50 Shades of Grey
by E.L. James
Published by: Vintage
Publish Date: May 25, 2011
Genre: Contemporary erotic romance
Series: Fifty Shades #1
Source: personal kindle copy
My Rating (4.5 of 5 Stars) 
Blurb From Goodreads:
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.
My Review:
I’m rating this one 4.5 of 5 Stars
So, after all the hype and seeing this book everywhere, I knew I had to pick it up and give it a read. I am very happy I did, 50 Shades of Grey is a really good book, the relationship between Anastasia and Christian is complex and compelling, and the sex is hot. However, I would not say that 50 Shades of Grey is exactly a favorite book, I didn’t buy it 100% and for that reason I can’t give it the full 5 stars.
From the get-go, the story is interesting, Anastasia is off to interview the elusive, powerful mega-rich and powerful Christian Grey. The interview is unexpected and from the start Anastasia and Christian have a spark. As Anastasia goes on to finish college and get ready to move to Seattle, Christian pursues her and at the same time warns her off. He is a contradictory, curious, and powerful character. Their relationship progresses really fast, their connection is deep from the beginning and they both have to learn how to accommodate the other person. It’s not an easy task because of Christian’s background and his proclivities. They have a long road ahead of them.
My main hang-up with 50 Shades is the unlikelyhood of Anastasia being so innocent. 50 Shades of Grey portrays Anastasia as a VERY innocent 21 year old woman, finishing college. She is so innocent, that she claims to never have been good and kissed, or curious enough to try anything sexually related. I’m sorry, but I don’t buy that. A beautiful girl in her early 20s doesn’t get through college, especially a non-private college, without even a kiss. I rolled my eyes and this issue I have bugs me. Now, not everyone will agree with this thought, but I just don’t buy it, and that’s my opinion.
I believe the appeal to 50 Shades of Grey is the contradictions of Christian, he has continually changing mood swings and ups and downs. You never know what he will do next or how he will react. He had a terrible childhood, and it affects his behaviors as an adult. He is a dominant male, and that translates to the bedroom. This is where people start calling the book a BDSM book. However, I would not classify the book as such. While there is some bondage/submissive sex, that is not the biggest point of the book. That is an issue that the couple have to work out. In essence, the BDSM type sex makes it hotter to read, but it is not a true dominant/submissive relationship.
50 Shades of Grey is a powerful book about a deep, complex relationship. It ends on kind of a cliffhanger that had me reeling and dying to pick up book 2. After 1 book, I am attached to the characters and I have to see how their story plays out, I am hooked. However, since I did not fully believe everything in the book, I rate it *almost* 5 stars.
How about you? What did you love/hate about 50 Shades of Grey?
You can find this one at:
May 23, 2012 at 7:48 am
This is on my list to read, definitely. Christian has me intrigued. I haven’t read it, but I already picture him as Christian (Julian McMahon) from Nip/Tuck. Powerful name lol. I liked your review!
May 23, 2012 at 9:56 am
Having been seeing all the hype about this, and reading some reviews, this is definitely on my to-read list. I didn’t realize Anna was considered so innocent as never having been kissed, I appreciated seeing your views on that part of her personality.
Also, Liz@FictionalCandy’s comment about picturing Christian as Julian McMahon’s character has got me even more intrigued.
May 24, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Julian McMahon is a good choice, but maybe a little older than I picture Christian, a young Julian McMahon would be PERFECT!
May 23, 2012 at 8:01 am
Great review, I have this trilogy on my tbr
Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net
May 23, 2012 at 10:18 am
I think you’ve summed this book up perfectly. I enjoyed it, well more than enjoyed it. I was hooked on the story and for the reasons you mentioned, the complex character of Grey, and wanting to see how these two different people coped with their differences. I also felt Anna’s sexual naivety was stretching credibility. Great review!
May 23, 2012 at 11:03 am
I agree about Ana….WAY too innocent, but once I ignored that, all was good!
I also had to IMMEDIATELY order book 2 because of the cliffhanger!!!! I was like “NO, you can’t leave me hanging like that!” LOL!!!!
My review: http://solefulreader.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-50-shades-of-grey.html
May 23, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Great review, I am glad you enjoyed this!
May 24, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Great review. I absolutely love Christian Grey
June 15, 2012 at 5:32 am
Im half way through book 1 and am also hooked! i have read some reviews dismissing the book as rubbish with a terrible writing style, but i disagree. i didnt pick up this book expecting the genious of shakespeare. i was after a world to escape to -which is provided in abondance. the writing style makes it an easy read and accessable, without getting in the way of events. its chatty, which suits the age and situation of the protagonist. i also find it hard to buy Ana’s innocence, and find it annoying the way she always says ‘oh my’, but she is a character almost everyone can relate to on some level. like their relationship, Christian is complex and intense, and this intrigue is what really has me hooked. im worried about Ana being the ‘submissive’ -even though its just a story, so i have to keep reading to make sure she’s ok. all this evaluation asside, the real measure of a good book is: is it a page turner? to which i enthusiastically answer YES.
June 19, 2012 at 7:29 am
I loved it, the three books really, too.
July 6, 2012 at 12:35 am
I loved the trilogy, they are not literary masterpieces, but they aren’t meant to be! For me they were entertaining & fun, I even found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the series. I loved their relationship, Ana often refers to Christian as being the one who’s always having the mood swings but I thought that she behaved this way a lot as well…not complaining about that though as it made the characters more interesting. I was super happy with the ending, I love happy endings (pardon the pun!). EL James gave it a well deserved ending with an epilogue that left me feeling satisfied with Ana & Christian’s future. I also really enjoyed reading the section from Christian’s POV, it was a great insight into his mind pre Ana & how he starts to unravel after meeting her, in fact I think it would be great to read more snippets from Christians POV of some of the key moments in the book (like when she leaves him, when he realises he loves her ect… *SPOILER ALERT* actually Christian’s POV from the part where she tells him she’s pregnant would be great! As would be the epilogue…hmm maybe she should just re-write the whole series haha). Basically, I loved them & will definitely read them again.
July 6, 2012 at 9:14 am
I haven’t read it yet. Just been lent it, but my first comment when told about it was “she’s a virgin” what a bore. !
July 10, 2012 at 5:10 am
I honestly found the books to be so far- fetched it was hard to actually take them seriously. The way they were written as well made me question the writing abilities of the author, they lacked the flow that you see in novels written by well known authors. The only reason i kept reading was for the simple fact that i found them quite funny and not believable at all. The books i am used to reading make you feel like you are in the book but because these books are hard to believe i felt absolutely no connection what so ever. I know erotica books are meant to be full of sex etc but they should also be believeable and the fact that anastasia goes from being a virgin to a complete sex goddess literally 5 seconds after she loses her virginity really turned me off it. E.L James did not even try to ease the transition into ana building up experience etc she portrayed her as a timid girl who knew nothing of a sexual nature then bam she was into bondage and was wet each time she laid eyes on christian oh come on!!
July 10, 2012 at 10:58 am
Jess, I had a problem with Anastasia’s innocence too, what really cinched the book for me was the ending, I loved how it ended, it was a great hook. I have a recommendation for you though, have you read Bared to You by Sylvia Day? I highly recommend Bared to You, and it may be a book you would enjoy. Happy reading,
July 25, 2012 at 8:50 am
I loved the books.Yup!read all three.had a bit of tough time too digesting how Ana jus turnd into a Sexpert jus seconds after loosing her virginity(yuk credibility strech indeed)hello,dat was cringeworthy.Anyways the books made 4 interesting,entertaining read.still rootin For sommerhalder 2 play Christian grey in d Movie.