Do books change the way we live?

You hear and read all the time about how television, films, music and video games affect people and they way in which they think and live, but I have never heard that say about books. Why? Book's have just as much power, if not more, over people, so why do we never discourage people from reading a book because it will influence them in some way?

The reason I ask, is because recently a very close friend of mine changed her whole life after reading a book. The book in question... Fifty Shades of Grey. She had her own home, a comfortable job, in a stable relationship and was planning her wedding. She thought her fiance was everything that she wanted in a man and was preparing to settle down with him and spend the rest of their lives together.

Fifty Shades of Grey changed all of that.

Ok, well maybe it wasn't 100 per cent the books fault. But after reading the book, seeds where planted and she found herself with the realisation that she wanted more from life, wanted to travel, move, try a new career and more importantly she wanted to be with a man who wanted to do all of those things with her and more.

The reality was that he didn't want to change any aspect of there lives and he was happy being who he is. Refusing to compromise, she now finds herself as a newly single woman with a stack of CV's ready to send down to London.

Like millions of women around the world she wants to find her Mr Grey. Her's is a  man who will treat her the way that she wants to be treated, will help fulfill her adventurous side and support her in reaching for her dreams.

As a friend, I will support her with all of the decisions that she makes, but deep down I know that Mr Grey doesn't really exist. Just like men and romance in films, the reality is always very different. But, hey, that's life!

I am sure there are women all around the world who have changed there lives after reading a book, but this was my first hand experience that I wanted to share. For me, this story proves how insanely powerful books can be, which is why I love them.

Now back to reading A Charming Man x

Fifty Shades of Grey - The Review

Unless you have been living on the moon for the last few weeks you have surely heard/read people talking about this book, come across a status or tweet update on Social Media or even read it yourself. It is the fastest selling book of all time in both paper and digital formats and has been dubbed as ‘mummy porn.’ As one to always jump on the bandwagon I thought I’d see what all the fuss was about…

Reading the blurb on the back it seemed like the kind of book that I would normally read, how wrong I was as this is definitely not chick lit.

Fifty Shades of Grey is the debut novel from E L James and it forms part of a trilogy with Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed proceeding. As far as debut novels go I would say that this is by far the most successful and has managed to reach women, and men, of all ages and from all walks of life. Not only has it reached all these people but it has actually managed to stir up something in people and got them reading.

For the first time ever, I have come into work and everyone is talking about a book, not a tacky reality programme on the TV, or the latest celebrity gossip or even office gossip, but a book. Fifty Shades of Grey appears to have done what Harry Potter did for children and Twilight did for teenage girls.

Now onto the story… the book has been dubbed mummy porn so in all honestly I didn’t know what to expect. However I was still shocked and a little taken aback by the erotic nature of the story, something that I wasn’t expecting to happen in so much detail, maybe it’s just the prude in me. With this being said, I read on. Once I had gotten over the sexual encounters I was able to focus on the actual story itself and managed to get used to spanking, metal balls and ties.

Anastasia Steele is a shy young and innocent college graduate. Christian Gray is a billionaire playboy with a troubled passed with a need to control and dominate every aspect of his life and a rather unusual preference when it comes to sex. After a one off meeting, where Ana is interviewing Christian for the college newspaper, she falls for the charms of the mystic creature that is Mr Gray and he too becomes intrigued by the young Ms Steele that stumbled into his office.

Without giving too much away, Fifty Shades of Gray explores forbidden love- Ana falls head over heels for a man that seems unable to convey any emotions and says “I don’t make love, I fuck.” A story that you may say has been told so many times before, however James has taken a new approach to the age old tale and created something that the modern day women, from the Sex and the City era, can connect with and enjoy.

I have to admit that I did struggle to get into the book and connect with the characters at the beginning, but I was told to stick with it and I did and am pleased to say that I am glad I did. While the writing isn’t the best I have ever read, (I lost count the number of times that Ana flushed or blushed crimson) you kind of forget about it and become too engrossed in the love story unfolding before you. 

I am now onto Fifty Shades Darker and am desperately looking forward to reading where this fascinating story goes.

Fifty Shades of Grey get a 3/5 from me

Until next time, keep reading! x