On Saturday night after a busy day with my little girl, I decided to relax and unwind by finally purchasing the controversial book, Fifty Shades of Grey, written by E L James. I used the iBook feature on my iPad to download an electronic version of the book and even tweeted that it was time for me to see for myself what the buzz was about.
I first learned about Fifty Shades of Grey during a Today Show segment that discussed how downright “nasty and sexual perverted” the book was. It seemed that all of America already knew about the book and it was heralded as porn for the Desperate Housewives sect (otherwise coined as Mommy Porn by the media). I found it puzzling that some people were up in arms over a book written by an adult for adults that included graphic sexual situations. I could see if it was a book written for teens or children, but it isn’t. Not sure what the big deal was, I made a note to read the book myself.
I mean, as a pop culture enthusiast who makes it a point knowing everything that pertains to the latest buzz, I needed to read it for myself and make my own judgment.
The book has been banned by several public libraries across the United States and that also made me snicker. Erotica and sexually explicit has been in our libraries for years (see Lolita, which was written about an underage teen girl having sex with a grown man). Again, a book written about sex between two consenting adults isn’t something that is for the prudish, but should definitely not be banned from the library.
As a teen and young adult, I read books that went into great detail about sex and included some pretty graphic scenes. Urban erotica author Zane came to prominence in the early 2000′s, and her books were very explicit as well as graphic, and was even turned into a cable after dark series. I don’t recall and cries about banning Zane, so I still couldn’t fathom what the big deal was about Fifty Shades of Grey.
I am more than halfway through the book, and while I have blushed at some of the graphic details in the text, it’s nothing to get anyone’s panties in a bunch about. Yes, there are scenes of dominance and submission, but nothing inhumane or graphically violent, or downright OMG worthy.
I think Fifty Shades of Grey is embarrassing for some because it’s key demographic (Caucasian women who are housewives) may not be having the type of sex that Anastasia (the lead female character) is having in the book. Doing whatever it takes to please a man sexually (and consensually of course), may cause some people in this group to raise their eyebrows. Even in this day and age, sex is still a taboo subject in some circles, and because of this, some are not comfortable discussing (or reading) about a couple who enjoy their sexual pleasures.
There is also the theme of the female character submitting herself wholeheartedly to the male character. If anyone should be speaking about this book, it should be the members of the feminist movement. But the Today Show, and all of these other talk shows and entertainment shows speaking about how taken aback they are of the book. Puh-leese!
{Much to do about nothing…}
The tone of the book is somewhat condescending. The main female character is a virgin and is swept off of her feet by the male lead character who is rich and powerful. She succumbs to the male, allowing him to project his will onto her. In doing so, she actually finds out that she enjoys sex and the emotional and physical bonding it brings. Yes, it takes this guy for her to see all of this. He is her savior, and she should be glad that she met him and he gave her the opportunity to discover good sex.
I can see why one would have a problem with the overall “tale” and how it’s spun. But the media is focusing its energy on the sexual trysts in the book more so than the theme.
With me being midway into the book, I am still waiting for the page that is going to make me say, “Yeah, now I see what all of the hub bub is about”. So maybe it’s still too early for me to speak out on my thoughts about the book. But I am rather disappointed so far about the controversy against the actual text I am reading. It’s like the pundits are talking about a different book.
Is Fifty Shades of Grey a good book? Hells yeah. It’s sexy, provocative, and I am enjoying it thus far. Does it deserve all of this media attention? Perhaps, not.
Have you read Fifty Shades of Grey or the other two books in James’ trilogy, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed? Were you totally grossed out and appalled? Let’s say you!
Photo credit: EW
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