Dissecting Grey's anatomy

(First of Two Parts) Fifty Shades of Grey.Fifty Shades Darker.Fifty Shades Freed.

The erotic trilogy penned by 49-year-old British novelist E.L. James has caught the literary world by storm. Critics can bash all they want, saying that in no way can it be considered a literary gem. But its gargantuan sales, the impact it has created on relationships and marriages, the crazy way it has set Hollywood ablaze with its highly-anticipated film version plus the Fifty Shades of Grey magazine, the Fifty Shades of Grey classical album — the list goes on.

Who can argue with its unexpected success?

Okay, let me now join the fray, since everyone has been talking about it anyway.

Have you read the trilogy? If you have, may I just wish out loud that you are of legal age, no longer a minor and hopefully not a teenager who might not understand fully the emotional and sexual trappings of the Fifty Shades trilogy? I hope you are a mature adult because in my opinion, if you are too young to understand its explicit content, you might end up carelessly trying out what you’ve just read and that might get you into trouble with your boyfriend. So to all parents out there, I hope your teens are mature enough if ever Fifty Shades lands on their lap, what with all the hoopla surrounding it.

Back to my question: Have you read Fifty Shades?

I have.

And at 41, let me shyly admit to you that this is the first erotic novel of its kind that I’ve read in my whole life. The first erotica I’ve read which tackles the controversial topic of BDSM.

Indeed, a far cry from the Sweet Dreams and Sweet Valley High that I read in high school, the stories of which I vaguely remember now. All I remember though was that I wasn’t too shocked reading these when I was a teen.

In my late 30s, I read the Twilight Saga. But that didn’t shock me either. In fact, I found the trilogy by Stephenie Meyer a bit “high school-ish.”

And now at my 40s, I get to read Fifty Shades.

To borrow the novel’s heroine Anastasia Steele’s favorite expression, my reaction to the books is this: “Holy cow!” (Trivia: She says, “Holy cow!” at least 80 times in the trilogy.)

At this point, I leave it up to you dear reader to Google the complete synopsis of the erotic trilogy, and the whole meaning and description of BDSM as a lifestyle.

In a nutshell, it’s basically an unconventional love story between a young handsome billionaire Christian Grey (only 27 years old and earns $100,000 an hour) and a fresh college grad, the young and innocent 22-year-old Anastasia. The trilogy (porno-) graphically demonstrates the how’s and why’s of BDSM which characterizes their highly intriguing, exciting and complex relationship. 

Called the “Mummy Porn,” what is it about Fifty Shades that, according to the website of The Guardian, “Fifty Shades of Grey has become the best-selling book in British history and has outsold all seven Harry Potter books on Amazon.” 

More than 31 million copies are sold worldwide and counting… Imagine that! 

But more than the skyrocketing sales, what is it with Christian and Anastasia that gets women all giddy?

It’s the kinky sex done in all possible places: Christian’s apartment. Ana’s bedroom. The Red Room of Pain. Elevator. Foyer. On a billiard table, on the grand piano, on an office desk, in the shower, in the bathtub, in a boat, in a boathouse, in the meadows. You name it. Every imaginable place.

Want more?

(To be continued)