Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James
Genre: Erotica Romance
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 2011
Format: Kindle
Pages: 540
Source: Amazon
Buy: $5 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

WARNING: This is a review of an erotica novel so don't read the review if you don't like that. This review may also contain direct quotes from the novel.

Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, `Fifty Shades of Grey` is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever. When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind - until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out. Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more. But Grey is tormented by inner demons, and consumed by the need to control. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Grey keeps hidden away from public view... - Book Depository

This book is good and bad for many reasons. I liked it because it had a decent plot/storyline and just enough drama to keep me interested. Though there was so many problems with this book. The writing was terrible and after about 40% of it, I was sick of it; here's why:

The writing was okay up until the sex scenes when there would be so many overused phrases e.g: gasped, holy fuck (any other variation on 'holy') and "I felt it down there". Really? Down there? If this is an erotic novel the least it could have was the damn scientifically correct words for 'down there'. Also, when she was angry with Christian or unsure of what to do, her 'inner goddess' would come out and her 'conscience' would hide. What is that? It was beyond annoying!

There was some plot issues also. Since when is a Mac-Book the latest technology? Also who doesn't have an email address? This is in reference to when Christian bought her a computer and set up an email for her.

I hated Ana more than words can describe. Though, I did find Christian to be very interesting. Why is he the way he is? etc. Christian is probably the reason I kept reading. Don't get me wrong though, he is not the type of guy you will fall in love with.

The whole book was literally just Ana arguing with herself about weather she should consent to the BDSM relationship with Christian. I just wanted to shake her and scream at her to consent because it's obvious she does somewhere along the lines considering there is a whole trilogy.

I won't bother with the Twilight similarities because there wasn't many. It definitely didn't take away from the story so don't let that affect your thoughts on this book.

Though there was a nice bit of drama, Christian was interesting and kept me interested for the most part. Read it if you like, if you don't, oh well.

Musing Mondays #6

Musing Mondays is a meme hosted by Should be Reading.

Have you ever read a book that, at the time, you didn’t feel a strong connection towards, but as time goes by you find yourself thinking about it a lot?

Yes! This has happened to me on several occasions, though I can only recall one book which I read recently that made me feel like that; Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. I heard so many great things about this book and when I read it I didn't think much of it. I am still thinking about it, 3 weeks later and Tyler Durden is still lingering in my mind.

Has this ever happened to you? Let me know in the comments! 

Showcase Sunday #1

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea. It is an opportunity to show off the books you have recently acquired. Whether it was purchased, gifted, borrowed or sent for review, you can display it here.

*I am swapping this meme for Friday Finds.

 The Stand by Stephen King (purchased)

A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon (purchased)

2nd Chance by James Patterson (bookmooch)

3rd Degree by James Patterson (bookmooch)

Friends Forever by Danielle Steel (for review)

 

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
Genre: Literary fiction
Age Group: Adults
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 2010
First Published: 2003
Format: Paperback
Pages: 180
Source: Book Depository
Buy: $9 with free delivery
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

He is a brilliant maths professor with a peculiar problem - ever since a traumatic head injury seventeen years ago, he has lived with only eighty minutes of short-term memory. She is a sensitive but astute young housekeeper who is entrusted to take care of him. Each morning, as the Professor and the Housekeeper are reintroduced to one another, a strange, beautiful relationship blossoms between them. The Professor may not remember what he had for breakfast, but his mind is still alive with elegant equations from the past. He devises clever maths riddles - based on her shoe size or her birthday - and the numbers reveal a sheltering and poetic world to both the Housekeeper and her ten-year-old son. With each new equation, the three lost souls forge an affection more mysterious than imaginary numbers, and a bond that runs deeper than memory. - Book Depository

 This book was beyond amazing! I enjoyed it much more than I expected and it was just great. I found it very hard to put down and I read it in just a day. But, keep in mind, this book is not action packed, full of suspense or anything else a commercial novel may have. It is very much character driven.

Although, it's character driven, none of the characters in this book have names. The housekeeper is simply the housekeeper, the professor, again, is simply the professor and the housekeeper's son is referred to as Root: a nickname he obtained from the professor because his hat is flat like a square root sign. There is also another character whom appears only a handful of times; the sister-in-law. This definitely made it more personal for the reader because these characters could literally be anyone.

The professor seems to have a problem with keeping housekeepers. At the beginning of the book it is noted that the professor has had nine housekeepers which have previously quit their job. Predictably the housekeeper we are presented with seems to find it easy and enjoys working with the professor. The professor is a very loving man. He can be a bit snappy but a lot of the time he is very polite and nice. He also loves Root's company. A very strong bond grows between Root and the professor throughout this book.

As the professor is a maths professor, there was a lot of equations throughout this book. For someone who hates maths, I didn't find it overpowering. I thought it was a nice, simple touch to add to the book. Numbers are basically the professor's only friends and he also admits this fact in the book.

This book was sad for a few reasons. The professor was such a recluse. He didn't know how to act around people and whenever he got frustrated or anxious he resorted to numbers. When he was out in public, this didn't work. This made me feel sorry for him. He seemed also to be a very lonely man and this is touched on in the book. Also, the ending. Not what I was expecting but it was still very sad.

If you're looking for a nice, easy but touching read, this is for you.

Teaser Tuesday #6

Teaser Tuesdays is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Grab a book you're currently reading and post a teaser (no spoilers) to persuade others to read the book.

I do as he asks, and he binds my wrists together with his tie, knotting it firmly. His eyes are bright with wild excitement. He tugs at the binding. It's secure. - 26% Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James