Here We Go Again: My Second Encounter with Mr. Grey

"I'm a sadist"

As we all know Fifty Shades Darker is the second installment in the Fifty Shades Trilogy. After reading the first one, Fifty Shades of Grey, I really didn't know what to expect from this book. Usually the first book sets everything up and is exciting because everything we are being exposed to is new, and then we get to the second book and it's like..okay..what now? In this book we get the continuation of the erotic love story between Mr. Christian Grey and Anastasia Steel. I feel like I don't know what to say about this installment. I was taken aback by the first book but this second book was just okay. Nothing spectacular for me to marvel at. I've heard the third book is people's favorite book so I'm interested to see what's next for the married couple. 

I had a couple issues with this book but at the same time there were things I really liked. I really thought this second book did a great job at portraying the modern day Prince Charming. For girls, Prince Charming is this perfect guy who is supposed to ride up on a white stallion and sweep you off your feet. Granted, Christian does sweep Ana off her feet but there is no white stallion and their are actual flaws. In today's world, even the most "perfect" guy has insecurities which I can respect. I like that even though Grey is this super sexy, multi-billion dollar mogul he still has deep seeded issues that shine through. He is a real man with a flaw, a sadistic flaw, but a flaw none the less. I can see why so many women have fallen in love with him. Ana even has her own insecurities and even though her and Grey have gone through very different life experiences they both do not feel good enough for each other. These are realistic insecurities that come up in relationships. I must say, I thought Grey's official wedding proposal was beautiful. "You have my heart, and here are the flowers". I even shed a tear, and I am not a book or movie crier. 

The only thing I didn't like about the book was around page 200 when I feel that Ana loses her independence. She allows Grey to order for her without any hesitation. In the first book this would not have been accepted. Her independence rears it's head up every now and then but by the end of the book she has given herself completely to Grey. I don't know, maybe this is how "can't live without each other love" is supposed to go! I'm also a little disturbed by how quickly this relationship evolved. From a chance meeting to marriage in the span of a month. The magic of books and movies. I will let this slide for the time being. 

I'm interested to see how the series ends, but I think I need a break from Mr. Christian Grey, but not to long of a break. Until next time..

S.