I first heard about Fifty Shades from a SNL skit of all places. The Mother's Day skit made me think that the title was leaving women of all ages hot and bothered and decided to give it a try.

I've been trying to find an erotic fiction that meets the caliber of the first story I read in the genre, Anne Rice's The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty,for years. Unfortunately this wasn't the one. Now don't get me wrong, the story was good but it left me wanting more. I thought I was going to get some "chocolate hot fudge brownie sex" when instead what I got was "vanilla" sex with a few spanking Jimmy's on top.

E. L James has a writing style that makes me think she must be new to the publishing world. Being a big reader I've discovered that when an author starts with their first novel they tend to be simpler and make some common literary faux pas that an experienced writer has learned to avoid. Example: James relies upon her her title' Fifty shades, far to much. She used it so often that I found my self rolling my eyes with fifty shades of annoyance. Also she put the main character, Anastasia's inner goddess and her subconscious up to bat in excess. It was almost like she couldn't find a new way of telling us what she was thinking and feeling without this image of " “My inner goddess is doing the meringue with some salsa moves.” “My inner goddess sits in the lotus position looking serene except for the sly, self-congratulatory smile on her face.” “My inner goddess jumps up and down with cheer-leading pom-poms shouting yes at me.” “My inner goddess looks like someone snatched her ice cream.” or “My subconscious purses her lips and mouths the word ‘ho.’ I ignore her.” “Sitting beside me, he gently pulls my sweatpants down again. Up and down like whores’ drawers, my subconscious remarks bitterly. In my head, I tell her where to go.” still with that being said I look forward to the next two books because with experience comes higher quality of writing.

On the bright side it did leave me wanting more. I'm bursting to read book 2 and 3 and by the titles, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, I'm hoping they'll have more kink to them. I couldn't put this book down and spent an entire rainy day engulfed in the plot and the characters but just not aroused. It did give me an idea for a fun night though involving a blind fold and my mp3 player with headphones.

Many publications are coining this book as "mom porn". I think that may be an accurate description of this book because if you're someone who hasn't been exposed to much in way of erotic fiction or bondage than this maybe risque for you. I'm sure many individuals will get their rocks off with this one but for me it was far too tame and it was a big tease with its tastes of the "red room of pain".

What it all boils down to is if you're looking for a good book that you can get wrapped u in with interesting characters and a captivating love story then this read is for you. If you want a hard core tie them up, whip them good bondage story that will leave your panties dripping try The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty.