So, I was reading FIFTY, the other day, when my DrawSomething game beeped. I wandered on over to the virtual world to play a Michigan opponent, with whom I've had a relationship for some time. When it was my turn to draw, I selected the word "puppet" and proceeded to sketch a stage with a character dangling by his arms from its imaginary ceiling. My gal-pal guessed correctly and then messaged me, "Jeesh, at first I thought it was someone chained down to a bed - I guess I'm reading too much FIFTY!" Hey, you've just got to stay current, ya know? 'Twas a funny coincidence...
Oooh-kay, back to the book. Yep, it's as raunchy as you've heard; but I was told that the second and third books delve into what makes Mr. Grey tick, a fact that possibly justifies the read?? The thinking is that the works then qualify for a more worthwhile status, possibly bumping them from porn (my rating) to romance??? Never, as in not ever, could they be classified as literature.
I started FIFTY right after finishing LITTLE BEE, a book I'd promised to review a little more thoroughly but never did. It was terrific. It is classified as literature. Really. Chris Cleave is a master wordsmith. He applies his well-honed craft to telling the story of two women, each a narrator. The reader gets to know them well... how they think, speak, react and yearn. Little Bee is always considering her options for "checking out" of life, if need be... an interesting characteristic in a complex character. Each woman desires a sense of peace. They unite in an unlikely bond, each with her goal well preserved, subconsciously. It's a great read, one I highly recommend. I'll bet my iPad contains fifty saved notes of phrasing that I'll read and reread, over the years, from this book alone.
MERGE INTERRUPTED
Get this...
No sooner had I typed the first three paragraphs, when in rolled Bri and the local KidGrands. We crammed a lot into an hour, including a little djembe playing. Thing is, I've got two drums here; we needed a third. Not to worry. We used the drum app on... yep, you guessed it... my iPad. Guilty pleasures merged.
