As masses of women storm the streets to get their hands on the smutty sensation that has become Fifty Shades of Grey, I too must admit I was amongst them. As an avid reader that keeps her mind open to all kinds of literature you bet your ass I was not going to pass by this erotic tale that had libraries quickly banning it from their shelves. Without further ado, her are my thoughts on the racey novel.
Caution: If you're a prude or even a bit feint of heart this is fair warning to stay fifty feet away from Fifty Shades of Grey.
Fifty Shades, aka BDSM 101, was one hell of a ride--pun definitely intended. E.L. James gives new meaning to emotionally fucked-up when it comes to Christian Grey. (Sorry for the language, but I'm just keeping in tone with the novel.) How can one person be so intelligent, sweet, successful, funny, and charismatic yet totally demanding, moody, depressed, domineering, and scary? This conundrum is what kept me reading. Trying to figure out his past and what haunts Grey is what will probably have me reading the next two books as well.
As for Ana, I found her both annoying and strong. Her obsession with his beauty was a bit extreme. I didn't need to be reminded every other page that she was shocked again and again by his handsome face and physique. Also, her wishy-washy feelings at times about his punishments were frustrating. One moment she's aroused the next she's horrified. To me, it just made Ana a bit scattered and immature. Then again, that is kind of the crux of the story--an older hot man seducing a younger, naive girl--so I did try to overlook it the best I could. What did appeal to me about her character is her strength not to completely submit to Christian. She never entirely loses herself in him no matter how infatuated she is. I like that she has wit and sarcasm and continues to push for answers from Christian. Ultimately. I think that is what also makes her stand out to Christian as well.
Lastly, I must address the last character in this story--SEX! Being an erotica-genre virgin (HA, I really must stop with these puns!), this was definitely an interesting, unique read for me. I'm not going to lie, the BDSM had me cringing and squirming right along with Ana. It was definitely hard to wrap my legs, I mean my head (okay, that's the last one, Scout's Honor) around the fact that people actually do this shit, but the more I read the less judgemental I became. I came to the conclusion that if both parties are willing, whatever floats your boat I guess. Surprisingly, the scenes that I actually found the hottest were the plain "vanilla sex" encounters as Mr. Grey likes to call them. Ana and Christian were both the most honest and emotionally connected during those times and as a romantic at heart who truly believes that sex is never just sex I found those the most believable and enjoyable as a reader. With that in mind, I think it's safe to say I'd be no match for Mr. Grey either.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
The Unemployed Graduate
From little on it's all laid out for you in a nice, neat timeline: 1.)preschool, 2.)elementary school, 3.)middle school, 4.)high school, 5.)college, and finally 6.)start your own life. What they failed to tell you was how hard the jump from number five to number six truly is in reality. The persistant student that has met all of these steps and often times has even went above and beyond suddenly has to face the cruel reality that the world as it is today may not have an opening for them. The bright future that was promised should finally be in your grasp, but thanks to a little thing called the economy you find yourself screwed. After a few failed applications, you start to think this is harder than you expected. After a few hundred applications, you realize damn this is frustrating. After a couple years worth of applying, you can sum it up into one, exhuastive expletive--SHIT!
At least that's the word I would use to sum up the past two years of my life. I was the picture of achievement graduating high school with a 4.0, eager and excited to embark upon my college years. I knew it was the final hurdle I had to jump before beginning my real life and entering the workforce. After five years of studying, writing papers, student teaching, and dare I say it a little partying and fun, five years later I had finally arrived. I was a college graduate with an elementary education degree. So color me surprised when what I thought should have been the golden treasure at the end of the rainbow actually turned out to be me moving back home broke, unemployed, and living with my parents. I had officially become the unemployed graduate--a name many of my friends and fellow graduates also claim.
Don't get me wrong, I have gotten interviews, but they have all ended with heartbreaking condolenses of We've decided to go in a different direction or Thanks for your time, but we have chosen someone else, or my favorite We went with someone who had more experience. Cut to me pounding my head into the wall. Experience?! Really?!! I don't know if companies realize this but I cannot supply experience until someone offers me some experience.
Let us not forget the time and effort that goes into applying and interviewing for these positions as well. They ask for nothing short of your entire life in paper: resume, licenses, letters of recommendation, contacts, cover letters, transcripts, finger prints, drug tests, background checks, character/personality tests, personal essays, and any other means in which to discern if you're the "right candidate." At this point, the only thing I haven't been asked for on an application is my bra size and I'm sure in a few short years that will become standard as well. Interviewing is even worse. Let's not forget that to even get an interview that you're usually competing against hundreds of other applicants. That's a feat in itself, but then comes the actual interview. Nothing makes you feel smaller than entering a room with anywhere from six to ten people all there observing your every move, word, and breath while they advise you to relax and just be yourself. Yeah, easy for them to say. They aren't worrying about the fact that if they don't get this job they only have three short months until their parents health insurance expires and loans kick in. Deep breaths don't really cut it at that point. Preparing by looking through one hundred plus interview questions is more like it, and even then they usually still find a way to ask you that one question you're not quite sure how to answer completely ambushing your confidence. Even worse, you might have the perfect interview where you feel like you have got it in the bag only to be devastated by the fact that it came down to you and another candidate and they wish you the best of luck.
So there's the past two years of my life in a nutshell. It's down right dreary and as you can see it's made me a bit cynical. I cannot help but asking what now? Do I keep at it? Do I choose a different path? More importantly, when will my luck kick in?
At least that's the word I would use to sum up the past two years of my life. I was the picture of achievement graduating high school with a 4.0, eager and excited to embark upon my college years. I knew it was the final hurdle I had to jump before beginning my real life and entering the workforce. After five years of studying, writing papers, student teaching, and dare I say it a little partying and fun, five years later I had finally arrived. I was a college graduate with an elementary education degree. So color me surprised when what I thought should have been the golden treasure at the end of the rainbow actually turned out to be me moving back home broke, unemployed, and living with my parents. I had officially become the unemployed graduate--a name many of my friends and fellow graduates also claim.
Don't get me wrong, I have gotten interviews, but they have all ended with heartbreaking condolenses of We've decided to go in a different direction or Thanks for your time, but we have chosen someone else, or my favorite We went with someone who had more experience. Cut to me pounding my head into the wall. Experience?! Really?!! I don't know if companies realize this but I cannot supply experience until someone offers me some experience.
Let us not forget the time and effort that goes into applying and interviewing for these positions as well. They ask for nothing short of your entire life in paper: resume, licenses, letters of recommendation, contacts, cover letters, transcripts, finger prints, drug tests, background checks, character/personality tests, personal essays, and any other means in which to discern if you're the "right candidate." At this point, the only thing I haven't been asked for on an application is my bra size and I'm sure in a few short years that will become standard as well. Interviewing is even worse. Let's not forget that to even get an interview that you're usually competing against hundreds of other applicants. That's a feat in itself, but then comes the actual interview. Nothing makes you feel smaller than entering a room with anywhere from six to ten people all there observing your every move, word, and breath while they advise you to relax and just be yourself. Yeah, easy for them to say. They aren't worrying about the fact that if they don't get this job they only have three short months until their parents health insurance expires and loans kick in. Deep breaths don't really cut it at that point. Preparing by looking through one hundred plus interview questions is more like it, and even then they usually still find a way to ask you that one question you're not quite sure how to answer completely ambushing your confidence. Even worse, you might have the perfect interview where you feel like you have got it in the bag only to be devastated by the fact that it came down to you and another candidate and they wish you the best of luck.
So there's the past two years of my life in a nutshell. It's down right dreary and as you can see it's made me a bit cynical. I cannot help but asking what now? Do I keep at it? Do I choose a different path? More importantly, when will my luck kick in?
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