Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James

So I'm sure by now that most of you have heard of this little book.  It first crossed my radar around the end of last year when Goodreads was having their 2011 Book of the Year voting.  I noticed it had a ridiculously high rating compared to the number of reviews it had.  I figured it must be a really good book, right?

I got it from Amazon and read it even though Romance/Erotica generally isn't my gig.  I totally shift all that to Kari because I just don't care for it.   I thought I'd go out on a limb though and see what all the fuss was about. 

The book aggravated me from start to finish.  I hated the characters.  I hated their actions.  I hated their inability to make a decision.  I didn't like the fact that Christian was supposed to be this big bad BDSM master and was getting bossed around by his supposed sub. 

Then the book got published by Vintage and the movie rights got picked up.  That opened a whole pandora's box.  I think most authors were ok when the book was just an ebook, but once it went mainstream there were a whole lot of pissed off authors ready to start speaking their mind about Fifty Shades and it's history.  For those that don't know it was originally written as Twilight fanfiction and then tweaked and the names changed now you have Fifty Shades.  There are a lot of questions about what lines have been crossed.  Dear Author has several articles about the controversy.

Kari's Take:

If you follow this blog, you know I am the romance reader.  I read most anything. M/F, M/M, and I have even reviewed some menage stories.  So, when Autumn told me about the controversy and buzz behind Fifty Shades of Grey, I figured I'd give it a try. I am all for debut authors and I know that in this business it is hard to get your stuff out there.  I give anyone props for being able to write a book, since I know I am not a writer.  That being said, I really feel like you either have it or you don't.  This is why I am baffled as to how this author got a big contract and why everyone is so gaga over this book. I have to wonder what editor thought this book was good enough for big money. 

I'll admit, I didn't finish the book.  Not only was the story just all wrong, the writing was horrible and very juvenile. The conversations felt forced and really lacked substance. The characters felt very immature to me and were so flat that I didn't care for any of them. I was bored and never felt any attraction between Christian and Ana.  I only knew there was one because the author kept pointing it out to me.

The story, as a whole, was ridiculous.  First, if you have the flu, you find someone on the magazine staff to go interview the guy, not your roommate who has no experience.  Second, Christian repeatedly tells Ana that he is no good for her and to stay away from him.  But, then he stalks her.  He follows her and sends her gifts.  Talk about a mixed message.  And don't get me started on the whole drunk Ana scene.  That was over the top. After she gets drunk and throws up on him, he takes her to his house far away and presents her with a non-disclosure contract. Wait, what?  You see, he is into BDSM and wants it to be their little secret. This comes out of the blue seeing as how he has only kissed her like once in the elevator. He wants her to be his sub and tells her there will be no emotion behind it.  She agrees after reading a ridiculous set of rules.  Then comes the surprise... wait for it.....She is a Virgin.  Of course she is and, of course, no one has EVER made her feel remotely sexual until now.  No problem, he will just pop that cherry in a gentle, kind way, but after that it's all Dom/sub and I only want to sleep with you and I will be mean to you.

At this point I stopped reading.  I couldn't take it anymore. I especially had no interest in trying to read through three books with this theme running through it.  I'm not really sure why this book is getting so many good reviews. But, I guess to each his own, right?  IMHO, if you want to read erotica, there are SO many better authors out there to start with such as Lori Leigh, Shiloh Walker, and even Anne Rice's early erotica was better than this book. I have also reviewed a number of erotica authors on this blog who have put out much better works.  Do yourself a favor, check one of those out and skip this one.

Autumn's Final Thoughts:  Kari's right, when I first told her about this book, when I was trying to describe it, I think I said it was YA BDSM erotica....if YA could have such a thing.  It was just ridiculous!  Don't even get me started on the stalker thing.  What is up with that in the YA genre?  (And yes, I think this book is YA all the way.)  Why do we think it's ok?  Why does the main character always fall in love with her stalker?   Anyway....different subject for a different day!  I thought it was crazy how this book went from an insignificant little ebook that neither of us liked to being on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and we decided to finally share our thoughts on it with all of y'all.  What are your thoughts on Shades of Grey?

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

by:  Joshilyn Jackson
published by:  Grand Central Publishing
publish date:  May 26, 2009

While Laurel's life seems neatly on track-- a passionate marriage, a treasured daughter, a lovely suburban home-- everything she holds dear is threatened the night she is visited by the ghost of her 13-year-old neighbor Molly. The ghost leads Laurel to the real Molly, floating lifelessly in the Hawthorne's backyard pool. Molly's death is an unseemly mystery that no one in her whitewashed neighborhood is up to solving. Laurel enlists her sister, Thalia's help, even though she knows it comes with a high price tag. 

Together, they set out on a life-altering journey that triggers startling revelations about their family's haunted past, the true state of Laurel's marriage, and the girl who stopped swimming.

I haven't made any secret of being a Joshilyn Jackson fangirl.  I've read recent releases so when I found this older book for audio download at the library, I was pretty happy.   A bonus surprise was that it was read by Joshilyn Jackson.  She does a fantastic job. 

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming was just as fantastic as her newer books.  I listened to the author interview at the end and I was really surprised to learn that it took 15 years to write from idea to finish.  That gives me hope that all the story ideas kicking around in my head might actually get down on paper some day.

In the beginning of this book I was really frustrated with both Thalia and Laurel for assuming each other's life was less than perfect.  Thalia was making me mad because she kept belittling Laurel for being a housewife like that made her less than a whole person.  These differences do eventually resolve themselves to some degree, but I was an interesting dynamic in the book.

Quilters take note: Laurel is a quilter and she makes some really bizarre quilts.  I would be very interested to see what some of them actually look like in real life.  I was curious to know what her inspiration was for them.  I could see Thalia making quilts described in the book, but it seemed strange for Laurel.

Bottom line, definitely recommend for the chick lit fans, Southern fiction fans, and the mystery lovers.  I have one JJ book to go and I almost don't want to read it so my journey won't be over.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

by:  Libba Bray
published by:  Scholastic Press
publish date:  May 24, 2011

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program - or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan - or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

I saw that this book got a lot of negative reviews and I get it, but I LOVED it!  If you haven't read it, get the audiobook, it's read by Libba Bray herself and it's fantastic. 

Beauty Queens pokes a stick at all things right and wrong with the pageant system.  This book is especially relevant right now with the transgendered Miss Universe contestant controversy.  Beauty Queens also explores that very topic.  Along with starting girls in the pageant system at very young ages which we get to see in our beloved show Toddlers and Tiaras.

Speaking of Tiara, she's my favorite character in this book.  If it's ever made into a movie, which I fully support, my vote is for Alexandria Deberry to play the part of Tiara.  She's currently on the show ANT Farm on Disney and she plays a similar role very well. 

This book is very funny, very sarcastic, and completely unexpected.  There are a lot of social issues tackled in this book that are done in a very surprising way.  Because of that and sex and language, I would recommend it for older YAs.

Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Kretnz

Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

Publisher: Putnam Adult

Date of publication: January 2012

Within the pages of very rare books some centuries old lie the secrets of the paranormal. Abby Radwell's unusual psychic talent has made her an expert in such volumes-and sometimes taken her into dangerous territory. After a deadly incident in the private library of an obsessive collector, Abby receives a blackmail threat, and rumors swirl that an old alchemical text known as The Key has reappeared on the black market.

Convinced that she needs an investigator who can also play bodyguard, she hires Sam Coppersmith, a specialist in paranormal crystals and amber-"hot rocks." Passion flares immediately between them, but neither entirely trusts the other. When it comes to dealing with a killer who has paranormal abilities, and a blackmailer who will stop at nothing to obtain an ancient alchemical code, no one is safe.

Copper Beach starts off a new trilogy for Ms. Krentz.  She has gotten away from the Arcane society (well kind of) and the trilogies that span across her 3 writing genres.  I will admit that this one felt more like her Harmony series set in our time and world.  Some of the things that happen in this book were reminiscent of the technology in the futuristic Harmony series. (for example: the crystals and amber)

I was hoping that Copper Beach would be a nice change from what she has been writing lately. But, sadly, this is pretty much the same old thing without the Arcane society in it.  The hero and heroine have strong and unique psychic abilities and they find out the they are meant for each other because their energies mesh so well together.   The mystery was OK but nothing overly exciting. (I miss Ms. Krentz's straight romantic suspense.) I did like Sam and Abby together though.  They were about the only thing that saved this book for me.  I'll probably listen to the next one in the trilogy, but I'm not overly excited for it.

Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

by:  Adam Rex
published by:  Balzer + Bray
publish date:  July 27, 2010

Doug Lee is undead quite by accident--attacked by a desperate vampire, he finds himself cursed with being fat and 15 forever. Then he meets the new Indian exchange student and falls for her--hard. Yeah, he wants to bite her, but he also wants to prove himself to her.

I've had this book on my shelf for quite awhile and I've wanted to read it, but it's just kept getting skipped over.  When I found the audiobook at the library, I knew that was the sign that it was time to get it off the shelf.  The audiobook was very well done, well acted out.

The story for the most part was good.  It was really funny.  Fat Vampire is a spoof on the traditional vampire story.  The sexy vampire thing isn't happening here.  It kinda made me think of that old movie Once Bitten. 

There was a lot going on with Sejal, the exchange student.  However, I ended up being kinda disappointed that there was nothing paranormal going on with her.  It seemed like there was some kind of build up to it, that there was something secret she was hiding, but it turned out to be nothing of consequence to the story.  It was like a big dud to me.

Fat Vampire was a good break from all the serious books I tend to read.  It was fun to listen to silliness for a change.  I noticed after that I've started looking more in the Humor section of the audiobooks.  What other humorous books did you enjoy?

Celebrity in Death by JD Robb

Author: J D RObb

Publisher: Putnam Adult

Date of publication: February 2012

 

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is no party girl, but she's managing to have a reasonably good time at the celebrity-packed bash celebrating The Icove Agenda, a film based on one of her famous cases. It's a little spooky seeing the actress playing her, who looks almost like her long-lost twin. Not as unsettling, though, as seeing the actress who plays Peabody drowned in the lap pool on the roof of the director's luxury building. Now she's at the center of a crime scene-and Eve is more than ready to get out of her high heels and strap on her holster and step into the role she was born to play: cop.

Celebrity in Death is the latest in the adventures of Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke.  I was happy to see that this one was a lot lighter.  After the emotional roller coaster that I was taken on in New York to Dallas, it was a nice change of pace.  Ms. Robb gets back to her basic formula in this one.  There is a lot more of the team as a whole which was missing in the last book.  So, that was a nice change as well. As in all of the "in Death" books, there is a lot of humor mixed in, especially when Eve is trying to navigate her social obligations.  The scene with baby Bella was very endearing.


Is this the best of the "in Death" books?  Not really, but I was still entertained. There wasn't a whole lot going on in this book. It was a pretty straight forward police procedural. Although, I will admit the mystery of who killed the actress was not easy to figure out.  I definitely didn't see it coming.  There are a few twists thrown in that made the story interesting.  Eve and Roarke's relationship still continues to grow and still pretty steamy.  Peabody and McNabb also have some pretty nice scenes together.  It was nice to catch up with them.  I listened to the audio and was happy to see Susan Erickson was still narrating!
 

Throwback Thursday - 2 in one Nora Roberts novellas

I have 2 novellas by Nora Roberts today:

Ever After

Publisher:Jove Mass Market Paperback

First published in 1999 in the anthology Once Upon a Star

This compelling story by #1 "New York Times"-bestselling author Nora Roberts was originally published in the romance anthology "Once Upon a Star." Wearing an ancient star pendant, an enchanting woman journeys to an otherworldly land--and introduces a skeptical stranger to the magical powers of love.

Ever After was originally published in the anthology, Once Upon a Star, which features novellas by Nora Roberts, Jill Gregory, Ruth Ryan Langan, and Marianne Willman. It was recently released on audiobook.  There are only 3 discs so it is a really fast listen.  It was a nice little story about fate and destiny with a bit of a supernatural twist thrown in to the mix.  Elaine seems to be good at nothing, yet in her search for finding a place to fit in, she gains a ton of knowledge about a lot of things.  She just needed someone to point this out to her. This is where Connall comes in. He has hidden himself away on his family's island trying to ignore his destiny. I'm not sure I bought into Elaine falling in love with Connall after like 5 minutes.  I believed Connell's reluctance to buy into fate a bit more.Still, I liked them together and was rooting for them in the end. If you are looking for something light and easy to listen to on your ride into work, try this one out.

 

Winter Rose

Publisher:Jove Mass Market Paperback

First published in 2001 in the anthology Once Upon a Rose

On a remote island cursed with eternal winter, a young queen heals a wounded soldier--and warms her heart with the joys of true love.

Winter Rose is another novella that was published in an anthology.  Once Upon a Rose also features works by Jill Gregory, Ruth Ryan Langan, and Marianne Willman.  Winter Rose is a slight take on the Beauty and the Beast theme, except the princess is not a beast, she just does not have the capacity to love after being cursed by an evil aunt.  Prince Kyle stumbles into her kingdom which is forever encased in snow.  I think I liked this one better than Ever After.  I bought into the fairy tale and I do love a good fairy tale.  I think that this one could have made a good longer book had there been more background about Kyle.  I always want more with novellas.  This one is also 3 discs, so it is a very quick listen. Try it out!

Indelible by Kristin Heitzman

Author: Kristen Heitzmann
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Date of Publication: May 2011


In a clash of light and darkness, can courage prevail? 
Rescuing a toddler from the jaws of a mountain lion, Trevor MacDaniel, a high-country outfi tter, sets in motion events he can’t foresee. His act of bravery entwines his life with gifted sculptor Natalie Reeve—and attracts a grim admirer.
 
Trevor’s need to guard and protect is born of tragedy, prompting his decision to become a search and rescue volunteer. Natalie’s gift of sculpting comes from an unusual disability that seeks release through her creative hands. In each other they see strength and courage as they face an incomprehensible foe.
 
When a troubled soul views Trevor as archangel and adversary, Redford’s peaceful mountain community is threatened. Together with Police Chief Jonah Westfall, Trevor presses his limits to combat the menace who targets the most helpless and innocent.


This is one of those instances where I wish that there was a disclaimer indicating the novel I am about to read is a sequel.  I have mixed feelings about Indelible because of this.  Overall, I enjoyed the book.  It was well written and the characters were very likable.  The mystery was interesting enough to keep my interest up.  It wasn't easy to figure out and that is always a plus.  


I also enjoyed the relationship between Trevor and Natalie.  Both have some major baggage and approach the relationship with trepidation.  I liked that they took things slow and worked to build up the trust that they needed for their relationship to work.  I was rooting for them to make it.  Natalie's gift was pretty unique and crippling at times.  I really felt for her.

The major issue I had with the book was that I often felt like I was missing major back story on some of the characters. I probably would have gotten this had I read Indivisible. That is the book that features Jonah's story.  Because of this, the book didn't flow as well as it could have for me.  I didn't get the "stand alone" feel that some sequels give me.  Despite that, I would recommend this one. I just think you might want to read Indivisible first.

The Story of Beautiful Girl

by:  Rachel Simon
published by:  Grand Central Publishing
publish date:  May 24, 2011

It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her." And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia-lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love.

This was one of those books that frustrated me, because so many people absolutely loved it and I was just kinda let down by it.

In thinking it over, I think the aspect that bothered me the most was that I think I have more faith in people.  Homan could have done more.  He was smarter than his actions showed.  That not being able to sign with people just because you learned a different "dialect" is kinda dumb.  There's still pointing to items and pantomiming and drawing pictures.  It's not a completely different language here.  Also, I never understood Lynnie not wanting to know anything about her child.  I understand not wanting to get caught, but she love her and and I think that she would have wanted to know.  It didn't make sense to me.

And I had so many questions in the end.  How did Homan know which lighthouse it was in the end?  There are lighthouse everywhere and he had no point of reference.  He couldn't find his way back to the mental institute for years and years, but he could pinpoint a single lighthouse? Where did he get all the money?  Was the drug money really that much?  How did Lynnie come to be in possession of the letters?  Why didn't Julia get them?

There's a lot of positive information out there about this book, and honestly it was an interesting read, but it just didn't do it for me.

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

by:  Bethany Griffin
published by:
publish date:  April 24, 2012

Everything is in ruins.  A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?  Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

I really like the YA post apocalyptic dystopian genre, but I'm really starting to get bored with it. They're starting to get entirely too formulaic. There's always an evil government plot, always a rebellion, always a deeply flawed female main character who gets involved with 2 gorgeous guys. How many recent books fit into that description?

On to this book in particular, there were elements that I did enjoy. I liked that the city was never named. It could be anywhere at any time. The editor said it was a mix between Paris and New Orleans. I could see the influences of New Orleans here and there.  There were few reference points to help pin down a specific time period as well.

I'm not a big steampunk fan, but I liked the elements of it in this book. There were a interesting devices, but mainly I liked the fashion. Araby wasn't too much of a fashion victim, but her friend April was heavily in to the club scene, so her clothes were always interesting.

Once again this is obviously part of a series/trilogy, the ending was left hanging so any conclusion would have to come about in a future book. 

Gideon's Corpse by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Authors: Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Audiobook: Hachette Audio
Date of publication: January 2012


A top nuclear scientist goes mad and takes an innocent family hostage at gunpoint, killing one and causing a massive standoff.
A plume of radiation above New York City leads to a warehouse where, it seems, a powerful nuclear bomb was assembled just hours before.
Sifting through the evidence, authorities determine that the unthinkable is about to happen: in ten days, a major American city will be vaporized by a terrorist attack.
Ten days. And Gideon Crew, tracking the mysterious terrorist cell from the suburbs of New York to the mountains of New Mexico, learns the end may be something worse--far worse--than mere Armageddon. 

Gideon's Corpse is the second in the Gideon Crew series by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child.  Autumn and I both reviewed the first one, Gideon's Sword, last year.   The second book in a series can always be iffy for me, especially if I really liked the first one.  While I didn't love Gideon's Corpse, I still thought it was an enjoyable book.

This one picks up right where the first one left off.  Gideon is asked to try to talk a former colleague out of a hostage situation.  When that goes badly, he finds himself in the middle of a terrorist plot with only 10 days to stop it.  The mystery of who is trying to start a war on American soil was pretty good.  With a couple of possibilities on the table, I wasn't truly sure who was behind it. There were also a few twists that I liked.  Gideon's Corpse also has some great action scenes that helped to build the tension.

Gideon is pretty much the same in this book.  He is still good looking, a great liar and master of disguise. The thing that appeals to me most about Gideon is that he isn't the perfect alpha male.  He just seems real and is a pretty nice guy.  He has flaws and messes up all the time.  He even has an unknown amount of time left to live.  The blockage in his brain could burst at any time.  What I would love to see is for him to find a girlfriend.  So far, his track record hasn't been that great.  One thing that did bother be about the book is that the "romance" in the book felt forced and probably could have been left out.

I listened to the audio and I enjoyed the narrator. As in the first book, this one ends with a clue as to the next of Gideon's adventures.  I look forward to seeing what trouble he can get into next!