If you’re an avid reader who turns to books looking to establish some real connections with its well-developed characters and truly interesting story line, E. L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey may not be your cup of tea.
But if you’re like me and can’t resist finding out why these books are so incredibly popular, this post will sum it up for you so you don’t have to go through 1,500 pages to find out.
Throughout the 3 books (what is it with the rule of 3, anyways?), the genre changes about just as many times; jumping from erotic to romance, then trying to pass as a thriller — boy, did that fail miserably — the author clearly tried to appeal to her target audience in all means possible. The result: a modern day telenovela!
Let’s start with the main character, miss Anastasia Steele, the typical soap opera leading lady, pretty as hell but completely unaware of it, irresistible to nearly all men that cross her path. Of course, we witness her complete transformation, from innocent/virgin schoolgirl to drop-dead gorgeus, complicated socialite.
Throughout all three books, we are constantly hearing praise as to how smart miss Anastasia Steele is, how great she is at her job, and, well, at giving blow jobs. The main problem: she’s dumb as a rock! In nearly 1,500 pages, her brilliant nature fails to make an appearance, and all we get is her sheer stupidity. I mean come on, what girl over the age of 15 can’t get a grip of how birth control works?
I could talk about the ‘oh my‘ Anastasia character all day, but I’m afraid I’d bore you nearly as much as she bored me.
Let’s move on to Jose Armando (or Christian Grey, if you will). A sexy self-made millionaire, with a dark past, who only needs to find the right woman to fix him. He’s charming, complicated, incredibly generous with his women, caring, and whatever else soap opera leading men are supposed to be like. Oh yes, he’s into S&M, but not really any of the hardcore stuff you’d probably expect — or hope — to read about.
Supporting characters: siblings and close friends that all hook up with each other; intelligent, supportive parents that apparently can’t help their kids develop properly; a random villain that comes like a blast from the past; and a beautiful middle-aged child molester.
Scenery: deluxe penthouse, expensive cars, private helicopter, vacation home in Aspen, private jet, private yacht… Seriously now, even The Young & The Restless has its limits when it comes to wealth.
But in all honesty, the book does have one quality to it: most of the sex scenes are enjoyable, and will definitely play with your libido; moreover, if you’re like me, it will stir your curiosity and you’ll be looking for some quality erotic reading to get a real feel of the genre. Next up on my list, Carrie’s Story.
Conclusion: With all the soap opera elements — that have been bewitching women for decades — set into place, when the Fifty Shades movie hits the theaters, expect a worldwide frenzy. Not to mention that the release date has been set for February 14, making it an easy choice for a Valentine’s Day night out. And since it will definitely help teenagers or young adults score, watch out, Twilight; your fans will soon be crossing over to the Grey side.
