With all this talk about The Hunger Games, I was debating if I should take on the series and read what everyone else seems to be so into. However, I’m not one to usually dive into a fad until a few months after all the attention has passed. Instead, I decided to go with Fifty Shades of Grey-an erotic trilogy about two people who try to make it work despite being different on almost every level.
Within the first 50 pages, I was pleased with my choice. Fifty Shades of Grey is truly unlike any novel I’ve ever read. Although it’s raunchy and graphic in some parts, the story behind the sex is one of love, passion and desire. It’s true that 75 percent of the novel depicts sex scenes. And while this may seem overwhelming and too intense, the average reader can see that there’s much more to the story.
We have all read a love story. I’m sure 9 out of 10 girls will admit sobbing to The Notebook each time it’s on ABC Family. However, Fifty Shades of Grey transcends the average love story. It depicts two very real people, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, in modern times. Their relationship is greatly flawed, but their passion for each other is deep. Anastasia is a clumsy, insecure virgin. On the other hand, Christian appears to be a Greek God-perfectly toned, incredibly good looking, and wealthy. Although the two are polar opposites, their attraction to one another in undeniable.
Ana has never had a boyfriend and wants an open, honest relationship with Christian. However, Christian has also never had a real relationship. The only kind he knows revolves around twisted, role-playing sex. He continuously warns Ana, “I’m fifty shades of f***ed up.” Christian has a dark past with very dark secrets, which he refuses to tell anyone.
Although Ana is intimidated by this godly man, she also sees his good side. Even when he tells her that he’s no good for her and that she’ll run if she knows the real him–Ana yearns to stay by his side. Christian may be complicated, but Ana wants to be his first true love.
Fifty Shades of Grey is a complicated and sad in between the numerous sex scenes. We see a man who is perfect on the outside, but deeply tortured on the inside. Readers should despise Christian for the way he uses women. But he makes it impossible. Like Ana, the reader is destined to believe that Christian really is a good man, destroyed by his past. I couldn’t put the novel down because I was desperate to know how their relationship evolves. Even though Ana and Christian’s battles are constant, they remain committed to each other. We always view men as the “white knight” who can save the damsel in distress. However, in Fifty Shades of Grey, Christian is the one who needs to be saved. And although Ana is inexperienced, she will take on any challenge to be my Christian’s side. For once, readers see a female protagonist who is strong and in control, which is very empowering.