50 Shades Freed

50 Shades Freed

Suggestion: Watch the Passion del Tango while reading...

Let me start by recapping what happened in the last book. I do this because I generally don’t want to spoil your experience if you’re reading the book; since you’re on the 3^rd one, I can talk about in detail of the contents of the previous book. If there are no surprises, then there’s less excitement in reading the book.

Caution: There are spoilers all through my review about the 2^nd (50Shades Darker), and the 3^rdbook (50 Shades Freed). If you don’t want to know what happens in the book, I think you should first read the book then read my review. Just a suggestion.

The 2^ndbook 50 Shades Darker begins with Christian and Ana getting back together again. Their chemistry is so electric, so palpable, you, as the reader can feel it through the book which is one testament to the book’s success. For instance, Christian becomes very expressive and loquacious when it comes to conveying his admiration, feelings when he and Ana get back together, though he is such a self-deprecating person, he doesn’t feel he’s worthy of her love, or anyone’s for that matter. It’s hard to believe for him to be loved by anyone, though even the Bitch Troll (sorry, Mrs. Lincoln) knows that he’s in love with her. .....

We just can’t move on without talking about their hmmm… first union, to put politely.  Ok, here’s what happens. Christian vowed to not to make love to Ana until she begged. Well, that is too hard to avoid when the two get together because the electric is so palpable between the two. After Christian picks Ana up from work, they go to her apartment for a change. At that point there is more than one emotion thrumming between them other than yearning, lust, love, passion. That’s anger (from Ana). She’s just learned that Christian purchased SIP.  But they manage to pass that with Christian’s sexpertise. He manages to get close enough to her, but doesn’t even kiss her. He wants her to tell him exactly what she wants.  Here’s the thing:  Christian can pack a lot of hotness, feral passion, love and pleasure into simple words and make Ana swoon just with his words and with one look. For instance, Ana is all shy and asking him if he would like a drink. Simple enough, right? After saying no, but thank you, he says back to her, “what would you like to do Anastasia?” Softly but with all his passion packed into it, “I know what I want to do”. 

Even when he later leans down to her, he won’t kiss her, because he wants her to tell him what she wants. He’s asking permission. He wants her to spell it out. It’s not just what he says, but it’s how he says it. It’s in the way he uses and utters his words, the body language, it’s in the confidence, in his knowingness of what he’s doing (not like an amateur who confuses the difference between his elbow and you know… his ass.) He asks, no, actually he breathes into her ear if she wants him to kiss her. She’s all “Yes”. But he’s taking no prisoners. “Where?” he asks.  She says “everywhere.” But, that’s not enough; he wants her to be more specific. He wants her to beg and tell him what to do. She begs please. (Take note people…)

“Please what?” he says. She wants him to touch her. Of course, that’s still not enough, “where, baby?” Right there!  In these two words he packs so much intoxication, connection, communication, the demand of “get past your inhibitions and talk to me explicitly” i.e. the said significant other, and a lot of love, passion, lust... In just two simple words! If you can manage that, kudos to you!

Even after all this passionate exchange, they don’t make out, yet. She’s hungry, and he wants her to eat, and so they start preparing stir fry. But Ana is about to combust, so she innocently brushes her arm, her derrière, her elbow, you name it… she’s trying to get his attention, and she succeeds. They won’t be able to cook with all the passion that’s palpating between them, and he can even make the “Put the chicken in the fridge” to sound sexy and desirous because they won’t be able to eat right then. He breathes to her “What do you want Anastasia?” This question is enough to make her gasp, “You” she answers.  He’s ready to take her on the kitchen floor, but he wants her to specify where she wants to make love. She says ‘the bed’. He scoops her up, and carries her to the bedroom and sets her on her feet. He softly coaxes out what she wants him to do. Spell it out. She wants to make love. He wants her to tell him exactly how. You see up until this point, no kissing occurred, and no making out, nothing. Just words! Words are sensual, it builds expectation. His words are Alive. Palpable. Building expectation. And expectation is half the fun.  Unlike the comedian Ron White telling his fresh bride “I have log ride here!” (See my review on 50 Shades of Grey).  This is what women expect (not the log ride, but sensuality, love, and desire). End game may be the same for the layman such as the likes of the log ride providers, but there are rides, and then there are rides.

It’s like the Renaissance Festival we went a few weeks ago. They had certain rides there for people. Swings and a huge swan ride where kids and adults alike were seated inside and two girls stood on each and using their own weight made the ride rock (it looked like a giant rocking chair); a similar one was a giant rocking horse or the swings which were Medieval version of a carousel ride were swung by two burly men. And in comparison to these imitations of a ride, there is of course the Six Flags Magic Mountain (the Batman Ride, Colossus, Dive Devil, Apocalypse, Scream, Ninja, Goliath… you get the point. Oddly, up until this minute, I never thought Magic Mountain rides had sexual connotations until I entered the names of these rides. Dear God! I can never go on those rides without blushing anymore.). Kinda dwarves the medieval rides, do they not? Magic Mountain makes the Renaissance Festival look like themed swap meet.  If you want to get on the Apocalypse ride, you might want to ditch the swan, or the fake carousel rides. See in order to get better experience from your ride; you have to have better rides.

At that point Ana spells out what she wants, where she wants to be kissed exactly. And that’s what Christian wants to hear. He knows how to take charge with confidence, but also gives her control, lets her participate, make decisions; he’s a good leader, but empowering. And the rest is history as I’m sure you’ve read it…

I had to write this section on the 50 Shades Darker here, because, I want people to take notice that closeness in a relationship doesn’t happen without communication. Throughout the book, we see Christian pushing for clear communication. That’s what I like the best: Communication is extremely important in a relationship. Remember Dr. Randy Carlson’s callers? (From my 50 Shades of Grey review).  Those men expected their wives to be accommodating, and giving and doing God knows what they want them to do, because I sure don’t, except they are saying “I’m starved for affection!” to the good Doctor. Take a note guys… Build anticipation. Because you can’t just be the recipient, the receiver and the expecting party. Tango is done in pairs. You can possibly do it alone but, if you know how to dance it, there is nothing like it; incredibly sensual, close, better than, well, you know… just know that solo won’t feel the same. Since this book is written by a woman, she’s expressed so clearly how to make a woman beyond happy.

Ok, moving on…

There are a few major troubles: Christian has an emotionally disturbed ex-sub who is stalking them both. Christian wants to get her the help she needs, but Leila (who looks similar to Ana) doesn’t understand why “master” wants Ana, and not her. She’s broken into his apartment, came to Ana’s work, and finally despite the security, Leila has broken into Ana’s apartment toting a gun. Ana goes back to her apartment to let Kate’s brother Ethan in, or to check in on him, and he wasn’t there, but Leila was. Christian who happened to take a phone call was in his car while Ana goes into her apartment. All hell breaks loose when she goes in as she meets a disturbed young woman. Ana stays calm, and when Ethan shows up outside, Christian and Taylor rushes in realizing someone else opened the door for Ana. There stands Leila with a gun in her hand pointed at Ana, the love of Christian's life. He needs to quickly make a decision to save her, and the expression in Leila's face gives Christian an idea. Her demeanor indicate him that he just may  be able to get through to her if he reassumes his role as her Dom like he was in the past. That actually was a sad scene for me, and I think I was sympathizing with Ana who was shocked getting a glimpse of how he behaved in the past. Then he ordered Ana out; though in his mind he was trying to protect her to what was going to ravel, and she was frozen. Finally Christian made Taylor carry her out of the apartment while he tended Leila's needs. Here’s the crux of the things: This scene brings out all of Ana’s insecurities. Because she can never be a submissive; not like these other girls. She then has this crushing realization that she may not be enough for him. That he may miss that lifestyle which she’s unable to provide to the extent he’s used to. She goes out to a bar with Ethan teary eyed across from her apartment, and sees Christian carry Leila out wrapped in a blanket. (We later find out that he also had given her a bath, which he explained as compassion from one human being to another as she really was very dirty, unkempt), but nonetheless, that doesn’t make Ana feel any better. Feeling the 50 Shades of Fuckedupness yet?

Since Ana left her things in the car, she’s unable to get back to her apartment, but walks to Christian’s. He’s by then so concerned, so livid, so scared that he thought she ran. This single incident is very crucial to the story. Because this is where we get a glimpse of what Christian had been like: a true Dom. The sight of it is not pleasant. Not to Ana, and certainly not to me. But what happens after she gets back is even more important. Ana’s fears of not being good for him comes right back up on the surface. Because she sees a girl, namely Leila who is a true sub. Who just submits to Christian’s will with just one look. One frigging look people! Geez! That’s not in Ana’s character to do what Leila would do for him. So, this is where the chips would fall.

Then later comes the confrontation: She spills all her insecurities about how she’s not good enough for him, and that he’ll get tired of her. Christian is exasperated. He tells her he loves her in desperation. He feels she’s about to run. He’s panicked, extremely panicky, looking for almost a divine intervention, anything. He loses it, and it happens: He drops on his knees, head bowed, his fingers spread out on his thighs, and stops moving.  Ana is confused, bewildered asks him what he’s doing. No answer! She commands in panic “Christian, look at me!” and he does, serene, and expectant; he became a sub.  Reading this section was very emotional, because if you already loathe this sort of life style, it just breaks your heart to see someone who will do anything to receive your love. Just completely heartbreaking! (←Poesession by Sarah McLachlan) 

You see, right here, you realize that he loves her that he will have her any way, any capacity she’s willing to be with him. Ana realizes that this is so wrong, and so disturbing, and she thinks she somehow broke him. This is also where we realize that Ana needs to be expressive of her thoughts and feelings instead of just taking off and running away. This incident allows her to do that. She goes down to his level, on her hands and knees and tells all her fears, concerns, and of her love to Christian, and brings him back out of his undesired state of submissiveness.  When he comes out, he tells her that he was so scared. So scared that she would die because of him. He says that it was like dying a thousand deaths when he saw Leila holding a gun to her. He tells her of his exasperation with Ana because he wanted her to be gone so she wouldn’t get harmed.  See what happens when you communicate people? You discover your misconceptions, clear the air, and start a fresh. He admits that Ana is his lifeline.

Ok, by now, the shrink in your head is screaming “co-dependent”! Paging Dr. Drew!  Shut that shrink up! (Sorry, got caught in the moment L) Just because the majority of the world is experiencing a mere existence with no strong attachment to their significant other, doesn’t make this wrong. I would take this over any other kind. Because life must be lived fully, not barely. What better way to do it if it’s not with one person who gives meaning to your existence?

Some of you might say, he’s overbearing, controlling, fucked up (let me remind you that women too can present such behavior excessively). And please don’t you get your inner feminist moving in on me; I'm not interested…I will gladly hand her an eviction slip. This sort of thinking would be giving very little credit to Ana (yes, you're a lot smarter than her, you would never fall for a man like Christian Grey - after all, you've been around the block more often than the Good Humor ice-cream man, whereas she's only 21), or to the intelligence of other women that they can’t handle the characters quirks of men as we women have them as well. It's in our biology. Honestly, I think a man would be too dull if he wasn’t a little jealous, a little controlling, a little overbearing (don’t overdo the spices though). You, as the woman, are the measuring cup. You let him put just the right amount of that. Not too much, or not too little. Learn the art of it that your predecessors perfected. Ana does that beautifully, and Christian responds, and reciprocates and responds positively. That’s where the beauty of this relationship lies. They’re perfect compliments to each other, but you wouldn’t know that in the first book; they teach each other that ~ it’s a learned and perfected behavior which gives hope to the rest of the people who can manage to do that in their own relationships. Then again, relationships take two people; there is no one size fits all. What makes you happy may not make someone else happy. By the same token, Christian is a good match for Ana, but he wasn't for 15 other women. Just keep in mind that this is a love story, a fiction in a very unexplored context (at least in the first book). If there was no sin, there would be no need for redemption. Because, we'd all be in heaven.

 

During this “bring everything to the surface and air your darkest parts of your soul” time, Christian confesses to Ana something very dark about himself; he believes he’s a sadist and tells her he likes to whip little brown-haired girls like her because they all look like the crack whore, his birth mother. I just about died when I read that. See the enormous dark elephant in the room no one can ignore? That’s the last piece of big crappy secret he’s carrying inside, and it’s all out in the open now. He’s basically exorcising all his demons for Ana. He explains how his worldview has changed after she left; her love was a revelation for him. Ana knows how to confront him, and go toe to toe with him. She loves him, and he’s scared that she’d run. She’s mad at what she heard but she won’t run. He’s not sure of that. She asks him, how she could make sure that she won’t run though she’s mad. He says “marry me.” She won’t say yes or no, well for one, this isn’t the most romantic proposal. (He’ll make up for the deficiency – see even if he’s inadequate he learns quickly and corrects his mistake very well.) It sounds like I’m shortchanging you here, but you have to read the book, because, there is so much more to talk about still.

2^nd big incident…

That’s aboutJack the boss, a.k.a. the blackmailer. We learn that Jack, Ana’s boss is trying to blackmail Ana – after reading her outgoing steamy e-mails to Christian to get into her panties. She kicks him in the family jewels and runs out of the building (this occurs right before she leaves for work) and collapses outside. Christian and Taylor rushes to her side, and Taylor beats the crap out of Jack and in short he’s sent packing after Christian gets his due. We find more about this in the third book, but Jack sabotages Christian’s helicopter Charlie Tango. Luckily Christian manages to land it with difficulty. But until he gets home, the news of him being lost is everywhere, and a devastated family and Ana wait for the news of his well-being. When he comes home all dirty and ragged, it’s the most welcoming sight to everyone which makes Christian realize that his family does love him (he who feels unworthy of love.)

Most important event..

Ana accepts to marry Christian, and her answer is his birthday present. Of course the bitch troll is sooo unhappy about it when she hears this news during his birthday party, and corners Ana to scold her because she isn’t good enough, and calls her a “gold digger”. Ana pours her drink on Elena’s head, Christian walks in, and confrontation begins. To top things up, his mom walks in and hears what Elena had an affair with her son, and slaps the bitch child molester and kicks her out of her house. (Thank God! Being a parent, that’s my favorite part.)

Now, we can properly begin talking about 50 Shades Freed:

The third and final book on the series begins with Christian and Ana’s honeymoon in Monte Carlo. They were married in his parents’ house, and they consummate their first night as a married couple at 35,000 feet on Christian’s private jet on their way to London a first for both of them, joining the mile high club. Of course when we read about these, Ana was dreaming about it reliving the experience at the beach where she kinda went topless face down, but when she fell asleep she turned over and was exposed to all to see to Christian’s shock and anger. You know what that means; he’s going to punish her someway, and that usually ends in the bedroom, because that’s his coping mechanism. He sort of goes primal on her, and marks her with hickies which she doesn’t realize till the next day, not to mention the marks left by the hand and ankle cuffs which greatly upsets Ana although at the time she likes how they did the uhm… act. She just didn’t like being marked like an adolescent, and rightly so. And she lets Christian have a piece of her mind. What you realize here is that Ana is not afraid of him; she may be intimidated by him at times, but she can let him have an intimidating piece of her mind, and she’s a force to be reckoned with. She knows how to hold her own, and knows how to stand up for herself (some of you girls need to learn from this! Namely to stand up for yourself…) So, that was the result of the punishment uhmm fuck  (I hate to keep using this word,  but that’s what it was & had been rectified by a makeup love session which just shows that he’s mercurial but willing to correct his erroneous ways. You just have to read it; I’m not spelling out for you.)

We also learn along the way that Carrick, Christian’s dad wants Ana to sign a prenuptial agreement, and Christian is really pissed at him for bringing it up. Ana, knowing she’s not bringing anything into the relationship is willing to sing, but Christian is mad as hell, and adamant that she’s not to sign anything. She tells him, that she isn’t bringing anything in. In the event that she may do something exceptionally stupid, or that cross some imaginary line he’s drawn, he may not want her. He tells her “if you leave me, you might as well take everything.   You left me once before…” He closes the subject never to be rehashed again.

During the honeymoon they learn that someone tried to set fire to Christian’s company’s server room; another added concern to the Charlie Tango incident. Christian keeps as much of the details as possible to not to worry her, but he’s ever in control via his Blackberry. He’s larger than life, that guy.

I want to skip this because we’ll deal with this later in the book, but bring you to a different subject: Intimacy. It’s not what you think thought. You’d be happy to know that ever the science loving persona in me conducted a limited survey among my gal-pals recently. What’s more intimate, a kiss or sex? And the consensus was unanimous: a kiss was more intimate than sex (don’t take this as with strangers. My friends are all either married, or had been in a steady relationship for quite some time.)  So, even for married couples, a kiss was more intimate. I then asked the question what would be even more intimate than a kiss, and they couldn’t think of another aspect. Then I asked “how about getting shaved?”

“You mean shaving your legs?” one of my friends blurted.

“No,” I said embarrassed, “your privates...” I said as calmly as possible.

Considering some of these women go to a beauty salon to get those bits waxed, I found that this one act was too intimate to share with a guy who knows your intimate parts better than yourself. Even the most seasoned ones were shy about it. That’s what Christian did for Ana. She tried to shave herself but didn’t do a very good job, and Christian told her “if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly,” and wanted to shave her. Ana too was extremely shy about it even though she’s done more things with him in a few weeks that many people didn’t know was doable in a lifetime.  

I was just testing whether this was plausible (how intimate of a feeling being shaved was), and it in fact was: The women in my acquaintance agreed last week that it is a very intimate act – letting your privates shaved by your significant other.  I would have never thought about it, if it wasn’t in this book. Live and learn people, live and learn…

The things I do for the sake of science… And shut up, it is for science! I value learning, and as Christian said, if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly! It’s not the easiest thing to ask a roomful of women who are having a tea party talking about their jobs, kids, hubbies, and recipes… “Girls, let me ask you a question. Which of these two things is more intimate for you: sex or kissing? Pass the sugar please…”

“What?” blurts my best friend.

“Just answer, I know you have no reservations expressing your feelings.” She gave me a knowing smile.

“Kissing, undoubtedly.” She said, and others chimed in the same manner, and went on why it was going on with their experiences over the years.  She then calls her friend in North Carolina who is dating a new guy and she too wants to be in on the conversation, so we’re having this surreal impromptu book club meeting – though it wasn’t the initial intent of the tea party.  And this other lady I’ve never met in N. Carolina also agrees that a kiss was more intimate. I then sprung up the shaving question on them.

My friend gives me a sly smile, and says, “Ok, what the hell’s going on? Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?” (I’m very private in public, even with my best friend; see what this book does to you? I’m now talking to strangers here… Savor this people, because this is not an everyday occurrence for me.)

I told my best friend, “This is my version of a science experiment, so just answer the damn question, I’m writing a book review, I want to be through!” I scold her. That she gets, because she knows I read a lot, and in a strange way, this is right up my scientific alley.

“Trust you to make a science experiment out of intimacy…” she laughs but answers.

“I don’t think I’ve ever done that, it’s too intimate,” she says shyly. By then I’m gaping at her.  My best friend is blushing and getting shy? Because she talks about doing the deed, oh… in the pool, the Jacuzzi, on top of the washer, in the ocean, oh I don’t know many other surfaces she’s been to. And she thinks this is intimate? I’m surprised, but other women agree. Too intimate, they all chime in. This answer comes from a group of women who’s been around the block at least once.  So, there you have it people; this can be a sensual experience for those who dare to put it in practice.

Ok, I digress… Christian and Ana get back home after a wonderful honeymoon to the problems awaiting them at home. The first visit they pay as a couple is to Christian’s family. After their visit, Christian allows Ana to drive his beloved R8 which is ensued by a car chase; the person who is threatening their lives and livelihood is chasing them! Ana is on the wheel, and the security detail on the back. The excitement climaxed when the car nearly gets very close to them, and they manage to pull into a parking lot; the un-sub drives away losing them and C&A have their first car sex in the parking lot. What? You expect me to spell out how they did it? You have to read it yourself. There’s a lot more to talk about in the book.  Moving on…

They’ve also purchased a home and remodeling it by this time. The architect, a friend of Elliott’s is another woman who is ready to lie under Christian if he would have her, and making subtle passes at him which bothers Christian. When Taylor calls Christian to discuss something, Christian tells Gia, the architect, that he’s given Ana free reign to do as she wishes with the house, so she’s the boss. The first order of work Ana has on her plate is to straighten Gia (good job!!) Ana tells Gia that she will fire her if she doesn’t stop hitting on her husband, as it is her job hangs by a thread! (I patted her on the back a lot for this confrontation), and she learned to give an impassive face like Christian, and realize that “impassive” is actually very intimidating. I have to keep that in mind. And that snaps Gia back to her place, and she will not make a pass at Christian again.

Here’s another crux for you girls: Christian and Ana were on the same side, and actually he was upset about Gia’s passes. He actually was happy and  proud in the end that Ana was branding him as her own, as he would in a pissing contest with other guys. I tell you girls this because if your guy is not giving you this free reign he’s not giving you himself 100%. It’s a red flag. You can lie through your teeth to yourself, but it doesn’t change the fact. Men likes to declare their territory with their women, it’s only fair that we would get to reciprocate. I don’t mind if my man is declaring his territory, and I’d do the same for him. He knows he’s mine, why should I be passive if some other woman is making a pass at him? We like to be assured, and that’s my assurance to him.

There is one thing in the book (oh, when it comes to that there is a lot of things) that would rile up the feminist in you, or the shrink in you if you don’t have one already. You see, Ana decides to keep her own last name at work without telling Christian. Well, he sends her an email which bounces because she hasn’t changed her last name. He sends the message to her old email back again, and an argument ensues over the last name. Ana doesn’t want to pursue it, so, she goes on with her daily work, and Christian just shows up at work along with her boss (since Christian is the boss’ boss’ boss.)  When they’re alone, emphasizing on Miss Steele, he tells her that he was checking on his assets, and he realized that some of them needs re-branding!  (I can already feel your itchy fingers typing messages to me, giving the women wrong message. Ease up. Give women credit, we can handle it!)She has her reasons to keep her own last name, but he thinks she’s embarrassed of him. He uses his perfected negotiating skills and she finds herself giving in to him. Those of you who thinks that this is overbearing, I Strongly Disagree!

Yes, he wants her world start and end with him. That’s what people who are in love do. I think it’d be a waste of life to be around with someone who values you any less. If you don’t love someone, if you have no feeling for your significant other you’d be recalcitrant, but when you’re in love, boy, the sun rises and sets with that person.  The best thing I can wish for you is a person whom you love and loves you back that way.  There is no feeling like it on earth. You feel alive! 

As for the last name thing, I’d just keep it just so he comes and asks me to change it, because there is fun in the being asked, reaffirmation of being wanted, needed, desired, and claimed. Because personally, unity is very important to me, and I’m on the same page with Christian on that, and if you think otherwise, it’s your opinion, not mine. I’m just as entitled to mine as you are. He loves her; he wants the world to know she belongs to him. Some of you may think of it as proprietary, but it’s not, not the way he does it. Admittedly there are those people, who are that way, but Ana handles Christian well, and they always compromise – both of them get what they want to both of their satisfaction despite the arguments which results in them resolving their issues no matter how difficult.

When they get back to Seattle, they discover – thanks to Ana that it was Jack who broke into Christian’s company and set fire.  The already tight security tightens even more. Christian has to take a trip to New York for business, and Ana’s best friend Kate comes back from vacation, and wants to go out for a drink. Even though Christian wants her to come right home from work she goes for a drink anyway. We then discover that Christian’s home was broken in by none other than Jake who was going to attempt to kidnap her. Ryan fights and captures him, and when Ana comes home she find this mess, and the cops are called. Christian who finds out that Ana went for a drink disobeying him despite the security threats flies right back leaving business negotiations hanging. When he’s in the air, Jack is captured, and he comes home to find the mess, and things can in fact get out of hand crazily no matter how hard you try to be a control freak. He’s confronted with his demons of losing her. He’s mad at her, mad at everyone, at himself. He’s angry; he’s short, mono syllabic. Even his anger is palpable, touchable; tangible out of the book, you can feel it so solidly. They ride this incident slowly, but it’s looming over their heads.

Of course, not every day is fun and leisure for everyone and that certainly is true for Christian and Ana. Otherwise it wouldn’t be a normal life. Ana receives a phone call that her step dad had been in a car accident where the vehicle he was in was hit by a drunk driver. She rushes to be at his side, and as soon as he can make it so does Christian. They spend the week until he is awake and they decide to move him to Seattle so they can keep a better eye on him. When they were in Portland, it was also Ana’s birthday, and Christian surprises her with flying her mom and her husband out in his private jet, and calling all her friends to a birthday party, and buys her an R8!

When the father was in the hospital in Seattle, Ana gets a phone call from her OBGYN who gave her a birth control shot which ran its course out, and the doctor catches up with her at the hospital. To Ana’s shock, she discovers that she’s pregnant! And here’s the big big fear of anyone who first discovers they’re pregnant unexpectedly. Parenting is a life changing event, and it really is scary even if you are prepared. She’s unprepared, and scared of Christian’s reaction. It’s actually a hell of an event to break the news to him. It’s almost the climax of the book. Because Christian flips! He’s had a bad start in life, and he has no trust in himself that he’d be a good father, and he doesn’t want to share Ana with a baby. So, in anger he leaves to get drunk, and runs into none other than the Bitch Troll, and they drink together, and Ana accidentally learns about it, when he comes home all drunk and she’s putting him to bed, and his Blackberry falls down and she reads her text message “you’ll make a great father”. Ana is mad thinking he ran to tell her about their issues instead of discussing with her. Rightfully so. Wouldn’t any of you? (Of course that wasn’t how it happened but when in anger, and there’s misunderstanding things have a potential of going from bad to worse.)  When she finds that out, she spends the night locked in the Play Room. The next morning she finds Christian and the security detail frantically looking for her thinking she ran. They think she ran, because Ana forwards the text from the BT to her phone and replies to the message to her husband if he would like her to join them to discuss that message; that way it will save him running to her afterwards, signing it ‘your wife.’ 

The fact is that Christian is worried that Ana would choose the baby over him, and finally Ana tells him that she would choose a defenseless baby over him which is something his mother should have done with him. But now that he’s an adult, he can take care of himself, but a baby doesn’t deserve to be aborted or ignored. I love her even more for that. She knows how to stand up for herself and for what is right. She can hold her own.

But one thing she does wrong, and that’s my own personal principle: never go to sleep without resolving your problem, or leave the premises. She does that. She goes to work angry, and hurt. When she comes home, Christian is not back from work, and he hasn’t called her, but called Mrs. Jones to tell her he’d be working late. Mrs. Jones a compassionate woman tells Ana to be patient with him, because he was frantic when he thought she left him. He was beside himself.

Next day also goes on with little interaction and he flew to Portland for business. Ana goes to work. She gets a phone call from her sister-in-law Mia. But when she answers the phone it wasn’t Mia; it was Jack! He somehow got released on bail, and kidnapped Mia. Now he wants Ana to bring him 5 million dollars within the next two hours. Though she doesn’t have access to that kind of money. She rushes home pretending to be sick, finds checks that are made for her and Christian’s name, puts on her sweats on, and eludes Sawyer, and runs to the bank to withdraw money.

This particular part is very climactic because many emotions are tumbled in here. Jack told her that he would first rape and then kill Mia if she called the cops, her husband, or the security detail, as he would know it. So, the only defense she has against him is the pistol Christian confiscated from Leila. She goes to the bank to withdraw this rather large sum of money. The bank manager calls Christian to make sure, because it’s out of convention to withdraw that much money the same second you ask for it. Christian tells him that she has Carte Blanche, but he wants to talk to her. The manager hands Ana the phone, and Christian asks her if it was always about the money. I think to me that’s the most heartbreaking question. He knew she always loved him, but having doubts about your own self-worth would bring this question out. And of course that’s not what it was about, and Ana tells him that. He assumes the worst of course, thinking she’s leaving him. He tells her to take everything. He too is heartbroken, and this chapter really was soo emotional for me to read. Because you can feel the pain in every word; the heartbreak, the doubt, the loss of a loved one, and the confusion.  The fact that Ana can’t tell him that she’s trying to rescue his sister, his words stabs new wounds in her. When she hangs the phone up, she’s spent with emotion and worry.

She borrows the bank manager’s phone, and goes out back to avoid Sawyer, and guess who comes to pick her up? Her boss Elizabeth from work who was also blackmailed by Jack to do this. Elizabeth tosses her phone (the bank manager’s phone, but she doesn’t know that), and goes to meet Jack to rescue Mia. At that time Christian learns that Jack was released on bail, and he has a hunch that this might be the reason why Ana is acting this way. When Ana finally sees Jack, he gives her a good beating and kicks her around, but before she passes out, she shoots him. The last thing she sees as she falls down is Christian running to her in agony.

By this time Ana had saved two of the Grey children from hurt and destruction one way or the other; both Mia and Christian. Ana is taken to the hospital where she spends days in the ICU unconscious. Christian doesn’t leave her side one minute, always watching out for her. That is the pinnacle of their love and their connection. Because, you can’t think of one, without the other. Individually they are not complete. They only make sense together. Nothing really makes sense if they’re not together.  I love that aspect of it. If you still think its Co-D (codependent), eat your heart out, it’s better than to be with someone who is ok to be with anyone (you or someone else just as easily).  I’d rather have someone who completes me, not a separate unit.  Here's one of 50's favorite songs and his personal anthem, “Every Breath You Take” by Police (just click on the name).

During her rise and fall in her comatose state, Ana hears that the baby is ok, and she hears the relief in Christian’s voice to its affirmation. He fights and argues with his family as well as the nurse to not to leave Ana’s side. She also hears Christian talking to his mom, and hears his regret about arguing and leaving over the baby that day. When she finally does wake up, Ana is badly in need of using the restroom, and Christian will not have the nurse take her; he wants to take care of her. I don’t know why some women are like that. She lets him fuck her (excuse the pun) 7 shades of Sunday, but why won’t she let him to take her to the bathroom to pee? He compromises (always compromise), and waits by the door his back turned with semi-privacy.

Christian tells Ana that both Elizabeth and Jack back in custody. Christian explains that after the bank called he thought his world had just completely fallen apart. Ana scolds him that she was hurt that he would think it was about his money, it never was, and in fact she put her own cell inside the money bag so he could track his money. Christian and Ana spend the night holding each other in her hospital bed she hooked up on IV and machines, but that’s the only way they can feel complete.  The next day they air out how he ended up seeing the Bitch Troll, and she finds out that he hasn’t told her she was pregnant, but that she wanted to have children. But of course he’s completely regretful and that was their final meeting anyway; that was a decision that was made that night.

Ok, by now Christian’s parents know she’s pregnant (Grace read her chart and told her husband, and of course she’s had a talk with Christian).  They’re very happy about it. Ana leaves the hospital to go home in a few days, and Christian learns that he has lived with Jack as foster children. That he’d been on the wrong side of the tracks, but got a scholarship went to Princeton. Likes rough sex. So, this makes Christian upset, because he feels they’re cut from the same cloth. There’s a huge difference between Christian and Jack. Jack has no remorse; he’ll use women any way he can. Christian on the other hand is compassionate, he loves Ana, and he’ll go to any extent to protect her. They’re not cut from the same cloth.

Christian later finds out that it was Elena’s ex-husband who anonymously paid for Jack’s bail! Christian who had purchased his timber company for a day like this, sells and liquidates the company: Tit for tat. Lincoln fucks with him and his family to the extent of aiding and abetting to the kidnapping of his sister, extortion from his wife, and near death of his wife and child, the guy deserved far worse.  He ruins his company only instead.

The story continues when Ana is pregnant… with her second child. The first one, their son Ted is about 2 years old. They’re moving on with their happily ever after. Christian is ever protective of his pregnant wife, loving, playful and attentive to their son, and now living in the big house. Perfect happy ending! Just the way I like it!!

I think it'd be also noteworthy to mention that Elliot proposes to Kate in Aspen when Christian and Ana takes them all there for a vacation together. In the end they too are married, and have a baby girl, Eva. See how happy everyone is? So cool!

I loved all 3 of the books!!

There are people who have reservations against Christian’s strong character. He’s dominating, he’s larger than life, he’s a force of life, demanding, possessive, full of sexual desire and prowess, and it’s a lot to take on for an ordinary person. Of course there is his former "persuasion" of lifestyle. He needs his equal to take on him. Ana is that person. She’s just as strong, she can match wits, strength, and wills. Christian’s personality is not for weak women. You must be able to go toe to toe with him without fear. But living in a society where certain norms are expected, anything out of the ordinary is shunned. I’m not talking about his previous lifestyle. That’s out of option for most people including me. I’m a life force of my own; I’d never submit to anyone. What I’m talking about is that the society now expects men to be docile, flat, and almost submissive; just like trying to medicate normal children who are hyper with Ritalin (I wonder if there is a husband version of this medicine… Something to search about.)  He just has rough edges, and Ana is the best panacea for him. She shapes him up and he doesn’t have to give up his personality.  

 

If Ana was never to be with Christian, she’d have a mediocre existence with someone like Jose, or Ethan, or someone else like them. But neither of those individuals have the fire, the life force Christian has. He is truly alive. You feel the life oozing out of him, and it is such a draw. When Christian feels something, he really feels it, and expresses it with his words, his action, his love making, his music, his dance. How much more expressive can someone be… It’s an amazing personality, you can actually visualize him without having an image. Like seeing someone’s soul, it’s that clear. And there’s Ana. I love her character. She’s just as alive as Christian, but level headed. She’s ready to explore herself, she knows what she wants from her life, from her relationship, and that girl can set her priorities.

And the biggest draw about Ana is that she demands respect for her own, and she gets it. She sets her lines clear, and has a good idea what is right and wrong. She’s monogamous (heck, Christian is the only guy who’s been in her life), lucky for other guys too, because Christian would have beaten the shit out of them even if it was in the past. But she doesn’t have a past that needs overhauling as Christian’s is enough for both of them.

I end my reviews with this: Now these three remain, Faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.

"La passion est toute l'humanité, sans elle, la religion, l'histoire, le roman, l'art seraient inutiles." said Honoré de Balzac; "Passion is in all humanity, without it, religion, history, literature, and art would be rendered useless."

May you all have love, passion and excitement in your lives as deep and strong as Christian and Ana.

 

50 Shades Darker

FIFTY SHADES

DARKER

Ok folks… We’re on the second leg of our book review of the Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy; the second book is called “Fifty Shades Darker”…

NOTE: As an experiment, I’ve read four other book son the topic BDSM, DOM/SUB crap, and happy to report that I didn’t like any of them one single bit. The entire content was there in those books: sex, BDSM, bonding etc. minus LOVE.  I was going to read a 5th one, to be completely through in the experiment but my stomach couldn't handle it, so this amount of effort would suffice to conclude this experiement: I had no cordial feelings for any of books, and the subject matter -- confirming what I liked about the 50 Shades trilogy: It’s the aspect of love and the way it has been expressed made this book great.

I’ve acquainted you with the first book of the series in my very long previous ranting in my March posting. This is my favorite book in the trilogy though I love all three of them for different reasons. I’m going to dissect the book like a fun science experiment.

Well, there I was finishing the first book with snout running and crying (well almost; I was crying inside) because the two main characters who fell in love broke up because Christian Grey has twitchy palms and Ana thought she could handle flogging in lieu of him parting with some information of his past (stupid, stupid girl! I love you, and I know your heart is in the right place but sometimes I wonder where the hell your brain is!) If you’ve been half way around the block, you might have experienced that feeling, the hurt of a break-up or an argument (I’m not talking about those of you who has been around the block more often than the Good Humor ice-cream man! You might be a little callused. I’m referring to the average people); or if you’re part of a married couple, you may have had normal tiffs among each other (and if you are one of those people who proudly admits NEVER having arguments or fights (not the “get on your boxing gloves” kind), I pity you!  Because, if you’re not airing out your differences with your significant other, one or both of you is pushing the anger, disagreement or whatever the crap the you’re carrying down to blow up at some unexpected time with greater consequences. I’m one of those people who air things out; thus I’m happy to say I’m familiar with the feeling. And besides, arguments are spice of life ~ I don’t want to be like a dry piece of toast, no flavor, yuck! As long as you’re not menacing, and not mean, they’re actually very exciting. There are rules: 1. Never go to bed angry, 2. always kiss and make up, 3. make sure you don’t win the argument – if one of you wins, both of you loses. The purpose is to compromise. Ok.. Digressing…)

Anyway, there I was sitting with my box of Kleenex (just in case) in my back patio, our dog at my feet so sad to see Ana finally realize that she just may not be compatible with Christian because he has needs that she could never be able to fulfill. She cares about herself too much to find herself later being the dumpee after he thinks she’s not enough, and that he would walk away to find a “Suitable sub” who may be able to do everything he wishes to do in his playroom.

Side note: At the end of the “50 Shades of Grey” she got flogged, didn’t use the safe word, because she was too proud to admit she couldn’t take it, and perhaps she thought what if she says “no” and he thinks she will not be good enough to meet his needs. He has the need to want to hit woman for punishment, for control, for whatever else he gets his kicks on. Once the punishment is over, she gives him her piece of mind; she won’t let him touch her, and finally tells him to “sort his shit out!” because he’s too “f*cked up!” She’s all tears and regretting for falling in love with him too fast to hard, and he comes with past baggage of subs, exes, Mrs. Robinson the pedophile who is still in his life, a whip, a cane – if she allowed him the all the spanking she could receive would be enough to make a bridge from Los Angeles to Istanbul!

He likes her smart mouth, except when he doesn’t. He likes her to be obedient, but he tells her to be herself. He is very mercurial, and extracting feelings and words out of him is like standing there with a dentist’s pliers! It’s hard to tell which way is up with him! Neverthless, both are very deeply in love, and even though Ana would die for him, she decides to leave him, because in her heart of hearts someday she will not be enough for him, and he may leave her. So comes the break up to Christian's horror and hurt, and Ana's very broken heart.

She didn’t understand why in the first place he liked her anyway, and from his own admissions there were a lot of willing volunteers to participate at his beckoning call in this life style who would say “how high?” when he said jump (granted she had permission to speak.) By that point I’m completely captivated, and rooting for Ana, and ready to kick Christian’s uppity ass till hell won’t have it again! Though you gotta feel sorry for the guy after Ana sadly decides to leave him; He did not expect or desired for her to do that. He’s devastated! But that’s the best thing she does in order to sort their relationship out. (This single act incidentally you will find out is the thing that will make CG stay away from any kind of spanking in the future – because it’s her Hard Limit)

She gives back the MacBook, the Blackberry, and the AUDI he bought for her graduation (later she finds out it’s the Submissive Edition; it turns out he buys all his submissives the same model Audi A3 in red, because of AUDI’s safety records.)

I jumped into the second book with both feet. Ana, who by now graduated from college, she and her roommate and best friend Kate moved to Seattle (these happened in the first book). She also had applied to some internship, and was accepted at SIP, a small publishing company as the assistant to the Commissioning Editor, a young man in his early 30s named Jack. She is more miserable without Christian to the point of suffocation because he’s her first love, and he’s the guy whom she completely gave herself to, bonded, and mated with. She doesn’t eat, she doesn’t call anyone, and she’s like a zombie as her life is just miserable.  Not much is different for Christian either.

They could barely spend a whole week apart. She receives white long stem roses from Christian congratulating her on her first day at work (long way to come around from a guy who doesn’t do hearts and flowers!) She then receives an e-mail from Christian reminding her that she was going to see her friend Jose for his photography exhibition opening, and since she still doesn’t have a car, would she mind he gave her a ride like they originally planned. She is excited, and finally concedes for him to give her a ride as she has no way of getting to Portland from Seattle.

I was at this point looking forward to this meeting and what he would do to make up with her, and what compromises if any he would extend to her. You’re here with me so far?  

Right then I took a break and looked for reviews and spoilers and the like because the suspense was too much! Then I came across this review of some big shot woman (never heard of her, she couldn’t be that important! Nonetheless, she’s entitled to her opinion. I’m just sorry that she exercised her right on my time…) She goes on saying how this book was “soooo poorly written, and has no literary merit!” (As opposed to what pray tell? The other steamy romance novels that has great literary merit? Honestly, sometimes what comes out of people’s mouths…)

Or perhaps compared to “Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy?” by Newton (oh wait, that’s not a romance book…), or “Apology” by Plato? Nope, that’s not a romance novel either…

Could it be that the green eyed monster of jealousy talking? A first time author wrote something everyone wants to read; clearly it doesn’t settle well with some people’s literary appetites…  Here, have a tablet of Tums!

There have been other books in history which were banned, criticized and shunned which are now hailed as masterpieces like Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the d’Urbervilles”, or J. D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye”, or James Jones’ “From Here to Eternity” or John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath”.  It’s all in the eyes of the beholder. Is it that shocking that two people who are in love having great sex and hmm hmm (clearing throat), you’re not? Moving on… Taboos people… taboos. Where is your line drawn?

So, getting back to the book… Fifty Shades Darker.

When Christian picks Ana up from work he notices that she hasn’t eaten for an entire week other than a banana here, a yogurt there. She’s lost weight, she’s miserable (and he has a thing about finishing your food on your plate having starved as a child), and it’s clear that neither can live without the other. He describes his experience of her absence as “Purgatory.” He would avoid anything that would cause her to leave him again if she was to take him back. See, my policy is “tell the truth, shame the devil,” so, Ana told the truth that she loved him, but she still knew she couldn’t be what he wanted her to be, a sub. He then declares that “she’s exactly the way he wants her to be.” The visit to the gallery is laced with jealousy, and intense make up session afterwards, and thank Goodness they’re back together again.

There are additional characters though some of them were introduced in the first book; we have not seen them as often. Let’s introduce them first:

Katherine (Kate) Kavanaugh: Ana’s best friend. She’s assertive, holding her own, cuts to the point, very beautiful, and loves her best friend. She’s wealthy. Her father bought her the condo in Seattle to live with Ana. She has one brother,

Elliott Grey: Christian’s older adopted brother. Nice, cheerful guy, ladies’ man until Kate captures his heart (they meet in the 1^st book). He’s got a construction company known for building ecologically sustaining homes.

Mia Grey: Christian’s adopted younger sister. Came to the Grey family as an infant. Christian is very fond of his sister. She was in Paris studying French cooking. Plays cello. Outgoing, cheerful, happy. Ana introduces her to Kate’s brother, and they’re now inseparable.

Jose Rodriguez: He’s the first friend Ana had at WSU; a good looking Mexican-American boy. They fathers are army buddies. Ana likes him like a brother; and he likes her more. In the first book when they were both drunk he tried to kiss her to show his feelings, but it didn’t go well with Ana, and Christian saved her from this unwanted assault.  He graduated along with them, and opened up a photography exhibition. Christian sees him as one of Ana’s suitors which of course he is. He’d jump at the first chance.

Grace Grey: Christian’s adoptive mother. She’s a pediatrician, a regal woman who expects her children to excel, and actually is a very nice person. She’s a great mom.

Mr. Grey: Christian’s father, a lawyer. He’s the head of the Grey family. A very nice man.

Dr. John Flynn: Christian’s shrink. He’s British; one of the very few people who is not intimidated by Christian. His counseling sessions actually help Christian to cope with his past, as well as move on to be the person he aims to be. Also a likable character.

Jason Taylor: Christian’s bodyguard, driver, head of his personal security. 30s ex-military, very professional, a likable character.

Mrs. Jones: Christian’s housekeeper and cook. Very sweet and professional lady. In her 40s. She and Taylor are involved discreetly.

Mrs. Elena Lincoln, a.k.a. Mrs. Robinson, a.k.a. the Bitch Troll: The woman who seduced Christian at the age of 15, turned him into her sub, did all kinds of kinky stuff with him. Ana hates her for being the Pedophile she is, f*cking Christian up more than he already was; and Christian doesn’t see it that way. He thinks she helped him to focus, stop his delinquent ways, and she’s the one who lent his first $100,000 to start his business, but he returned the favor by helping her out with her business. They’re now only friends, and business partners. She cares about him in her delusional way. Ana hates her guts, because the Bitch Troll can touch Christian on his arms whereas she can’t because of his issues from childhood (actually no one is allowed to touch him, except of course the BT, and he says it’s because “she know where to touch” on certain areas of his arm). They’re friends, they have dinner once in a while, they talk on the phone, and he opens up to her. Can you see why Ana would hate her guts? She’s done all these things to him as a child, and he won’t see that, and what’s more he sees his ex as a friend.  We’ll see a lot of her in this book.

Jack Hyde: Ana’s boss; he’s a Commissioning Editor at SIP Publishing. He keeps hitting on her; ready to sack her at the first opportunity. Ana is uncomfortable with the unwanted attention, and he will try to blackmail her later because of the email exchange and the steamy contents of it to get her into bed. He’s another guy who is f*cked up but he’s malicious, and evil. This dude is smart, and well educated and as the story goes likes rough sex, but he’s not a likable character; in fact I hate him from the first pass on.

Leila: One of Christian’s ex sub from about 3 years ago. She was dutiful to him apparently, and she too wanted more, but Christian didn’t. She left him then found someone else, and married, and a few months ago, left the hubby to run away with another man who died in a car crash. After seeing Christian’s picture in the paper with Ana on her graduation (he never ever had a picture in print with a woman which is why people thought he was gay), she knew Ana was different, and that was her breaking point. Now she’s stalking Ana. Tried to commit suicide at Christian’s apartment where Mrs. Jones rushed her to the hospital. That happened when Ana was in Georgia when visiting her mother and Christian was surprising her with a surprise visit of his. He rushes back to Seattle after hearing the incident to get her the help she needs. So, now the woman is creating a security threat to the two.

Ok, I think that just about covers the important characters.

In order to validate or disprove my previous hypothesis on why people liked this particular book (as in 50 Shades of Grey) in light of all the criticism it received from certain people calling “mommy porn”, and unfairly stating “sex sells” using clichés. I read 4 other books on the BDSM and DOM/SUB topic. It was a science experiment. I wanted to see if the appeal was indeed sex, or as I claimed whether it was “love”. People I’m happy to report that it’s not the sex that made this book appealing; it was love.

The 4 books I read for this experiment had nothing to do with love. After the 1^st one I wanted to have nothing to do with another book on the topic. The disgust and other reservations I’ve held on the subject matters resurfaced. There were more hardcore stuff and luckily the books were much shorter; I wanted to get over with them. It left me with no cordial feeling towards any of those books which were a far cry from this trilogy. They were explicit, hardcore, definitive and after reading them I realized how soft this trilogy is because of it context. 

I realized that whatever Christian Grey did in the past (which we don’t know much as far as his acts with the former subs were concerned), he was way too easy with Ana.  I would not be able to draw that conclusion before because I had no other reference points to compare this lifestyle; but since I read 4 other books by other authors covering the BDSM lifestyle, I now do. As I had said in my previous review that this is a topic I wouldn’t be interested in reading about, and after I read the other books my feelings are confirmed. CG’s relationship with Ana and the things they do, are only a step away from vanilla. Because he's respectful to her needs, loving towards her, and always aware of her presence and full of concern for her well being along with the desire that "he aims to please." 

These other books however were really demeaning to women (I wouldn’t recommend to anyone), devoid of love, and only carnal lust of one way gratification, and the dumb girls who expose themselves to be subservient of other men who are actually quite cruel in their ways. I don't want to list the names here; should you want to know what they are, shoot me an e-mail.

It would be unfair for anyone to completely dismiss the criticism of the lifestyle (I disagree on their conclusions on this trilogy though). The 4 books I read were really disgusting. Really really really disgusting. I say it again DUMB GIRLS, stop getting yourselves into positions worse than torture! Einstein’s quote comes to mind: “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe!” Couldn’t have said it better myself!

However, Ana is none of that. She’s smart, she knows what she wants, who she wants, she knows how far she’ll give in, and what is not good for her. Despite her love she heavy heartedly leaves Christian and that is his wake up call. Not everything, least of all people are in one’s control regardless of who you are.

 This book confirms and elates what I have said all along: LOVE CONQERS ALL! CG is not a bad person. He’s had a rough start in life, been abused by a family friend, and he sees himself as the husk of a man. He does humanitarian work (sending food shipments to Darfur), and actually supported his ex-subs when they needed help even after they broke up. He cares about people in his own way.

Those of you who liked the book but couldn’t exactly tell why that was, I’ll summarize it for you: You made a connection with the book relating to a value you hold. There are those of you who led sheltered lives and you liked the love; it’s a flight of stairs up from Darcy and Elizabeth, but it’s possible that Darcy and Elizabeth could have uhmm, a good intimate life, though I can’t imagine Elizabeth doing things Ana is willing to do for Christian. Then again Mr. Darcy would be more of a vanilla guy which is perfect in itself. But not everyone has had a sheltered life, and some of you may be involved with people who had at least 5 shades of Grey. And that’s what appeals to most people. The redeeming quality: If Ana can be exasperated with the bimbos, and the ex-subs, and the Bitch Troll whose shadow is always in the background, and the arguments, the twitching palms, initial separation, murderous jealous exes, excessive jealousy (so much so that Christian bought SIP to better protect Ana without her knowledge)… if your relationship can withstand anything, I like to shake your hand, because you’ve made it!

You know why, because nothing makes sense unless these two are together. The concept of “us”; togetherness. Therefore the bottom line again is: “Nothing makes sense, unless they’re together.” It’s making sense out of a relationship. Yes, as Ana puts it they have vanilla and some kinky f*ckery, but when they’re a couple (and married, because CG can’t bear the idea that someone else might have a claim on her because he loves her so much and is willing to just go vanilla had she so desired, can’t imagine life without her), but Ana is willing to do some of the things he likes without getting hurt, and that’s compromise. What did you expect a couple who is in love and finally married to do? Look at his stamp collection? You know, people criticized Tom Cruise for jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch because he was so in love with his wife he couldn’t contain himself. Why should that warrant criticism? The guy’s in love, and declared love to his wife (are we that prude like the lady I gave as an example on Turkish TV in my previous review?) Why should a declaration of love on national TV be seen as something crazy?

You will get exasperated along with Ana, because of the ever present Bitch Troll, and her butting in, threatening Ana (CG tell her off a few times), and you’ll get heartbroken with their turmoil, worried for their safety, feel Ana’s pain when she gets a glimps of what Christian was like as a Dominant – she sees that when Leila shows up to shoot her, and Christian wants her out of the place so he can resolve the issue at hand, but it’s not easy to be dismissed by your boyfriend in front of his ex. Oh the list is endless. All 50 shades. But, I’ll tell you one thing: Life is never dull around the Greys.

This is my favorite because finally love is declared in all its glory and they get married (I’ll invoke Elizabeth Bennett here: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.”)

Although, the ever cynical Dary among you might say “A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.” Here’s a list of metaphors for your reference then:

Ø  Deer in the headlights

Ø  Moth to a flame (from one of my favorite books: The Merchant of Venice. “Thus hath the candle singd the moath.”)

Ø  Love at first sight

Ø  Icarus to sun

There was a 19^th century French author Jules Renard who said it most eloquently about love: “L'amour est comme un sablier, avec le coeur remplir le vide du cerveau.”

It translates as: “Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties.”

In short, love makes you lose your reason: You get a renewed purpose and that’s the person of your affection.

Elizabeth Browning has a poem “How I love thee? Let me count the ways…” which clearly states the “madness and passion” that is love and what extents one would go for love:

“Je t'aime du plus profond de mon âme.” (I love thee with the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.”)

Ok., lets recap why you might like this book in the series:
 

Ø  Lots of love (laced with triple shots of possessiveness, a little extra jealousy, mercurial moods, competition from the exes)

Ø  Kinky f*ckery (I swear it’s Ana’ and Christian’s description; not mine). Although, I have to warn you there are some weird stuff they try. Call it morbid curiosity; I had to actually look up the toys they’ve used to see what they’ve looked like. For instance, there are these vaginal silver balls – which are also called massage balls (they may also be used as pelvic toners – yes, live and learn) -- they introduced which are supposed to be worn for a period of time. You walk around in it and apparently it’s supposed to wake certain muscles up you, sort of expect a certain action upon removal of said object. Never having seen one, I looked it up. Apparently they’re different lengths, and number of balls in the link (some are rubber, some are metal, some hard, and some seemed a little softer - and they looked like either like a hair tie with little plastic balls at the end, or our grandmother’s pearl necklace, and the expensive ones linked differently and looked, well, expensive.)

The price for one was, I assume it was a sturdy one because it was $438 Dollars. There was one on a different site that was for sale for only $5.89, but I wouldn’t recommend that one. Because it looked like the beads a kid strung up, and you might insert 6 pieces of balls in, and retrieve only 3 back. That would be a fun conversation at the emergency room or at your OBGYN’s office – at your expense. “I had no idea Dr.! The string just broke on the way out, and we still have 3 pieces left behind!” Guess if you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t even try. There are other toys, but I’m sure Google images can help you to look up those in your own time.)

Ø  Action. Yes, there is action.

Ø  High life, and fun activities (such as gliding, flying, yachting, high end parties) that may be laced with any of the above.

Ø  Lots of good music (yes, they’re mentioned and all of which are the types of music I love! Classical to modern.)

Ø  Marriage.

Ø  Love (Α and Ω)

If you loved the first book, you will love this one even more!  Because, in this book Christian and Ana truly becomes a couple with all its entanglement, with all its love and lust, and passion, and fights and make ups. This one is a good couples’ book.

In the end, I think the book begs the question how far are you willing to go to help the love of your life to redeem him or her? Will you think of your own self-preservation, or will your love conquer all? Most people opt for option 1; it is the sensible thing to do, it’s what your shrink would recommend. Love yourself first, this person is not good for you, or may be destructive. But where love is concerned, I’d go for option 2 granted that the person of your interest is worth the effort; if you have any experience in life at all, you'll be able to make that distinction. I’m strong, but not delusional. Where love is concerned, there are at least 3 people a person would be willing to lay his/her life down for. Love of your life, your children, sibling(s), and one’s parents, even a best friend maybe… At least 3! Think about it? Reason leaves your brain, does it not? I know quite a few mothers who would cut out their own hearts for their children had it been required. I’ve also met mothers who care only enough about their children as if it was their friend’s or a stranger’s. I shudder to think the extent of love they can offer to those who are not part of their own flesh and blood. I don’t want to hang out with those, neither do I want to read about them. Cold people are not for me in any capacity.

We, as descendants of all Mediterranean people (including French, Italian, Greeks, Turks, Spanish and the islanders…) are hot blooded people. Love is a very strong emotion for us. I remember my dad hearing a song on the radio, and grabbing my mother by the hand, and say “come on wife, we love this song. Let’s dance!” Seize the moment, seize the day! What would you do for those people you love? What would you give up? Those questions are answered but inadvertently they’re also asked to you. You’ll find yourself answering those questions, or remembering people who changed their ways for love. It did for me.

The book reminded me of my own dad who had as many shades as CG in different ways. My dad owned a successful club when I was very young. He made ton of money, and with money, comes power and club business there are rivals who would do anything to derail you, or take over you. After having conversations with my mom when I was old enough for her to have a conversation with her, she told me that she always wanted him out of the business, but he wouldn’t give it up. Power, money, elite part of the society hanging out with you day in and day out and adoring women around who are bold enough to call his wife at home to tell her to leave him so they can get their claws on him.  She begged him to get out for his sake, his children sake. When I was a teenager, I asked her why she never walked out on him during that time. She simply stated: “oh, how easy it is for you single people to declare divorce. Love is patient; I’m not keeping the records of his wrongs. I write them down in the sand, and his goodness in stone; I’m strong enough for all of us. Despite what we endured, we always loved each other. Your dad is the only one for me.” He left his business, and the money that came with it for her! He worked his ass off, always been a great father, very protective of his children and his wife; even after giving up he worked so hard for, he never complained for the loss of it up what for a greater cause: Love. Even today, we can’t even slightly raise our voice to our mother in any sort of disagreement without his wrath: “If you have a grievance with your mother, take it up with me. I put that woman through a lot; I will not let anyone to hurt her feelings in any way!” When he had a life threatening surgery with a 10% chance of survival, and the pain of the surgery was excruciating, he didn’t open his mouth to let out a single cry with worry that she might hear him and not handle it well.

After his surgeon discussed the chance of his survivability with him, my sister who is a nurse and myself asked our father if this is what he wanted to do. I pleaded with him that it was such a low chance of survivability at 10%; whereas he may live 3-5 without it. He was determined to go through with it. He said “I want to show my kids and grandkids, that life is worth living and fighting for despite all the miseries, difficulties and despite this pain I will have to endure, it will be a lot. I want to have more than 5 years with your mother. If God didn’t destine me to survive beyond the surgery I’ll reckon with your mom in heaven, but I will do my best to survive so she’s not alone for others to look after her.” But that wasn’t it, he knew that she wouldn’t survive much longer without him, and he wanted to make sure she lived to be old and grey. That’s love! I’m happy to report that he in fact did survive his surgery, and became the first person in Canada to be a survivor with the type of problem he had! He’s in medical books now, and his case is studied in vascular issues around the word in different medical conferences. (Happy anniversary today mom & dad! We're very lucky to have parents like you!)

I’m incredibly lucky to see one of the few rare examples of true love so close my life. Sets my priorities straight. Hope this book does that to you as well. If you as an individual find someone to put up with your shit, hold onto her/him, and do both of you a favor and you had better sort that crap out. That’s what CG did without losing the character traits: this is the main appeal of the book. In the end, love conquers all; and that’s the bottom line. And some people complain about sex in it. Here’s my solution to the complainers: If it offends you, by all means, abstain yourself. But don’t tell other couples who are in love and married (that’s what CG and Ana is halfway thought the book) to avoid it to express their love solely because you don’t like it.