Breakdown of Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

ONE Sentence summary:
Recently graduated with a degree, twenty-one-year-old Anastasia Steele explores her sexuality with perceived-sexual-deviant-successful-billionaire Christian Grey (27 years old).

TWO Things I would have done differently:
I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A DECENT EDITOR. This novel would have been much more respected if it had been tweaked, tightened and generally cleaned up grammatically. (Which is not to say that the writing is bad. The characters are surprisingly well developed and consistent within their own characteristics; she does a good job of describing scenes and place. It's simply fixing the grammar and mechanical errors that would have made for better writing overall.)  

I would have studied up on the ACTUAL dynamics of a Dom/Sub relationship. It's important to know the facts, ma'am.

THREE Titles that if you liked...you will like this:
The Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter (read them, love them)
The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice (Not read, on hold, look for my breakdown soon-ish!) Where I Found It
Over the Knee by Fiona Locke (Never read) Where I Found It

FOUR Reasons to care:
1.) It’s been the top bestseller for quite a few weeks.
2.) The plot explores sexual identity and sexual deviancy.
3.) People typically either LOVE it or HATE it. That doesn’t happen too often.
4.) I smell a movie coming... (up about 36 spots on movie meter on imdb) Where I Found It Where I Also Found It

FIVE Facts about the author:
1.) Fifty Shades is her first novel. Where I Found It
2.) Mother of two teenage boys and they are mortified. Where I Found It
3.) She’s English, living in the US. Where I Found It
4.) She ORIGINALLY started out writing Twilight fanfiction, but her writing EVOLVED. Where I Found It
5.) She has a ‘very cooperative’ husband. Where I Found It

SIX Emotions I felt while reading:
Annoyed, frustrated, shocked, amused, bemused, confused.

SEVEN Thoughts:
1.) What makes sex ‘taboo?’
2.) If you are a bad communicator, are you bad at sex?
3.) When is it okay to say ‘yes’ to physical abuse/violence?
4.) How do YOU determine your own boundaries without the help of someone else?
5.) How does humiliation tie in with feelings of arousal?
6.) What is the connection between being restrained and feeling emotionally free at the same time?
7.) How do Dom/Sub relationships actually function?  

EIGHT Buzzwords:
abuse, love, passion, lust, pornography, sex, pain, money

NINE Plot device/writing techniques/tools/tricks:
1.) Written in present tense
2.) Emails/text/paperwork as a way to reveal information
3.) healthy descriptions
4.) Repetition
5.) Nicknames or monikers for other things
6.) Contract as plot device
7.) Internal voices to add depth to first person
8.) Color as metaphor
9.) Witty dialogue as plot device

TEN Point plot summary:
1.) Ana and Christian meet while Ana is doing an interview for the school paper on behalf of her roommate, Kate.
2.) Christian makes excuses to see Ana again while she prepares for graduation.
3.) Ana keeps her distance, but then after indulging in alcohol, calls Christian to rescue her from a dangerous)  encounter.
4.) Christian whisks her away to his private room at the hotel where he is staying.
5.) Christian verbally introduces Ana to the Dom/Sub world.
6.) Christian provides written paperwork detailing his expectations for her as a submissive, and also asks her to do research on terminology and other definitions.
7.) They “practice” role playing and their relationship continues to escalate.
8.) Ana realizes her feelings for Christian are getting stronger.
9.) Christian returns her feelings, without admitting “love.”
10.) Their physical relationship escalates too quickly and suddenly, then Ana walks out.
(It’s assumed she returns, what with there being two sequels, however. More breakdowns to come!)