The most talk about book of the year must be this trilogy of erotic and romantic novels by British author E. L. James. Some called it “mommy porn” due to the extensive sexual scenes penned throughout the trilogy (extensive might not be the right word, it should be super extensive!) which appeals well to the female/housewives readers, with most reviews noting its poor literary qualities of the work. But all the negative reviews didn’t stop curious people like me to get hold of a copy of trilogy, just to find out what is all the fuss/rave about…

Fifty Shades reminded me a lot on Twilight, with the same quirky awkward heroine and a broken but extremely lovable heartthrob hero (ok fine girls will always have a soft spot for broken but handsome guys), minus the supernatural flair. The 1st book, Fifty Shades of Grey is a little slow in building up the plot, but the following volume, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed added some suspense and tension when Ana and Christian took their relationship to a deeper level in lightning speed…. (I still wonder how people could just get married after just one month dating/f*cking). The trilogy also offer some insights to BDSM (a sexual lifestyle that you have to google yourself for self educating purposes). I finished all 3 books in about 2 weeks in between my 4 days Vietnam trip which I was glad to have downloaded the eBooks into my iPad cause I had lots of time to kill there. 

Overall, Fifty Shades are very easy to read (I meant the literacy wise, not the super extensive sexual scenes) partly due to the many email exchanges between Ana and Christian. I’m not super picky over the literary qualities of the book (never into those heavy English literature anyway), it was just a fairytale that offer some fantasies, some desires, some hopes that things will always turn out well, one way or another. And just like all the other fairytale, the story ended with a happy ending whereby Ana and Christian live happily ever after…. I can’t help but wonder (I miss SATC!), where’s my happily ever after?