Grey: book review by Dinh.
Today I will be reviewing E L James’ new book Grey. To purchase, please click here.
If you have read the E.L. James trilogy, Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed and enjoyed it, I would recommend that you pick up her latest book, Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian (Fifty Shades of Grey Series).
If you read all or part of the trilogy and it didn’t exactly inspire you, then give this book a miss. I read the first three books based on all the hype but found that it wasn’t my cup of tea. My bottom line on those books – soft porn with a hint of a story line.
The book Grey is based on E L James’ first book, Fifty Shades of Grey but from Christian Grey’s viewpoint. It’s an erotic romance- more erotic than romance in my view!
The story starts off with Christian Grey, a young, powerful business man who loves control all things in his life and one day he meets Anastasia Steele when she interviews him at his office. He is immediately taken by her.
The story continues with him trying to pursue her even though she is not his usually type. The backdrop of the story is about Christian and how he is trying to figure out if Anastasia will fit into his sadomasochism (dominant/submissive) lifestyle.
Be prepared there is a lot of sex. All that is on Christian’s mind is sex! So if you’re a young adult you may find this book titillating. I, on the other hand, did not find it erotic. It was painfully repetitive. The first hundred pages were slow and boring and I found that I had to push myself to continue to read.
Toward the end of the book it is a bit more interesting as we get a glimpse of Christian’s past and how he came to be what he is today. Grey is not at all meaty with character developments. I guess you can say there simply was not enough foreplay to keep my interest! Just joking.
After reading the book Grey I wondered why I wasted my valuable time reading it. So two thumbs down….
Please click here to buy Grey.
Please leave comments on your thoughts about Grey book review in the comments area below.
You keep it real and honest with each review. That’s why I love to view your content. Keep up the great work Dinh.
William
Thanks William.
I like keeping it real. 🙂
As one who loves to read this is a really good site. Good luck!
Hi Cheryl,
So nice to meet a bibliophile!
I am glad that you like Arlene’s Book Club.
Please do visit again and also you can follow us on Twitter @ArlenesBookClub!
Hi Dinh.
I have never been one to follow the hype, especially the whole Fifty Shades phenomenon. It started to get on my nerves a bit. After reading your review, I don’t think it is a purchase I am likely to make as repetitive sex story-lines get a bit tedious in my opinion, maybe it is an age thing as I know several people in their twenties that love the books and the film.
Would like you to do some autobiographical reviews in the future too, as these tend to be my current choice of reading at the moment.
A good, honest review – Martyn
Hi Martyn,
thank you for your comment on my Grey book review.
I think it may be an age thing too with me. When you’re older sex does not sell or persuade you like when you are in your twenties.
I know a few people who thought Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and Grey was a good read but I guess that just their taste. We all read for different reasons and to me it was not one of those books that I would suggest in reading.
I have not got into the autobiography books yet and do not think that we will be delving into them. Mike or Arlene may do them if they have one on their to read pile.
Thanks for stopping by and please do so again!
Hi Dinh, I love the honesty of this review. I think I read an excerpt of the first book and wasn’t impressed enough to bother reading the entire book. I’ve always felt many people just fell under the spell of the hype, and caused a sensation where none was warranted. There was certainly nothing erotic about the commercials before the movie came out. Glad I gave it a miss!
Hi Hindy,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I couldn’t agree with you more. There was too much hype surrounding the book and that’s why I think it did so well in terms of sales.
I read it for the sake of it but would not recommend it.
Please pop by again 🙂
Hi Dinh, I have read the 50 shades trilogy and thought it was ok. I thought about reading this book at some point, but I take that back after reading this review and the comments from other readers I may have to pass. Plus i have a whole other list of books to read.
Hi Tara,
The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy are what I would say “blah, blah blah”. Grey from Christian’s viewpoint is a rehash of the first book in the trilogy so it’s the same “blah, blah, blah” It’s a run of the mill book that somehow got popular because of its promotion efforts.
Why not enjoy a new book instead of something that is mediocre?
I am glad that you’re going to skip it and read something else from your “to read” list.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and please visit again!
Well done! so glad I haven’t delved into that series. Thank you for such an honest review. Really enjoyed reading it.
Hello Daisy,
I am happy that you enjoyed my review on Grey. The Fifty Shades of Grey series are popular but not good reading in my opinion.
Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to hearing from you again!
Hi Dinh, I’ve always been curious about the book Fifty Shades of Grey after all the hype about it. But after reading your review I don’t think I’m that keen anymore. Thanks for your honest review. I really like your website and will be back to see more of your reviews.
Thanks for your comment Yvonne.
I will always give my honest opinion whether I like or do not like a book and why. Honestly I do not get why the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and the latest Grey book is so popular. Maybe with all the hype, everyone is reading them because of that reason- can’t account for people’s taste! I am not trying to be snobbish but I just don’t get it.
I so agree with you! I tried to read Fifty Shades of Grey and only managed maybe 2 pages! The writing didn’t captivate me at all! Thank you for an honest review.
Thanks Kimberley!
Welcome to our book club.
E L James’ Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and the latest book Grey, from Christian’s point of view, has its own audience. It’s an easy summer reading book for some. I didn’t like the writing or the erotic romance so I can totally see where you are coming from.
Thanks for dropping by and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on other books that you have read.
Honest review you have here and I totally agree with you. I read the first book but it didn’t really interest me that much. Thank you for this.
Thanks for your comment Stella and welcome!
I read E L James’ first book “Fifty Shades of Grey” because I was curious about it. There were so many people reading it and saying it was good. I figured how bad could it be? Reading Grey was also in that vein. Well, you know my thoughts on the book Grey!
I look forward to hearing from you in our book club.
Great review Dinh. I couldn’t agree more with your thoughts on the book.
Thanks Lee! So glad that we are in agreement that Grey is not a recommendation to read. I would be interested in your view in our up coming book club pick, The Martian by Andy Weir.
intelligent review, I am not particularly interested in this series and appreciate your thumbs down ha ha. looking forward to your review of more interesting material
I am happy that I can steer you away from these uninteresting series. E L James is milking these books while she can. She is scraping the bottom of the barrel with the rehash of Grey. It’s hard to believe that millions of people have bought this book! I am looking forward to reviewing a book of substance.