British author E.L James’ erotic trilogy
Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed needs no introduction.
The book, which is more of a phenomenon and is waiting to be released as a film
soon, has witnessed sale of 20 million copies in the USA. The blindfolds, the
leather cuffs, the “red room of pain” and above all, the multi-millionaire and super-hot
young entrepreneur Christian Grey has found a permanent place in women’s book
shelves and hearts.
Having not so much interest in
the erotic genre or the likes of it, I started off reading the first part out
of sheer curiosity and hearing highly appreciative words about the book from my
friends. What followed is an extreme addiction that continued for a month or
two within which I finished all the three. What’s more, the trilogy had a profound
impact on me not for the so- called BDSM, the explicit sexual descriptions or
the idea of a man existing only in someone’s dreams. It is the evolving of
romance, understanding and passion between two people that kept me hooked and
what a remarkable evolution it was!! The book led me to believe that love can
be powerful enough to wipe out a person’s inner demons and inspire him/her
towards a better life. However illusory the belief is, the feel is certainly
good.
Coming to what I liked and did
not like about the trilogy. Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele have an instant
connection right from the beginning. And regardless of the contradicting intentions
of the individual characters (Christian wanting Ana to be his submissive and
Ana finding Christian irresistible), the connection and the sparkling passion is
vividly portrayed by James. Although BDSM is the central concept to the book,
it hardly finds its expression in an offensive or derogatory way. This is primarily
because the related interactions and process makes the 21 years old sexually
inexperienced Ana realize her innate inclinations too. Christian Grey says on one occasion,
“We are consenting adults and what we do behind
closed doors is between ourselves. You need to free your mind and listen to
your body”.
The sexually explicit scenes that
are in plenty are mostly sweet, seductive and very, very spontaneous. It is never
just two bodies making love. The affection and the ignited passion are there throughout. The 2nd book in the series, Fifty Shades Darker
marks the evolution of the relationship in the best way though with a little
dose of drama too. In the last one, I particularly liked the last few chapters
that were devoid of any sex whatsoever and focused entirely on Anastasia and
her wise and brave ways. Christian asking Ana, in a phase of misunderstanding, if
it was always for the money, then she can take it all, makes one pity the
powerful man. All the other characters apart from the protagonists are also portrayed
well and add value to the story. Christian’s gradual revelation of his birth
history, his childhood with the Greys, his disturbed adolescence with Mrs.
Robinson and finally his developing into a dominant is pretty much convincing.
James’ ending of the book with
Christian and Ana bringing up their kid was perhaps with the intention of
pointing out to the power and strength of true love and real passion that never
ends or are not supposed to end. After all, the dumping of the book as “mommy
porn” by some critics, according to me, is clearly unjustified.
Now, a bit of criticism. I
personally believe that Christian Grey could have been a little less talented
and lesser rich. That he has everything
under control and can gift anything to his lady love or take her anywhere across the world for he has the money
overshadows the genuineness of the desire to give. Anastasia’s inner monologues
are fine initially but her continuous references to her sex craving “inner
goddess” and a more mature “subconscious” gets boring and monotonous. Moreover,
at certain points, I felt like she was a little too insecure in spite of quite
a few men including the villain of the story, showing either romantic or sexual
interest in her.
That’s it. I can go on discussing
it but that would be trying your patience. Fifty
Shades of Grey trilogy is addictive, impactful and quite one of a kind. And
for all those who have loved it, I am sure you are waiting for the movie just
as I am looking forward to it.