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Fifty Shades of Grey - E L James
by Taya_star
Fifty Shades of Grey is an easy read that takes you on a linear journey, which follows the relationship between the two protagonists, Anastasia and Christian. It was the first erotic book to go mainstream and has since been followed by many others.
As a story it is not emotionally complex and its popularity falls solely to two ... factors.
1. Anastasia is just a normal girl and manages to bag herself a stupidly rich, incredibly gorgeous specimen of a man who makes incredibly romantic and expensive gestures
2. most of the book explores previously taboo areas of sexual relations.
As my first full erotic novel I did enjoy it, more so enjoyed my friends shocked and embarrassed responses to it. It was an easy read, and the juicy stuff doesn't actually occur until half way through. However once it does it hits you every few pages. Something that gets worse as you read the sequels. It did bore me after a while.
That said I will be first inline to watch the film when it comes out purely to see Christian Grey in the flesh.
I really enjoyed the way the book challenged my own perceptions of what is acceptable in a relations. Quite literally I would be like leave him get out silly girl, then two pages later cooing over the fact he has bought her loubitons.
Reading bared to you novels at the moment which are a similar story, but with more emotional connections to the characters and a much more interesting plot.
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This Is Where I Leave You - Jonathan Tropper
by katyj10
This is a review of the 2010 book "This is where I leave you" by Jonathan Tropper. The book drew me in from the synopsis and it was a really different book to the kind I normally read but I'm so glad I read it, read on to find out why!
A bit about
The book begins with Judd Foxmann walking in on his wife having ... sex with his boss in their bedroom. Then Judd's father dies, all in the first couple of pages. Judd is called home to his family to carry out his father's dying wish to conduct a week of Shiva after his death mourning with his two brothers, sister and his mum... and several hangers on. The family reluctantly draw together and in the space of a week (which is the whole book) so much happens and it is all packed with emotion.
Characters
Judd meets with lots of old school friends when he returns to his childhood home, including a few sweethearts. He is pulled between his obligations to his father and the wish to try and save his marriage or at least find out what's really happened with his wife. His little brother Philip is a dark horse yet all the family love him and continually forgive him for the mistakes he makes. Sister Wendy is a witty yet tired mum with three snotty kids and a husband too busy to care. Paul is Judd's older brother who has never forgiven him for a childhood incident with a dog attack that ruined his sports career. Finally Judd's Mum who is a bit racy and fending off lots of batchelors who are preying on her now her husband has died.
Themes
Religion is a big theme in this book. The family consider themselves lapsed Jews yet are strangely comforted by the Jewish tradition of a seven day sit in for the deceased where they receive countless visits from friends and family to share their condolences and bring food. Love is also another big issue, where all the brothers and sister (and Mum) have a lot going on in their lives with past, present and future loves and losses.
My thoughts
I'm so glad I read this book, it was packed with emotion and a really different book for me to read. The reader is empathetic yet enthralled with Judd's life and dilemmas. Should he stay or go from his wife. Then it gets a bit more complicated but I don't want to give everything away in this review. I heartily recommend this book for reading, especially to get a man's perspective on life and a few tips on how to throw a good punch!
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Belle - Lesley Pearse
by HelenW
In 1910, a young girl named Belle lives in Annie's Place, a brothel run by her mum in Seven Dials and assisted by Mog, the housekeeper. Belle, is a naive and sheltered young lady as she lives in the basement of Annie's place with Mog. She is not allowed above the stairs after 6pm and has very little knowledge of what goes on above the ... stairs. One day, after falling asleep upstairs, she witnesses the murder of one of the girls who works in the brothel. All of a sudden, Belle's comfortable world is thrown into disarray when she discovers what actually happens at Annie's place and sees someone murdered in front of her very own eyes. She is shipped out of England and sold into prostitution in the most brutal way possible. Despite having a horrendous start to adult life, fortunately, Belle has people in Seven Dials who love her and will do anything for her. She also has self confidence, self belief and a determined attitude. But is it enough to make her survive the ordeal that she's suffering?? I don't want to give away any more of the plot, as it is absolutely brilliant and kept me turning the pages!
Upon reading the (very brief) blurb on the back of this book, I was slightly disbelieving that Belle could have been naive as to what goes on upstairs. However, she is so stunned, shocked and scared that the reader really feels the utter terror that Belle experiences. Lesley Pearse's description of Belles fear and the events unfolding in front of her is so incredibly detailed that I was completely immersed in this book. Also, during her initial days after being sold into prostitution, again, you feel Belles terror.
During her time working in prostitution, I realised very suddenly, how much Belle had grown up. I'm not talking in terms of her getting used to her 'job', but more about how much self confidence, belief and courage of her conviction she attains whilst 'working' in such awful circumstances. I think this became most apparent when she leaves Madame Sondheim's, not just for wanting to get away, but making a rational, calculated decision. She is aware that although she begins to enjoy life in New Orleans, surrounded by the glamour of being a courtesan, if can't last forever, with so many threatening factors... what would happen if she became pregnant or caught the pox? Would she end up as one of the down and outs who caught syphilis and in time, became of unsound mind?
I really felt close to Belle during this novel, as it is so well described that you feel all of her emotions and you really want her to succeed and to become her own person, away from the people who 'own' her. However, the one person that really struck me was Etienne. At the beginning, when he is painted through Belles much younger eyes, as being the low-life who escorted her from France to New Orleans, it was difficult to like him. However, during the voyage you could really see the softer side of him coming to the fore. Later in the story, he changes completely with the events which unfold and at this point, I realised what a good hearted person he is, caught up in terrible circumstances. I really felt his pain for the loss he suffers. Lesley Pearse makes it easy for you to be able to sympathise with what he is also going through.
What I liked about this book was the way in which Belle, despite being in awful circumstances, is surrounded by people who want to help her. Although they don't appear outwardly to be her saviour, they all play their part in her life.
This book grabbed my attention from the beginning, I was absolutely hooked on it until the end, and included several nights of me reading in bed almost with matchstick propping up my eyes as I just HAD TO KNOW what happened!
I purchased this book for just £1.50 from Oxfam, which is an absolute bargain. I am going to purchase the sequel, as I now can't stop myself from finding out the rest of her story. This book is available on Amazon for £5.99, which even at this price, I would highly recommend it!
I'd not read or really seen any Lesley Pearce books, however, a search shows that her books tend to have a standard theme, of a close up of a female on the front cover. This may be the protagonist of each book, certainly the picture on the front of this book matches the description of Belle!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, and I will certainly be reading the sequel!
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