Fifty Shades of Grey

Ever since the literature world was taken by storm by the Fifty Shades trilogy, I never had the compunction to read even one of the books. And I simply don't have any explanation for it although I do have the electronic copies of the book stored in my email. A few days ago, I felt a little bit restless and I know re-reading my old books would never satisfy me. So I opened my email and started reading my Fifty Shades of Grey ebook. I started reading around 9 that evening and finished it around 6 the following morning. If you all remember my post about Twilight, you wouldn't be surprised to hear that I stayed up the whole night just to read a book.

Although I didn't become a fan after reading the first book of the Fifty Shades trilogy, there are some things that I'd like to note. For me, the story was very plain (maybe because I've read several chapters of the fan fiction which started the trilogy in the first place). There was nothing incredible about it, well until I got to the ending though. But we'll talk about it in a while.

Now, if you make a conscious effort of just glossing over those scenes which depicts sexual relations, there are several things that you might find out. First of all, why does Christian Grey doesn't want Anastasia Steele to touch his chest? This isn't something that you can find in any male character and it made me think that maybe Christian isn't nearly as perfect as Anastasia views him. The great and invincible Mr. Grey is not really as great and invincible as we would like to think. He has issues from his past that has made him into the man he is.

Let's talk about the ending. I thought the plot was very plain for a book which has sold like hotcakes in the market. However the last few pages of the story caught my eye. I think that the time when Anastasia reacted strongly to Christian after he hit her with the belt six times is the climax of the story. It was at that point that she finally saw Christian for who he is. Throughout the story, Anastasia has only looked at Christian through rose-colored glasses. Oh he is perfect in his impeccable gray suit, or his super sexy white shirt with a few open buttons, or how hot and smoldering his eyes get when looking at her. After the sixth time the belt hit her, reality came crashing--hard. In that moment, Anastasia saw Christian Grey as a man who has his own hang-ups--or probably even more. She realized that he is not capable of loving her the way she wanted to be loved. And try hard as she might, she will never be the woman he wants. And so she leaves him.

After reading the story, I feel a little sympathy for Christian. He did all he could to make Anastasia feel good---loved even, if we allow it. He even admitted that he shared quite a few first times with her. Needless to say, he is slowly working his way from his issues. He just needed enough time to reach an impasse with his own self but Anastasia wanted everything from the get-go. And that's where the problem lies.

So now, I'm reading the second book of the trilogy which is entitled Fifty Shades Darker just to see what happens to their twisted love story. The first few pages were good but I think I'll be seeing more of the "should-I-be-with-him or should-I-stay-away" argument as the story transpires.

if leaving is the right thing to do…

“Don’t you see? That’s what proves me right. I care the most, because if I can do it” – he shook his head, seeming to struggle with the thought – “if leaving is the right thing to do, then I’ll hurt myself to keep from hurting you, to keep you safe.”

Sounds familiar? Well, that quote is from Stephenie Meyer’s famous vampire novel– Twilight. I like it because it follows the “i-love-you-so-much-it-hurts” formula. Not to mention the “you-and-me-against-the-world”, since Bella is a human and Edward is a vampire. Therefore making their love story impossible. And it makes me remember the fairy tales that I so loved when I was younger. You know, Snow White, Cinderella, and all those other princesses, and the ever dashing and handsome Prince Charming. Although now with the exception of Prince Charming, because my Prince Charming now is not a prince riding on a white horse but rather a VAMPIRE driving a silver Volvo. Hehehe! But honestly, I think the reason why so many girls are addicted to the book, and more with the movie, because the storyline clearly depicts what WE have always longed for– LOVE. The true love that would break all boundaries. The love that is willing to sacrifice one’s self for the other’s sake.

(Alice interrupted this time, touching my cheek with her cold fingers. “It’s been almost a century that Edward’s been alone. Now he’s found you. You can’t see the changes that we see, we who have been with him for so long. Do you think any of us want to look into his eyes for the next hundred years if he loses you?”)

That, ladies and gentlemen, is what my reason why so many people are addicted by Twilight.