Book Review – Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James

Fifty Shades Darker: Book Two of the Fifty Shades Trilogy
09/26/2011 20:03 – I’m delirious with both love for this series, and lack of sleep. Actually, I’m zombified. As much as I love to sleep, I apparently love to read more, and I’m starting to equate exhaustion with happiness.

09/27/2011 19:15 – Hehe. That was written last night (after I finished reading this book). I immediately “fired up” a review, ’cause I was so excited to tell you guys about it. But, it wasn’t going well. I kept backspacing everything. Nothing sounded right (except for that part, so I kept it). The book (or both of these books) are now at the top of my favorites list!! How could this not be the easiest book to review, since I loved it so much? But I shrugged and put it aside, and decided to cozy up on the couch and reflect on the book, instead. I was good with that. More “imaginary” time with Christian Grey.

And my brain fatigue was confirmed, when my husband pointed something out to me, as I was speaking to him a bit later. He couldn’t understand what I was saying. I realized I was mumbling. So I repeated. After a few attempts he requested I stop, and articulate each word carefully.

“Ahhh” he said. “Finally. Real words.”

What!!? Noooo! Come on! I was talking good! (tee hee! I know, you’re cringing at my grammar, but that was about right for my brain function, last night). I told him I had been saying that same thing the first three tries, but he insists it was all gibberish at first. *Woops*. Maybe I did need some sleep, after all? Imagine writing a review in that “mode”? Well, at least I tried 😉

But I’m all better now. And I’ve been having fun all day, with my Facebook bff’s, all in a “Grey” frenzy. They’re each at different stages of the books, and I can’t wait to go over every little detail with ’em. It’s all spoilers right now though, so Mum’s the word. I, myself, experienced quite a few *shocks* in book #2, and they were SO worth it.

So… the big question. Was this book as earth shattering as it’s predecessor? Many told me book #2 would be better.

Jessie said: “I loved FSoG but book 2 is even better!!”

Lori said: “1/4 of the way through Fifty Shades Darker and so far I think he has me even more hot and bothered.”

and Tina, the one who kicked off this weekend’s book frenzy by recommending the series said  “the second installment Fifty Shades Darker is even better”

I was doubtful that anything could be better than #1. How could it keep up with that angst? All the “what will she accept?”, “what will he accept?”, all the scary “firsts” (and there were TONS of them). Just plain exciting, thrilling, nerve wracking but soooooo romantic in a yearning kind of way (and yearning, pretty much, for the impossible). After all, Christian Grey is no ordinary man. No. He. Is. Not.

I didn’t think book #1 could be beat, but I was simply thrilled my Christian Grey journey didn’t have to end so soon. I already loved book #2 just for that fact alone. But it also had a great start, various, unrelated, iffy situations that kept presenting themselves, and eventual snowballing for each and every one of ’em. Something had to give. This book was as good, for sure, but I still didn’t see “better”.

And then… I did.

OMG. I died. I totally did, all “book-reader-style”. You know… when something that you are afraid is going to happen, or you don’t expect to happen… does? And you think your heart just stopped.

You suddenly start reading in slow motion. You can practically hear your heart beating. Your breath catches. You can hear tiny, forced… gasps. That’s you, isn’t it? Shallow breathing? Your mouth is slightly ajar, and you don’t even perceive your actual surroundings. And then, your world does a weird closeup focus zoom-in thing, right to the words in your book. That whole movement, around you. Your walls. Your “real-life” surroundings… everything around you sorta blurs and moves to the direction of your book… to what is happening. Your realization that what just happened, did. You’re not here anymore. You’re THERE. You know how that is. You’ve done it before.

I’ve done that. I LOVE when it happens. When that happens, it’s a sure-fire way to practically guarantee a book will end up in my top list. But I’ve never “died” like I did in this one. My heart skipped a beat. I re-read that paragraph three times, just to be sure I was understanding correctly. Yup. It was what I thought it was.

And then I facebooked my friends:

“OMG… Reading book 2 of Fifty Shades of Grey, I’m about halfway through and something so shocking just happened… I didn’t see it coming, and then all of the sudden I knew it would, and then… it did. Oh wow. My heart…”

I emailed Tina (she read it before I did, so she knew where I was coming from):

“I saw it coming, I was all oh God no… Whatever chapter this is… Just officially made this book better than the 1st. What sad, gripping, loving, emotional intensity. WOW”

“This chapter is relentless… My heart just keeps breaking over and over again. How bad does it make me to admit that I love this book even more because of it?”

I’m not kidding. This book rocked my world. Oh I know. You’ve heard me say it before, and it’s always been true. But this one… *shakes head and grins*

All of this, and I haven’t even really told you what the book is about, now, have I? Okay so *SPOILER ALERT* to all of you who haven’t finished Grey#1. Walk out now!!! Okay and those of you who have only JUST started Grey #2… you guys gotta go, too. Sorry. Love ya’all, but I don’t wanna break the books for you (and you remember how book #1 ended right? ). Get through the first quarter, at least, then you’re good to come back.

You must experience each and every moment clueless, so you can have all that crazy slow motion zoomy stuff happen, in full effect!! Are you gone? Are you sure? Come back when it’s time!

Okay, so this one. You know how #1 ended, right? ACK!!! How horribly heartbreaking?!

He was all, “Nooooo! I need you!”

And she was all “Nuh uh! You crazy! Buh bye!”

So fun, but pretty much the gist of it. Of course, much more eloquently worded, and a few swear words to boot! I felt her though. Totally did. I mean, she asked for it, but… I think that would have been my reaction too.

But it’s her secondary reaction… THAT too, reflected my sentiments, exactly. The pain of missing him being so much worse then… well. You know.

I miss him. It’s been five days, five days of agony that has felt like an eternity.

I wrap my arms around my body, hugging myself tightly, holding myself together. I miss him. I really miss him… I love him. Simple.

And then, they try again. He’s come to a realization, and one that fits her “more” perfectly. He wants her so much, that he’s willing to forgo what he knows… what he likes, to be with her. Awwwwww LOVE HIM!!!!

His tortured expression haunts me. I remember he didn’t want me to go, which was odd. Why would I stay when things had reached such an impasse? We were each skirting around our own issues – my fear of punishment, his fear of… what? Love?

But how long can that last? Is it just shell shock from losing her, that he drops his “normal” for hers.

“I’m anything but fine. I feel like the sun has set and not risen for five days, Ana. I’m in perpetual night here.”

I’m winded by his admission. Oh my, like me.

“You said you’d never leave, yet the going gets tough and you’re out the door.”

“When did I say I’d never leave?”

“In your sleep. It was the most comforting thing I’d heard in so long, Anastasia. It made me relax.”

My heart constricts and I reach for my wine.

“You said you loved me,” he whispers. “Is that now in the past tense?”

I mean, he’s learned a seriously strange coping skill, to overcome his horrific past. It’s been working for him (wonderfully in terms of his success), however, does what she offer him, make his life better, or will it come crashing down later?

“No punishments.” He shakes his head. “None.”

“And the rules?”

“No rules.”

“None at all? But you have needs.”

“I need you more, Anastasia.”

Those are her worries. They were mine too. Are they still? Ah-ah-ahhhhh. Not telling. This is literally as far as I’m going with the story telling of this review. There is SO much to contend with in this book.

1. Her independence and her “normal” remaining intact.
2. His “new” attempt at her normal to keep her in his life.
3. His past coming back to haunt him (past torments, past lovers, past needs to overcome his anguish).

Dangers to them both! Dangers? After all, this isn’t a paranormal book. What could be so dangerous? Trust me. Stuff happens. Lots of it. Okay, so no sexy fanged bitey-guy tries to steal his girl (or does one?! Tee hee!!!). Maybe he doesn’t have to fight some dark creature in an alley over a power struggle… but he has enough “dark” in him for both of them to grapple with, along with *other stuff*. Let’s just say, they are both still… haunted.

Christian’s “Fifty Shades” come to life in true technicolor in this one, and Ana’s ability to decipher and deal with his every facet made me love her even more. Oh she makes mistakes, but I could truly relate to her thought process (when she trying to be logical), and her instinctual reactions (when she was going on feeling, alone). She may know better, but sometimes, she lets her emotions get the best of her. After all, they are both only human. Come to think of it, I’m really getting a kick out of all these humans I’ve been reading about. Who knew mere mortals could be so addictive?! 😉

And I’m going to leave it at that. THIS BOOK ROCKS (in a rock-your-world kind of way)!! No rock stars, but Christian Grey is a rock star in his own world, and he’s certainly a bad-boy after my own heart!! Has he become my #1?

Well, after this gratuitous shower pic… what do you think!?

And hey! They took LOTS of showers in this book, and one very touching scene occurred during a shower, and this remains my “Christian Grey”, so it fits this book perfectly!! It’s just a bit suggestive, right? Not much. Just a bit 😉 *blush*

P.S. I told you guys I’d find us another one! Remember, in a recent post, when I promised to continue my quest for another crazy-awesome book? I told ya’all… I got this! And I did good, didn’t I? Well… actually, Tina did good 😉 Now on to find our next frenzy-inducer. Think we can top this one? Oh and! Guess what! It’s a trilogy so there is a third book to go!!! I don’t know the release date yet, but as soon as I do, you know I’ll announce it!

UPDATE!!! I just saw on the author’s Twitter page – she answered someone’s question in regards to the release of #3:

“The third one? Should be in January. :)”

What a way to kick off the new year!!!!

5 stars!!!

Interested in the series? —> E.L. James – Fifty Shades Trilogy Reading Order