50 Shades... A Girl's Best Friend?

After all the buzz about the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, I finally listened to some friends and read the books. I have to say, I felt as mixed up as dear, sweet Anastasia after finishing them.

When I started the first book I was less than impressed by the writing style. I wanted to kick the crap out of the "internal" goddess, cheerleader and conscience. Their nagging really bogged down the story. However, after the first 100 or so pages I learned to ignore them. The simplistic writing style gave way to a mix of big words and more complex themes. After a while I was surprised by the words used by the author, or Anastasia who narrates. It was a pleasant surprise that held the book together.

Somewhere between page 100 and 150 the erotica begins. Simply stated, if you don't want to read about sex, don't read these books. They are heavy and rather graphic compared to standard women's fare. However, I eventually found the first two novels to be an almost educational experience. They are, in fact, one complicated love story. The books are almost a how-to in bridging the gaps in dysfunctional relationships. We have the very broken man and the rather inexperienced woman trying to make it work. What sells this concept is the fact that they have problems and talk them out. Who would have thought the racy sex book was really about talking your problems out?!?

I have read interviews with the author where she says that women everywhere are thanking her for making it okay to try new things. I felt like these books made it okay to talk about things, problems, ideas, fetishes, etc. Most women spend half their lives (sometimes longer) learning to tell their significant other what they want but these novels tell us it is okay to talk about what we want, even if it is a little taboo.

All that said, the first two books were a raving success. In the interest of NO SPOILERS, I will only say that the third book had more drama than I expected or desired. The final resolution was Good (with a capital G). Again, the talking is key. And the point of view shift, if read correctly, reveals just how much change occurred in this series. Very well done from a psychological point of view.

Ms. James, I must thank you and curse you for publishing the hopes, dreams, fantasies and nightmares of women all in one series. Thank you for starting the discussion and changing the tide, both in fiction and the lives of the women you reach..

Book Review: Dead Mech

     I just finished Dead Mech by Jake Bible and I feel like a junkie waiting for my next fix. This is not just another zombie story. Yes, the zombie apocalypse has come and gone but some really awesome characters remain. With the mix of techie ingenuity and good old zombie splatter, this book managed to keep me riveted.
     Written in a style the author calls "Drabble," the layout of the novel defies traditional structure. The action packed scenes are crafted into 100 word segments which are then organized into chapters. This made it so easy for an attention-challenged person like me to feel like progress was being made. Not that the book drags, mind you, but by the time I was entrenched in the story I just had to know what was coming up next! This style of writing made me feel like I was speeding down the tracks toward the answers I wanted. No teasing, no excess baggage of words thrown in for filler, just movement toward finding out what the hell happened.   
  The segmented style made it easy to switch between what could have been complicated plotlines. It all flowed effortlessly for me, the reader. I must admit that the "Drabble" style was my second favorite part of the novel. I am more than mildly disappointed to hear that the next part of the Apex Trilogy (as this novel is part one of three) is written in a more traditional format.
    While some of the elements of the story were easy to guess, they often turned out to be a setup for something new and unexpected. Novels in this genre typically spend hundreds of pages to build up the reader's faith in a character only to have them killed off by the end of the story. While some of the characters must neccessarily die, it never felt like random madness. In Dead Mech there was an inevibility to each action, each sacrifice. It made me miss the fallen and root for the survivors even more. Nothing felt meaningless. Wheter this is an effect of the fast-paced writing style or superb storytelling, I cannot say. What I can say is at the end I was satisfied but wanting more.
    My absolute favorite part of this story would have to be... wait for it... The Characters! The author provides almost every personality for the reader, except the typical "save me" damsel in distress. The men are cocky and complicated, nerdy and awkward, strong and secretive. The women, which are as diverse as the men, are strong and complex in their mixture of fearlessness and vulnerability. They are not the women of today but they are the women I want to be with after the zombie apocalypse. In fact, I want to be Harlow when I grow up.
     To say any more runs the risk of giving away key plot elements. I would not dare ruin the experience for another reader. However, I must recomment that you run, don't walk or limb like a zombie, to your nearest Amazon Kindle or other book outlet and get this book. It is great escapism, good post-apocalypse fiction and ripping good time.

Because we all like to make things up...

There is a little liar in all of us... so when I make things up I think I will post it here. More ink forthcoming.