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Saturday, June 20, 2015

GREY REVIEW and THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE

~GREY Review-



With EL James new release of "Grey" readers get the opportunity to hear Christian's perspective from his point of view. In the original Fifty Shades Trilogy we were privy to Anastasia "Ana" Rose Steele Grey as the female protagonist's voice whose reflections were often a sounding board from her "Inner Goddess" as she maneuvered through the complexities of her first sexual encounter with a billionaire and a man trained in the Dominant/submissive culture who has been emotionally unavailable in his past as they develop deeper feelings for each other. 

Christian T. Grey's voice is one character's perspective readers have been itching to delve into since the excerpt was provided in the Trilogy. Now in "Grey" we are seeking to find his depth of character as the lead male protagonist, the Dominant voice who pursues the virginal Ana while he endeavors to command and leave his dark past and nightmares behind him in order to embrace a new love and a chance at Happily Ever After. 

As the author of the Echoes in Eternity (Book 1 in the Pella Series), I have been writing from the male protagonist’s perspective for over six years. You can see some pre-publishing chapters here and read more on Amazon.com:




I’ve always been a huge fan of EL James since she was writing her fan fiction “Master of the Universe”. I love the trilogy and adore Christian’s character which I had had studied in the last four years. As I read the book, I couldn't help but notice that Christian's voice and tone in "Grey" sometimes meshes from Ana's timbre. 

For example: “My scalp prickles.” (This is the voice of inner goddess/Ana, but Christian says it about 6 times throughout the book).
                                            
GREY states:
“ “How have you avoided sex? Tell me, please.” Because I don’t get it.
She’s in college— and from what I remember of college all the kids were fucking like rabbits.
All of them.
Except me.”

But that’s not true. For someone who was introduced to hardcore sex at the age of 15, he was having sex with Elena and often at her bidding. This statement should be describing Ana. She wasn’t having sex in college while her peers were.

The insecurities Anastasia has reflected in the original trilogy that she isn’t good enough for Christian or that she isn’t experienced, or that she may not meet Christian’s needs, switched voices and came through as Christian voice which constantly sees Ana as a flight risk because of his deficiencies.  

What the hell? “I don’t like to share, Miss Steele. Remember that.” I storm out of the room before I say anything else.
Is she hung up on him?
Was she just using me to break her in?

Clearly Ana wouldn’t use someone so advanced in sexual prowess to break her in for a man like Jose Rodriguez. This would be where Ana’s insecure word/pitch/voice/tone crossing over into Christian’s expressions. It’s a female tone. (“Am I being used for sex?”)

Christian should be strong, arrogant, confident, resolute then conflicted, intense, possessive as he battles with his former life style and philosophies since he has lived his life with contractual relationships with cursory care and feelings. The relationships around him (Dr. Flynn, Taylor, Bastille, and staffers close to him like Roz who don't fear him) should allow him to voice his turmoil, drives, impulses and his leadership choices in a distinctive tone and not melded with Ana's underlying sentiment. Christian is more experienced in some areas and learning in others (love, for instance). He should speak and his language should have a rougher rhythm. "I don't make love, I fuck HARD" blunt and to the point, no pussy footing. This took us by surprise and all the female readers were saying “Tell me more!” He takes a position, makes a decision, takes action and you feel it. There should be no ambivalence about his transition from being a wounded being to one healed by allowing love to release his inner demons. 

We, the readers love Christian. What it boils down to is that every woman has a version of Christian in her head which is why I wrote his point of view and you, the readers from 187 different countries came to read it. We are also a community who first came together because of Christian Grey. We invested our love and time in his character by studying it, discussing it, bringing him to life. We’ve bonded, made friends around the globe, met one another; heck, I went all the way down to Brazil after traveling 34 hours to meet my readers, and to me, that was amazing; a totally priceless experience! All due for a book some people hate! So, in the end, when people flock to the movie, or to see the author to get her autograph or to read Christian's point of view, it’s not just because it’s “just a book”; he personifies what the trilogy brought out to the surface in all of us. I will never forget when one of my Brazilian readers' husband said to me on the phone: “What you write, saved our marriage.” That’s good enough reason for me to continue writing him. It’s my community service, and my expression of his character, cementing our friendship, helping others to communicate in their bedrooms.

(My Brazilian sisters and I)













So, what’s the verdict? Read it in New York Times!  A Walk in The Clouds blog and I are in the following review:









18 comments:

Dailey59 said...

Emine I the book grey and I don't know is it because I read yours but to me it is very boring I wasted my money like I did on the movie it was boring to me too I will be glade when you post the next chapter when will you write the next book on pella series i'm waiting to know what happen next

WhatWorks said...

Unfortunately, what Mary Daily said is entirely accurate. Perhaps ELJ just lacks the male perspective. No biggie unless she doesn't mind pantomiming the dominant mindset. After a short time, I became sick of Anastasia's "Inner Goddess" too. Hearing extra voices constantly inside one's head sounds too much like schizophrenia or demonic possession.

Danny Mansani said...

I'm still reading it, but I think it lacks in intensity. Christin is a strong man thay knows what he wants and go for it no matter what. Yes he has insecurities but they all come down to the fact that he is hidding from his past and the things that have the potential to hurt him, not to say the things he doesn't know, like love. In the book he is just as conflicted and afraid and frail as Ana is, and that doesn't make sense. Ana should be that way because she is innocent and naive. Christian, on the other hand, has seen and lived a lot. He's a dom!!!! He can't be unsure or whatever. So while I hope we can read the other books under his point of view, I also hope Erika can give Christian the intensity he has and deserves, building a much more stronger character just the way it should be and was described at the original trilogy.

Emine, I hope you don't stip writing Christian's POV cause, if I may say it: Erika's book "Grey" doesn't hold a candle to what we read at your blog.

Maryfromabluestate said...

I am finding it hard to get through Grey myself. It is so odd to me that the original author strayed so far from her own character . I am so glad that the New York Times referenced both you and GE Griffin, since I consider you both the definitive authorities in all things Christian. Good luck with your original works !

Karen said...

I flew through the book.....and I enjoyed it for the most part, however, I am now listening to the audible version and I am blown away, I think its that male voice, it changed the whole perspective. I too have read many versions of Fifty, including those mentioned in the article. I love both of these versions, but I still have to give credit to EL for giving us Ana and Christian in the first place.

Unknown said...

i read it...i thought she will keep writing after Ted and the babygirl burn.... i was disappointed from "Grey", I love your blog!

Unknown said...

I didnt read the book Gray ,because I love your Blog and it is constantly satisfy all my needs for Christan ,but I read the review and oddly I find some of the lines are same as your lines , specially in the part when ana leaves Christan .Those who are reading the book can give you more detail idea.Eagerly waiting for next Pella chapter.

Lady Melodie said...

Hi Emine still reading the book but i can already say i prefer your version, keep on :) bisous from a portuguese in france

Anonymous said...

waiting for the next chapter Emine
I love our Grey
Nurana

Anonymous said...

Just finished reading Grey and have to say I MUCH prefer your version! Can't wait for the next installments of Book 5! I'm also glad I didn't discover your writing until you started Book 5, so I didn't have to wait patiently for each chapter of the first 4 books. I've started re-reading them just for something to read while waiting on the new chapters in Book 5. (I didn't realize you live in Mesa--I live in Phoenix.)

Unknown said...

A sua versão com certeza é melhor!! Continue escrevendo, você nasceu para isso!!

Unknown said...

I'm still trying to finish reading Grey almost a week later. I'm definitely not digging it like I so wanted to. While I would like to see what EL James could do with Darker (because that's my favorite of the three), I so much prefer your version!

Unknown said...

Not trying to disrespect the author but I feel you're a better writer!

Anonymous said...

I like your writing and I think that your post on "Grey" has a lot of merit. As for Christian and sex in college, I think he mentions in Book 2 to Ana that he wasn't having sex in college. Elena was in Seattle and he was in Cambridge at Harvard. Unless he was seeing Elena, he wasn't having sex as they were on two different coasts. So I didn't see that as out of character. As for the "scalp prickling", I wish EL James would drop it. Although, I think that is a figure of speech from where is from. I could be wrong. I enjoyed reading his relationship with his brother and sister. Those conversations were great. I do wish, I could have gotten a better sense of his relationships with others. There were glimpses, but not enough. And like one of your commenters said, I would have liked to have gotten his POV with Darker and Freed.

Anonymous said...

Hello Emine,

It has been a while since I posted a comment here, but the new Grey book created perfect opportunity to say how great and talented writer you are.
The Grey book was nothing but disappointment for me. "My" (and yours) Christian is a man, one would say alphamale, who is selfconfident, arrogant during bussiness dealings and reserved and distant in communication with his family and close employees. He was opening himself, learning how to deal with emotions and becoming more friendly/human/open to others during the story. Definitely not a whimpering girl.
I found you blog several years ago when there were only a few chapters. The beginnings were (to be honest) lukewarm, but you were growing and getting better and better with each chapter. I fondly remeber the day when your blog reached 1 mil. visitors, I was so happy for you and proud of you.
Your stories are very well built, have a strong plot within confines of the original story and are thought-out.
I believe that someone has already said it, but publishing of Grey book seems to be only a way how to get more money of a great selling franchise.
I strongly recommend E. L. James to consider some way of cooperation with you if she is planning another book.
I have read through more than 30 versions of Christian´s POV, but you are the best.

Good luck with your own publishing work.

J from the Czech Republic

Anonymous said...

Hi Emine,

the new grey book showed us that you are more talented than the real writer.
my friends and I here in Indonesia agrees that yours is much better and more fitting with the image of Christian grey that my friend and I have.

I recommend your blog to a lot of my friends who are disappointed with the grey book and they are all agree that you really are a talented writer. we are also looking forward for the pella series.

good luck with your book (pella series) and please keep on updating the book 5.

looking forward for your update and new book.

-S-

Unknown said...

Couldn't agree more!!! Just finished reading Grey over the weekend and it does not compare to your version!! I have recommended your blog to multiple people and they also feel that the book does not do Christian justice.

XOXOXO
Norma

Unknown said...

Hi Emine. Though I prefer your writing, I was surprised that I quite liked Grey. I thought she did better with his POV than Ana's. That being said, you give us so much more! Thank you, as always, for sharing your gift. I continue to pimp out your blog and book at every opportunity.

Hi to all the fabulous ladies in the Cloud too.

Hugs from the Mid-West💕