Grey

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 29 JUN 2015

In this mediocre erotic romance that lacks both passion and intimacy, the events of Fifty Shades of Grey are retold from Christian Grey's perspective, allowing readers to see inside the mind of the enigmatic, domineering businessman as he seduces and falls for college student Anastasia Steele. It's a perfect portrayal of an unhealthy relationship, as Grey, here shown to be an immature, self-loathing sadist with mother issues, attempts to lure a sexually inexperienced young woman into an ill-considered, unconvincing BDSM arrangement for which she's not suited. Furthermore, in switching vantage points, James sadly demonstrates a glaring inability to depict a convincing male perspective. Grey's inner voice shows him to be obsessive, possessive, insecure, and needy, with a tendency to treat and view Ana like a child rather than an adult potential lover. This version mirrors the source material so well that it adds very little to the story, merely filtering the events through a less sympathetic lens. "Yeah, yeah, baby, it's just a face and it's only skin deep. I need to dispel that admiring look from those eyes, but let's have some fun in the process!" thinks Grey upon first meeting Ana, and it's all downhill from there.