice right? The first time when they try it out ( with the ridding crop, effing hott!!! ) and then when he beats her with the belt. Both in the first book. Other than that they are just two people in love having fun. What is wrong with that? People use toys to spice up their sex life all the time and I bet more people do it than they are willing to admit to!
I am not going to lie, I immediately told James about the ridding crop.. that sceen was hott to me. Does that make me damaged and effed up? I don't think so. Sorry if that was TMI. ;/ I just wanted to make a point.
Like you all have said, Christian has grown so much. I believe that had she not used the safe word that Christain would have eventually let his desire for her override the fact that he wanted to punish her. Honestly I would love to be punished that way! Come on! I too think that the safe word was over the top. I would have rather seen her use it somewhere else. But really she loved everything he did to her, except for the belt, that when would she even need it?
I did not see the View and I am glad that I didn't. I would have been pissed. I bet that either none of them have read the effing books at all or they have and don't want to admit to liking it. I freaking hate judgemental people.
Oh and this is my last thought. I got married when I was 20, yes I was a baby, I know. But James was in the military and I wanted to be with him. Anyway, when I was 22 I was pregnant with my first kid and had already been married for almost three years. So it is hard for me to see things from Ana's POV. Yes I was exteemly immature when I was her age, honestly my son made me grow up so much, but I see this woman who loves this man sooooo much and she even marries him...but she constantly doubts him. It drives me crazy. Especially because of how in the second book she realized how wonderful he was and how much he had given up for her... you know?
Now I am 28, Christians age, I have two kids and have been married almost 8 years... I just think, holy shit I got married so young that I can not even relate to these people who are my age. At 28 the last person I think about is my self. And the first person Christian thinks about is himself, well maybe Ana, but I really dont know for sure.
Ah! Sorry I freaking did it again!
Hmm, good point Lisa. I never realized Christian thinks of himself first, then Ana. He is trying, though. I think with the addition of Ted and baby Phoebe, his thoughts will change to the kids first, then Ana, then himself. Kids do make you grow up fast. I loved seeing the interaction between him and his son. I was surprised that they still went into the playroom while she was 6 months pregnant. I frowned at the use of the flogger on her belly. To me...that was kinda creepy. I was thinking, "That is your daughter in there you are flogging" (even though it was gently)
ReplyDeleteI guess I will agree to disagree with the use of the safe word scene. I still think he was out of control, and needed her to reign him in when he stepped over the line. She had reached her limit, and couldn't take it any more. She safe worded. That is what he told her to do if she had reached her limit.
Here is the passage:
"Please," I whisper once more.
But he gazes down at me, implacable. He's just going to continue. For how long? Can I play this game? No. No. No-I can't do this. I know he's not going to stop. He's going to continue to torture me. His hands travel down my body once more. No...And the dam bursts- all the apprehension, the anxiety, and the fear from the last couple of days overwhelming me anew as tears spring to my eyes. I turn away from him. This is not love. It's revenge.
"Red," I whimper. "Red. Red." The tears course down my face.
-page 248 Fifty Shades Freed by EL James.
A little while later:
.."I need to know....why did you safe-word, Ana?"
I blanch. What can I tell him? That he frightened me. That I didn't know if he'd stop. That I begged him-and he didn't stop. That I didn't want things to escalate...like-like that one time in here. I shudder as I recall him whipping me with his belt.
I swallow. "Because.....because you were so angry and distant and...cold. I didn't know how far you'd go."
..."Were you going to let me come?"
..."No."
..."That's.....harsh"
...."But effective."
-page 256-257 Fifty Shades Freed by EL James.
OK, WTH? "EFFECTIVE" That is NOT love making. It's not even punishment sex. It's PUNISHMENT, period. So, yes, if Ana was feeling like that, she had every right to put a stop to it. Otherwise, she would just be flattened on the ground, ran over by the freight train that is Christian Gray.
It seems like I am the one now with the verbal diarrhea!
Cathy, oh lord I forgot that she was thinking that it would escalate to the point of where he used the belt on her.... I Can see how that would be terrifying. I was just remembering her being upset that he wasn't making love to her And he wasn't letting her come. I see your point. I would like to say that I am glad she used the safe word, I would have just liked to see her use it at a more...extreme moment maybe. But if she was worried that she was going to be beaten again then I would Have probably used the safe word too. Excellent point! :)
DeleteThe end while she was preggo...yeah that was a little too much for me too. Honestly there was so much sex in the last book that the last thing I wanted to do was read another sex scene. I wanted more of the story. But I know That sex is important in a relationship and it is very important in theirs.
I really can not wait to reread this series And see all of the things I missed the first time around.
Cathy, oh lord I forgot that she was thinking that it would escalate to the point of where he used the belt on her.... I Can see how that would be terrifying. I was just remembering her being upset that he wasn't making love to her And he wasn't letting her come. I see your point. I would like to say that I am glad she used the safe word, I would have just liked to see her use it at a more...extreme moment maybe. But if she was worried that she was going to be beaten again then I would Have probably used the safe word too. Excellent point! :)
DeleteThe end while she was preggo...yeah that was a little too much for me too. Honestly there was so much sex in the last book that the last thing I wanted to do was read another sex scene. I wanted more of the story. But I know That sex is important in a relationship and it is very important in theirs.
I really can not wait to reread this series And see all of the things I missed the first time around.
See to me.. all that sex was thrown into the book because she ran out of story. It was like she only needed two and a half books not three. So she fell into that old adage, when all else fails add sex.
DeleteIn a very big way it takes away from what an awesome series this was. I found Book Three just lacking.. There always seemed to be something just beyond reach that should have been said or done. It wasn't so much a bad book it was just that the first two were absolutely awesome
I thought that the perfect place for the series to end was their wedding. That was how I envisioned it ending. All of that crap that happens in the last book could have easily happened before their wedding....I am with you Shauni, it was lacking something...big. but the first two books were effing fantastic!!!
DeleteHi everybody! This is Eloisa James -- I followed this thread from Twitter, and just wanted to say that I am not E.L. James as cited on the Twitter (though I wish I were--I think I'd be buying my own private island).
ReplyDeleteGreat conversation! I really have to get these books!
hugs, Eloisa
Eloisa,
DeleteThanks for stopping by!! Be sure and voice your opinions once you do read this fantastic trilogy. As you can see we view it as much more than "mommy porn" but rather a well crafted story about so very much more..
and of course feel free to stop in and join ANY of our discussions.. we love to share our thoughts.. as you may have noticed
Hello Eloisa!!! Welcome! Please feel free to comment as you read the story. That is too funny About your name, I never even noticed :)
DeleteMy eyes lit up when I saw your name. I thought, "WOW! EL James herself is reading little ole me's comments about her book!" Welcome Eloisa. Thanks for stopping by. Read these books. It truly is more than what the media portrays it to be. Yes there is sex....steamy, hot, raw sex. Beyond that, there is a powerful love story between a man who has severe commitment/control issues, and a woman who dares to grow to love him, despite some of his flaws. There are themes we can all identify with in this book. It is touching, funny, romantic, and sexy hell!!
DeleteOkay.... okay.... So I heard that on E! news that Kristen Stewart said that she would love for her and Rob to play these characters... I am telling you now that that better not happen! I really think she is a one dimensional actress and I want nothing more than for her to take acting lessons. I will be so upset if they are cast for this movie..
ReplyDeleteThat is all.
Okay first, I am so glad that you have that easy go to tab on the home page! It would have sucked trying to find this. Whoever came up with that idea is so smart! WINK! ahaha!
ReplyDeleteWell, my husband is reading Fifty Shades right now. And he has brought a few things to my attention. I dont want to go into too many details because his is going to do a review on it from the male point of view. But there are a few things that have been bugging me.
One, how on Earth did I forget that Christian made Ana lick the blood off of his fingers when he "broke her seal?" I dont even remember reading it. At all.
That brings me to my next thing. Men and women seriously have different outlooks on romance and I mean WAAAAAAAAAAAY different. As he is explaining to me what he thinks Christain is doing, it is tainting everything that I loved about Christian Grey.
Here is my last thing. Shauni got it right, if you look at the series from only the first book you seriously miss out on the entire essesnce of the series. I never thought of it as book one and book two and book three. I read this series back to back to back and I just view it as one story. If you only look at it from the first book, then yes, it is NOT romantic and it is kinda effed up. But the second book is so.... much more of what is really going on that the first book is just an introduction.
I need to reread this series so I can really think about the things that my husband has brought to my attention.