Random House Shades Darker ebook
I actually fell into the "Gray" series without knowing the subject or the controversy. I had a new Kindle, my daughter in law set it up and asked what book did I want and so the journey began.
I am in my late 60's and while not a prude or naive, I was a little shocked and at times turned off by the sexual content,both in amount and explicitness and decided to read only the one book as I had paid for it. The story was so much more important that the sex, that when I got to the end of #1, I had to find out what was going to happen to this couple as there were lots of changes going on with the two principal characters, several minor characters, a twisting and provocativethen the plot and sub plot. I had to read II and then dive into III.Once again, I had been left hanging and speculating and had to go on to book III.
I am so glad I purchased I unknowingly as all three books were wonderful reads. Many of my friends teased me about my dirty books but after a little explanation of the story, they too read the "dirty books" and no one quit without reading all three.
We are products of our experiences and environment and these books explore this as well as how each of us can overcome adversity by developing a shell, behviors, psyche to protect ourselves and we can also recreate ourselves given the appropriate motivation.
I hope there will be a !V.
I haven't read a book in quite a while. I was curious about this book since everyone was talking about it. I read all 3 books in record time; they all maintained my interest. I hope E L James continues on with the story in some way because I would surely read them all.
BalasHapusGot my books and I just love them. Read them all and they were wonderful. I recommend them to any adult to read.
BalasHapusI really wish I could manually add a 6th star to Amazon for this book. I never would have believed it was possible but Fifty Shades Darker is even better than Fifty Shades of Grey. Hard to believe, but true. Reading this book reminded me of a quote that I love by Alan Cohen, "Scared and sacred are spelled with the same letters. Awful proceeds from the same root word as awesome. Terrify and terrific. Every negative experience holds the seed of transformation." Reading Fifty Shades Darker is like witnessing metamorphosis in action.
BalasHapusWhat I love the most about this book is the way the events and characters change and develop. I love that Christian Grey transforms from utterly immovable to flexible. Every negative emotion he feels eventually becomes something positive, or at least something he can learn and grow from. He learns the delicate balance between give and take. He learns to open his heart and to accept love--and he learns to give it as well. Everything cold becomes warm, and everything hot--well that's about the only thing that stays the same, still hot.
These two characters are so contradictory and conflicting, and yet complement each other so well. Each trial, every obstacle, every hardship the two experiences are overcome and ultimately strengthen the relationship. This is truly one of the most amazing love stories I've read.
I would like to add one more thing regarding a popular misconception about this book. I've read a lot of comments from readers saying it is too far out of their comfort zone because of the BDSM elements. I would like to address this because I don't think readers should shy away from it for that reason. EL James has a way of writing that brings out the heat in a love scene (I literally get butterflies sometimes while reading) but in my opinion she does it in a very tasteful way. I've read other BDSM novels and I think these books should really be classified as mild erotica, which contain some MILD elements of BDSM.
There is a well defined plot with well developed characters. The romance is both sweet (I love the emails between the characters) and steamy, and to me the sex scenes do not feel gratuitous. It really is just an amazing and beautiful love story, and I think the BDSM elements are an integral element the plot in this novel.
In order to truly appreciate the 50 Shades saga, one must be willing to look past the sexual content, past the content that glares at--and threatens to offend (and succeeds in 95% of the books' content)--the sensibilities of feminists, the religious and otherwise morally shackled, and open the mind to the undercurrent humanistic themes. Themes that prove to be beautiful in their own right.
BalasHapusSeemingly libertine, the audacious genius of James' combination of personal fantasy and heart-felt scenarios is not lost to me. How she manages to achieve this is a testament of her vast, uncompromising imagination.
Christian Grey, the champion of the story, is the embodiment of the apt imagination of E.L. James. Her depiction of his character seems so deliberate and so poignant, as she unravels him with convincing conviction.
For me, he presents as a black and white persona who is a phenomenon within himself. He is intentionally introduced as `the perfect man' with mind-boggling good looks, obscene wealth, philanthropy, environmental awareness, etc. However, he is cloaked by secrets stemming from the trauma of his childhood, which leads him to indulge in maladaptive (though functional) relations with women and perpetual self-loathing. He manages to successfully separate these worlds until the advent of Ana, who launches his grey areas--all 50 of them.
Ana Steele, though capable, presents with her own insecurities but acts as a polish to Grey's character. His worlds collide as he finds himself falling in love with her. As James reveals Grey's secrets and flagrant sexual preferences, she maintains his paralleled perfections, which bolsters the fantasy. He is sexually competent, unwavering in his attention and affection, and relentless in his efforts to keep Ana safe, and sets this as his number one priority. Despite the attributes that make us uncomfortable, Grey's staggering display of passion and emotion allows readers to fall in love with him.
The language, if compared to classics, may seem a little hit and miss, but it achieves a vibrant and interactive telling of an amazing love story. James is deliberate in her paradox and controversy, with ideas and conflicts that are strategically included to get you talking--whether you hate the book or not. More importantly, the overarching triumph of the book is the lesson that regardless of our imperfections, insecurities, secrets, past experiences and heinous consequences, we all possess the desire to touch and be touched--unconditionally.
Please check out my book 50 Something Dates with 17 Mr. Wrongs: Lessons From A Dating Repository
BalasHapusRead the first book, and I was hooked. I'm now halfway through the second book, and it's so addicting. So many twists and dramatic things going on. Can't wait to read the third book.
BalasHapusThe whole trilogy is amazing!! Can't wait for more to come out. The only books I've ever read more then once.
BalasHapus