Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

Finally! Done with this sick, wicked, beyond-erotic trilogy. Whew!

1. Vivid words are vivid. My gawd, E.L. James, you are a one experienced woman!
2. Anastasia Steele, I don’t know, but you’ve matured. And I see Dakota Blue Richards playing your role.
3. Christian Grey, you sweet sweet dark pretty boy.  You never fail to make the girls faint over your illegal steamy eyes and smile. If only they knew how cromantic* you are. (*creepy romantic) Aaaaaand I think there’s something wrong with me, but your overprotectiveness is downright hot. Please, stop looking at girls like that! *squirms* WILL SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW COULD SUCH TALENT, WIT, ECCENTRICITY AND ROMANTICISM BE IN ONE MAN?!
4. At least for this book, the conflict is pretty much logical. Of course, we have a big shot business tycoon with a blackmail-worthy lifestyle. People bringing him down is inevitable!
5. Kids. Not sure if I’m fond of kids. But that’s what freed our very dark Fifty. Honestly, I thought the word “freed” in the title meant that Grey’s gonna bid farewell to the world. That’s very cynical of me, I know.
6. As usual, I skimmed all the “matured” parts of the book. I just had to. Haha!

Goodbye, innocence! I kidddddd!

Reading Challenge: 12 out of 30

Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James

Photo from goodreads.com

Random feelings on Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James:

1. It’s comforting to know that Christian Grey has a different side–playful, romantic, smiling, laughing. As if his darkness has been dispersed.
2. “I just need you one more time, I can’t get what we had off my mind. Where are you now, when I need you around? I’m on my knees but it seems we’re going nowhere fast…” Soooo Usher’s Climax plays on loop in my head when Christian Grey was threatened by Anastasia’s inclination to leave him due to his unmet needs. That scene was just too heartbreaking for me. Too heartbreaking. For someone so domineering to resort to being a submissive just to convince a girl to stay, this is BIG TIME.
3. All the stuff I needed to understand in book one were explained here. Thank heavens. If those weren’t disclosed at all, I would stop reading this novel in a heartbeat. Hahaha!
4. Still, I skipped the parts where they indulge in luxurious intercourse. With all the paraphernalia and whatnot…
5. The love-making was sweet, passionate and James’ writing was tolerable. But please, I’m really not into the Red Room of Pain. LOL
6. The safety threat in this book is utterly ridiculous. You have a security team and yet they couldn’t seem to trace the whereabouts of a psycho? Let alone guard your pad? Funny!
7. WHY DOES EVERY LOVE STORY HAVE TO INCLUDE MARRIAGE IN THE EQUATION? It’s the start of the end, guys! LOL

I’m now reading Fifty Shades Freed (book three) and so far, book two is the most tolerable/exciting read. Lalala~ I really am not fond of married couples.

Okay, enough of my tirade against marriage. If you guys stopped reading book one because of inexplicable disgust, you must go on and read book two. It’s quite lovely. You can always skip the matured content if you’re uncomfortable with it.

Reading Challenge: 11 out of 30

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Photo from ew.com

Has it been months since I was finding the right book that will trump the tension in Thoughtless? I guess so. And I actually did just by the start of summer.

I’ve been quite curious about the Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James as it’s always categorized in the same Goodreads lists as Beautiful Disaster, Thoughtless, Effortless, Perfect Chemistry and whatnot. Little did I know that I had the sickest book in my hands.

I’m not so sure if I should be delving into the details of the plot as it would give away the suspense that is Christian Grey (our dark prince charming). What I can only disclose are my observations, rather reactions, upon finishing the first book (yes, it’s 3 books worth of a wicked plot).

1. The first part was absolutely swooning. Knocked me off my feet. Can’t hide that fact until the “Red Room of Pain” just popped in the story.
2. Believe me when I say that it’s the sickest book I’ve ever read.
3. It is indeed effed up. And BEYOND erotic. As far as my schema goes, it is the most unacceptable lifestyle or addiction or relationship a guy and a girl could ever have. Jeezus.
4. In order to survive, I skimmed a lot of parts. Honestly.

After reading this nasty piece, all I can say is—READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. But I swear, the second book (Fifty Shades Darker) is a lot more captivating, romantic and redeeming. The vomit moment in book one was worth it as book two utterly gets me. It explained everything I needed to verify in book one. More on book two this week.

Reading Challenge: 10 out of 30

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith

Photo from goodreads.com

To the cynical ones. To the disbelievers. To the skeptics.

You won’t even think that the concept of love at first sight exists unless you illogically experience it. It just doesn’t make any sense.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith seems to be written for these people. Well, including myself. It’s just a light and fast read as the story only happens in a span of 24 hours.

Hadley (17 y/o) and Oliver (possibly 18 y/o) were in the same flight to England. While being strangers to each other, they shared a table during dinner, shared very personal conversations (mostly Daddy issues), shared seats in the plane, shared tension-filled glances and even shared soft farewell kisses. What’s more delightful was they still found each other even in the most anticlimactic moments of their lives.

Some observations:
a. The story is told in a quirky way, perhaps to sustain the readers while they’re forced to hear the retrospection of Hadley (believe me, it’s that dragging).
b.  The author used very appropriate and vivid words to describe Hadley’s feelings (especially in the part where Oliver’s lips touched hers).
c. I never thought that airports could be that fascinating. <3
d. SWOON! Oh, Oliver. *sigh* <3 <3 <3

Honestly, I found myself smiling infinitesimally after reading the book. I just couldn’t shake this feeling off–this tingling sensation that, somehow, love at first sight exists. And that it will hold you captive. And that it will be the happiest emotion you’ll ever feel.

While the story can be undoubtedly realistic, I still believe that this won’t happen to me due to the following reasons:
1. I don’t interact with strangers unless I need their help (e.g. asking for directions). I commonly travel with big bags and so far, I did not need any extra hand from a guy. I even get mad at conductors when they try to lift my bag.
2. I’m not an air traveler. This is mostly because I don’t have sufficient funds to go for a trip.
3. Man, I don’t just divulge any personal information to anyone. I’m paranoid and scared and I feel like every stranger is a potential criminal. Sorry for this irrational fear, but safety first.
4. I absolutely will never go wandering off a foreign place just for a guy. That’s plainly pathetic. Guys don’t need girls. They may want them, but they don’t need them. Know the difference.

Nevertheless, if fate would really like to toy with me and this kind of story happens, I hope I don’t end up in the Outback (reference: Stolen by Lucy Christopher). LOL

Reading Challenge: 9 out of 30

Requiem by Jamie McGuire

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Apparently, there’s more to the story than just giving back the Naissance de Demoniac to Shax, the Duke of Hell.

In Requiem by Jamie McGuire, we uncover a bloodline that traces back to Goliath, a friend who descended from a long line of Crusade Knights, a prophecy that disrupts the Balance of Heaven and Hell, and a lot more.

I could go on and on but that would just make me retell the whole story. So let’s just skip to the elements of the book that I liked the most–

1. The Ryels. BAMF Hybrids. They are absolutely amazing! Taking on a legion of demons and still get to protect their Taleh? Awesome, dude.

2. Nina Grey as the acting CEO of Titan Mercantile. One career woman coming your way!

3. Kim Pollocks and her abominable, inexplicable power to repel demons. Kickass!

4. The dreams of Nina were actually a premonition. It might have been a nasty disturbance in her pseudo-normal life, but damn, it saved their lives.

5. Claire Ryel is and will always will be my favorite guardian angel. Unforgiving, straightforward, fearless and yet caring. Not to mention her platinum blonde hair and damn hot boots.

6. Lastly, Jared Ryel. MNBVCXZSDF GHJKPOIUYT!!!!!!!!! REWQASDFGH JKMNBVCXSD FGHJOIUYTR EWQASDFGHJ KMNBVCXZAS DFGHJKPOIU YTREWQASDF GHJ!!!!!!!!! Translation: I love you, Hot Stuff!!!!!!!!! I’ll marry you right here right now, no questions asked!!!!!!!!!

And oh, somebody got knocked up. Hence, the war begins!

Reading Challenge: 8 out of 30