"...this is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever."
For me, these three books have done exactly that. It took me three days to read them all and I have to admit, despite my initial hesitations, some people really have got their ideas wrong about calling this novel that bad.
It is common knowledge that this trilogy stemmed from a Twilight FanFiction called ' Master of the Universe'. Indeed, all three novels contain very similar aspects to what we see in the Twilight series. Take Ana's friend Jose - he is just a different type of Jacob Black. He will "always be there" for Ana, our protagonist, but then has harboured feelings for her, again much like Mr Black. However, E L James creates a character that is not so whiny as Jacob, which really does help her.
Anastasia Steele herself is not too different to our Twilight heroine Bella Swan. Yes, she may be older at the start of the novel but they have their similarities (notably being an only child, seemingly always being grumpy, and falling for the first man they are attracted to). I know that one novel is meant to spring off the other slightly, but it is nice to see that an argument in Fifty Shades isn't half a book long.
If there could be one character in these novels that showed a different side of life, it would have to be the main man, Mr Christian Grey. Ironic isn't it that after everything he was 'into' that his first name was Christian. Just a side note that I found slightly amusing. Of course, he is a perfectly timed character and thank heavens his entrance in the novel isn't dragged out for too long. His character is intriguing, disturbing and saddening all that the same time - no wonder he refers to himself as "fifty shades of f***ed up". Although he may appear to be similar to Edward Cullen, he doesn't sparkle which can only be a bonus. He does, however, stalk the poor girl...
As an overview of the whole trilogy, I would say that I enjoyed them. The plot may be weak in places and it does seem that a lot of the time the characters are having sex, thinking about sex, or teasing about sex. That does get a bit annoying but the novels are classified as 'erotica' so it can't be helped. I find that by the second book, the reader does get to see more of a plot develop as we delve more into Christian as a character and what issues has affected his life and his 'issues'.
"Obsess" may be a strong word to use when describing the novels. Intrigue would be a better word, even though it may not fit in as well what with the ideas that the books put forward. I think that James has done exceptionally well for a set of books like these to do so well in todays society. It may be better that people are reading something like this that is fully in the public eye instead of hiding away on computers at night finding another source.
Although the trilogy has got some bad rap, being removed from some libraries in America, it is not as bad as it seems. Perhaps they should not be so forward in bookstores though, they are novel porn after all. Despite that, I would still say that they are a decent set of books compared to some stuff that is published these days. I'm now just waiting to see who Hollywood places as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele when they make their presumably '18' rated film in the future. To get the full impact of the novel across on screen, I don't see how they can rate it any other way.
with love
Anonymous x
