Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Title: Fifty Shades of Grey
Author: E.L. James

Publisher: Vintage (April 3, 2012)
Page Number: 528 pages
Rating: Seal Those Bindings (for the sluts in literature)

Synopsis
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


Review

Alright, so I filmed a reaction to this novel, but I didn't fully review it. I find that through reviewing it, I would have to talk about the effectiveness of this novel, which I did not really want to talk about on YouTube. 


There's a difference in being able to hide behind words as opposed to being watched in a video. It's easy to be shameless on a blog post rather than a video, because no one actually sees me.


That being said, I will be more direct in this review, so be warned. 


I did not like this book at the very least. I found it bland, boring, and hilarious (which is not something to be said about erotica). I did not think James succeeded into really opening people's mind into this type of sexual lifestyle, and frankly, it just made BDSM seem funny! 


It was not arousing at the very least. 


The fact that this book is based off Twilight did not really put me off from reading it, it just made me see the similarities clearer. Christian and Anastasia are very much the epitome of Edward and Bella in a non-supernatural world and it made the work seem more unoriginal.   I find that there is no character development whatsoever and that Anastasia's rash and stupid decisions made the book easy to hate. I also think that James wrote down a bunch of seemingly sexy characteristics to match Christian, but because they do not hold much ground, his character had no substance.


I find that there doesn't seem to be much of a plot line and it is  a story that is to be read plainly for the sex. And even then, the sex was not really all that great. I feel like I've read it all before and yes, it is kinky, but that's it. There's nothing else behind it.


Frankly E.L. James is better off sticking to writing fanfiction. And although this book is a bestseller, it's not a brilliant piece of work and it never will be.

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris

Release Date: July 7, 2009

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Page Count: 272

Rating: BURN THOSE PAGES

It has been awhile, I know, I know. There is no need for any explanations of my hiatus, so diving into a review would be the best idea. Any questions? No, good. 

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris tells the story of four teenagers who make a pact to commit suicide after a road trip through America, by visiting grave sites of famous people who have committed suicide. These set of four: Owen, Audrey, Frank and Jin-Ae are thrust into a world of misunderstanding and depression, and through this road trip they learn to cope with their lives as well as themselves. In this story, these four teenagers learn whether or not suicide is the best option for themselves and the rest of their peers.

Now that I have discussed that in a nutshell, it is probably best to warn you that this book is heavy on the suicide. It leaks of suicide juice and it will not cease to leak. It is depressing (and not in a good way) and it is a VERY boring book. I am not one to really hate on books, but I find that this book is just dreadful. I find that Albert Borris does not depict suicide well, and it doesn't discourage people from committing the act. It is extremely disappointing, and I am glad that I only bought this book for four dollars.

I find that suicide in books--especially in young adult---needs to be represented right because a lot of teens are contemplating suicide, and I don't support it. The problem with this book is that is that it is like reading a rock. It is dull and lifeless, and I just feel that it is a book of nothingness. 

The characters are dull. Everything is dull. Even the trips are dull. I mean, seriously, who visits a stinkin' gravesite and expects enjoyment? NO ONE. 

This book is definitely not recommended for readers. Do not waste your time.

Between by Cyndi Tefft

Title: Between

Author: Cyndi Tefft

Release Date: April 5, 2011

Publisher: Self-Published

Page Number: 252

Sequel: Hell Transporter

Video Review (because I say other things too!)
SYNOPSIS

         I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading “Between.” All I know was that I really wanted to read it, because it sounds amazing! I have never read a self-published novel and I didn’t know what to expect. I’m proud to say I wasn’t disappointed!

         “Between” isn’t the best novel that I have ever read, but it isn’t the worst either. I found that there are elements in the novel that I find entertaining, and yet there are some that I find downright irritating. However, to start this off positively, it is obvious that I am really fond of the idealism in this story. I want to find love like Lindsey and Aiden's so easily. I want there to be that one guy that I see in which I instantly know that he is “the one." In this book, everything appears easy, and it’s great to read novels like this every once in a while.

         Although I liked the novel’s general idea of love and romance, I wasn’t too keen on the pacing and the characters. The pacing of the novel is a little too fast for my taste and I found myself constantly overwhelmed by the information that rains down on me from page one. It appears that the plot doesn’t necessarily flow from point A to point B, but instead it just literally goes from point A to point B.
        Moving on to the characters, I find that I couldn’t relate to Lindsey as much as I’d like, because I just don’t see myself the same way she views herself. In truth, however, I might be wrong considering that I couldn’t find her relatable during the times when she’s in love (an emotion I’m nowhere close to experiencing).
         I am okay with Aiden. I do not love him as much as I love Four, Patch, or Jace, but he is quite the charmer. I love his presence around Lindsey’s, and their interactions are just plain adorable.

         What I also enjoyed are the interactions between every one of the characters. They’re fun, simple, and not too complicated. “Between” is a novel where I would love to just substitute my name for Lindsey’s and the guy I like’s name for Aiden’s, because the canoodling is definitely HOT which I would one day love to experience.

         All in all, I enjoyed “Between” because I love feeling the feeling of being in love. It’s something new and foreign to me and I’m glad it’s the focus of the book. It has definitely sparked the idea in my mind that I should give self-published books a shot, because some of them like, “Between” are worth it!

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

Information:

Title: Shift

Series: Shade Trilogy

Author: Jeri Smith-Ready

Release Date: May 3, 2011

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Page Number: 384

Sequel: Shine (2012)

Buy Shift: Amazon

Video Review (Because I say other things too)

Grabbing Line: Do you love her enough to let her go?

Synopsis:

Aura’s love has brought Logan back from being a shade. But now that he’s a violet-hued ghost again, Aura is more confused than ever. She wants to be there for Logan and support him as a friend, but their relationship will come at the expense of her relationship with Zachary, her very alive, very handsome, very Scottish research partner. Both boys hold a piece of her heart—and secrets that can help Aura unlock the mysteries of the Shift and of her past. Aura must decide between the two or risk losing them both. But how?

Synopsis from Amazon

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Title: Nevermore

Author: Kelly Creagh

Release Date: August 31^st 2011

Publisher: Athenum Books for Young Readers

Page Number: 560

Buy Nevermore: Amazon

SYNOPSIS from GOODREADS

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee

Artichoke’s Heart by Suzanne Supplee

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Title: Artichoke’s Heart  

Author: Suzanne Supplee

Release Date: June 12, 2008

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Page Number: 224 Pages

Buy Here: Artichoke's Heart

Product Description:

Blubber meets Steel Magnolias in this funny and honest story about body image and family.

Rosemary Goode is smart and funny and loyal and the best eyebrow waxer in Spring Hill, Tennessee. But only one thing seems to matter to anyone, including Rosemary: her weight. And when your mom runs the most successful (and gossipy) beauty shop in town, it can be hard to keep a low profile. Rosemary resolves to lose the weight, but her journey turns out to be about everything but the scale. Her life-changing, waist-shrinking year is captured with brutal honesty and humor, topped with an extralarge helping of Southern charm. A truly uncommon novel about an increasingly common problem.

Dear, Author: Suzanne Supplee

So, I decided that I would really love to do this sort of thing where if I email an author and tell him/her how much I loved their book, I will share it with y'all!

In account of Artichoke's Heart, here is what I wrote to Suzanne Supplee:

Hi Suzanne!

I really love your novels although I only own Artichoke's Heart and Somebody Everybody Listens To. I really love both of them especially Artichoke because it's really inspiring! I was able to come to certain terms about my self consciousness And it helped me alot! I also recommended it to my friend, Giselle who only reads Manga and she loved it! We still rave about it after reading it years ago. I'm really glad that you wrote that novel because it's really relatable and my friend and I really  connected to it because we both had issues with our weight. 

I also really liked Somebody Everybody Listens to but it didn't affect me like Artichoke did, although I really cried in the end of Somebody Everybody Listens to .

Thanks for writing amazing novels! I'm looking forward to your next one :) when are you going to come out with another?

I'm also wondering, not to be rude, but if you have any signed swag or bookplates? I'll be glad to send a self addressed stamped envelope :) [She did not address this question, so I guess that's a no, but that's okay!]

Thanks, 
Malyza Caballero 




Her response:


Hi Malyza,

Thank you SO much for writing to me!  Sorry it's taken a while to get back to you.  Your kind compliments are much appreciated, though.  Always so good to hear I made a reader happy…or…uh…made her cry.  Sorry about that part, but I will say that I cried while writing that ending, too.  Writing is a strange business.

Hope you're having a terrific summer, and please know how much it means that you took the time to write to me.  Thank you!

xo,

Suzanne

She's really sweet and she writes really great books! Check 'em out 


Buy: Artichoke's Heart
Buy: When Irish Guys Are Smiling
Buy: Somebody Everybody Listens To (Hardcover)
Buy: Somebody Everybody Listens To (Paperback)