50 shades of grey: a version of its own

An erotic edition of Twilight—this is the initial impression I got after reading the first installation of EL James’ Fifty Shades Trilogy, the much anticipated and highly talked about book series across the globe. 

However, my fleeting fancy changes after reading and assessing the entirety of the bestselling, and a forthcoming movie adaptation (I heard) that is the Fifty Shades of Grey.

“When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.”

Christian Grey is a beautiful, goal-oriented, and successful young man, however, his enigmatic and unfathomable personality is due to, unknown to many, his traumatic childhood experience. Anastasia Steele, on the other hand is an open-book, the total opposite of Christian.

The strong attraction between the two blooms a relationship—an involvement that is both carnal and romantic. The ambivalence of Ana and Christian’s love affair is due to their clashing definition of relationship.

Ana has never had a boyfriend thus wants her first partner to be “normal,” usual in the sense that they should go on dates, cuddle every time and have sweet nothings. However, Christian wants Ana in his own terms. The concept of love is alien to Christian hence, he only seems to see Ana as a sexual companion.

Their seemingly irreconcilable differences have been tacitly pointed out at the beginning of their relationship, which draws the line between lust and love. Nonetheless, Christian and Ana insists their budding involvement, thinking that they can persuade and change each other’s perception on relationships.

The plot of the story banks on the attraction of opposite would-be lovers and the acceptance and/or resistance of their personalities. In the end, Ana, though unwillingly, decides to let go of their relationship because Christian cannot seem to offer her the kind of relationship she envisions.

‘Mummy porn’

I have been researching about the book long before I purchased it (which is quite extensive since the book is always sold out in bookstores), and the UK booklist dubbed the Fifty Shades of Grey as a “mummy porn.”

Okay, I thought, there would be the inclusion of Egypt and its concept of mummification. I thought Christian was a mummy of sorts, which justifies why he would not want to be physically touched. (For those who have not read the book, Christian resists physical touches because it brings back memories of his childhood, when he used to be abused.)

Do I ought to read the book twice because I haven’t encountered anything mummy concept? But lo and behold, the “mummy” the UK list is referring to is “mommy/mother/mom/mama” concept! HAHA. I forgot that there is a difference between the British and American spelling, shame on me!

I guess UK is right to classify it as such, only mothers are supposed to read the book. The 50 Shades is actually intended for the mature audience, but since I am curious and intrigued, I bought and read it. And in my defense, I am mature enough to read such stories. *winks*

The details on the sex scenes are detailed, vivid, and well, yeah, erotic. But setting aside its eroticism, the love story is just like any plausible romantic stories. I think that the story is very relatable.  

Twilight-ish

I have read the entire collection of Stephanie Meyer’s novels and I cannot help but compare it with the 50 Shades.

The characters of Twilight and 50 Shades have common denominators. For one, Edward Cullen and Christian Grey both have beautiful faces that left Bella Swan, Anastasia Steele and other girls swooning and drooling. The female protagonists on the other hand, are deemed witty and independent but possessed trivial physical characteristics.

Aside from the physical attributes, Edward and Christian both have secrets and dark pasts, which contextualized their personalities; their enigmatic behaviors both beguiled Bella and Ana.

Christian Grey also often wishes that he wants to read what is in Ana’s mind, which rings a bell when Edward could not fathom what Bella is thinking. Both men also would often remind their partners “to breathe,” as the two girls could not help but be mesmerized with their beauties.

Maybe, EL James simulates some details because the Twilight series is such a huge success.

However, I think that though, there were some elements consciously or unconsciously copied from the vampire series, Fifty Shades is a version of its own, and has its own fan-base.  

Two things though, are for sure: one, any novel injected with love stories and beautiful characters will garner huge followers, and two, I cannot wait to read the second installation of the book, the Fifty Shades Darker, I'm intrigued. 

First impression

Sa uri ng sapatos ba makikita kung ano ang antas sa lipunan ng nagmamaya-ari nito?

Tatlumpong minutong pagkakaupo sa jeep, traffic, morning rush

Nabaling ang tingin pababa, palibhasa’y shoe fetish

May nakatsinelas, sandals, flat shoes, stilettos, rubber shoes –iba iba

Nasa sapin sa paa nga ba masasalamin ang uri ng pagkatao ng tao?

Marahil oo,

Pwede ding hindi

Meron kasing sosyal, nakatsinelas, Havaianas,

Swak sa mamula-mula niyang sakong

May Juan din namang naka-sapatos,

Rubber shoes maghapon

Job description kasi ng isang company driver

Dumating sa paroroonan nang di alam ang kasagutan…

Hindi pala nasasalamin, encompassing, na sabihing ang pagkatao ay makikita sa sapatos

Bagkus, ang uri, istilo, cut,o size  ng sapatos?

Impression, impresyon ang dala. 

"Try and Try Until you Succeed"

Dubbed as one of the It girls of modern society, the ‘multi-slasher’ Divine Lee may be today’s epitome of feat and beauty but unknown to many, she was once a damsel in distress.

Sweet success does not come right off the bat, and Divine knows this very well.

I am a frequent visitor of her blog and I find Divine and her online diary very admirable—sweet and feisty, classic and modern, and elegantly kenkay—traits that separate her from the sea of crowd, despite her coming from a well-off family.

One article/blog entry that struck me the most was her autobiography of sorts for a fashion magazine. Despite her achievements, she chose to write and feature her life failures, titled ‘”Try and Try until You Die.” For full article, here.

"I always knew I was mediocre. . I was tall, but not the tallest; I was doing pretty well to be in the honor roll but never the top, and I was likeable because I was funny and entertaining but never because of beauty or grace."

Everyone has his/her share of mediocre moments because one always wants what his/her neighbors have, thus self-pity and less appreciation self.

I am relatively young and do not have much experiences, good or bad, to brag and share off as I am just “starting” my journey on this so called “real world”, but I can say I can totally relate with Divine’s article. Like her, I also want to experience my own failures (which I know I will, in due time) before eventually getting to the brink of my personal triumph.

Although a daughter of a business mogul, Divine did not just stay behind the shadows of her father or family, rather she opted to make a name for herself in the fashion, retail and entertainment industry. It took her years before finally becoming who she is today a model, host, blogger, entrepreneur and Queen Becky. 

Although successful in those fields, Divine also has “failed” dreams, for instance, she wanted to marry a Prince, “but why settle for a Prince when I already have someone who treats me like a Queen.”

I guess there are some childhood dreams we have to outgrow but one thing is certain, we should never give up.  As Divine would fondly call it, it is okay to be TH, “trying hard”.

"So when you see a glammed up version of me in a shoot or fashion spread.  Remember to never to give up. Because underneath those clothes, makeup and curly hair is already a layer of thick warpaint of life’s struggle.  Remember guys, when someone say that you’re TRYING HARD it just means that you’re consciously making an effort and there’s never any shame in that. Use this as a reminder to TRY HARDER J So if ever anyone makes me sign a slambook again, I would gladly sign TRY AND TRY UNTIL YOU DIE."

hey july!

I would like to debunk the notion that opportunities are scarce and unreachable. Echoing what Bo Sanchez and Byrne’s The Secret said, blessings, breaks and opportunities are unlimited, renewable sources. A god of abundance exists, Sanchez affirmed.

I say amen.

My good friend recently resigned from a fine job post because the “job bored her” and could not see herself growing from her first job. I do not know where she got the courage to discontinue her stint in Corporate Communications, perhaps she also read Bo and Byron? I would like to think that I, sort of, influenced her since I did the same once, I left a notable company for the same reason.

Yep, we are audacious bitches!

However, our decisions do not declare and encourage anybody to be fickle-minded quitters. We are simply following our hearts and guts. My friend is considering shifting career towards Computer Engineering, a pole apart from Journalism. If that would make her happy, who’s there to object?  Good luck to our work ventures and paths, may the odds be with us!

***

Do not be stuck somewhere for too long, yearn growth, but always have in mind: bloom where you are (temporarily) planted.  

May our July be good. J

purse-chase ii

My recent obsessions:

flats from Parisian

kimono top, redhead

bib necklaces <3