I'm back! And this time, it's about an international blockbuster sensation. E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey.
Now, before I start, I'd just like to say that three days before the movie premiered here in Cebu, I had visited a friend's house and saw the book laying on her table. And since the book came out 4 years ago, it had gained international acclaim and therefore, I asked if I could read it. I'm not into romance novels as I'm more into science, sci-fi, history, technology or military genres. But I decided to swallow the bullet for once and actually read it. In fact, I will tell you that I read only the first page of the first chapter and immediately decided that it just wasn't for me and never will be. Now at this time, since the book was in my hands, I remembered another friend of mine had told me a long while back that if it is boring, go to Plan B.
Plan B was rather simple, actually: Skip everything and go to the center of the book where the protagonists, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, make love. And, by golly, it was astonishing! For the first time in my life, I had completely forgotten about science, sci-fi, history, technology and military genres and their associated hardware. I had even forgotten about the next Formula One race (Yes, I abhor the 1.6L Turbo-charged V-6 engines that sound like an asthmatic breathing through a straw but I still am an avid fan). I had forgotten my beliefs, values and ideologies and indulged myself in the sensual savagery that was unfolding before my very eyes. I'd never known such passion and desire and lust. Well, naturally, because I'd never read a romance-genre novel before. It was so intense that I decided to close the book. It was just absolutely too much for me.
Now, before I start, I'd just like to say that three days before the movie premiered here in Cebu, I had visited a friend's house and saw the book laying on her table. And since the book came out 4 years ago, it had gained international acclaim and therefore, I asked if I could read it. I'm not into romance novels as I'm more into science, sci-fi, history, technology or military genres. But I decided to swallow the bullet for once and actually read it. In fact, I will tell you that I read only the first page of the first chapter and immediately decided that it just wasn't for me and never will be. Now at this time, since the book was in my hands, I remembered another friend of mine had told me a long while back that if it is boring, go to Plan B.
Plan B was rather simple, actually: Skip everything and go to the center of the book where the protagonists, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, make love. And, by golly, it was astonishing! For the first time in my life, I had completely forgotten about science, sci-fi, history, technology and military genres and their associated hardware. I had even forgotten about the next Formula One race (Yes, I abhor the 1.6L Turbo-charged V-6 engines that sound like an asthmatic breathing through a straw but I still am an avid fan). I had forgotten my beliefs, values and ideologies and indulged myself in the sensual savagery that was unfolding before my very eyes. I'd never known such passion and desire and lust. Well, naturally, because I'd never read a romance-genre novel before. It was so intense that I decided to close the book. It was just absolutely too much for me.
