Over a year ago, a dear friend of mine handed me “50 Shades of Grey” in English and said: “You have to read it, it is so sexy.” Busy as I was, I put it to the side without being too interested in it. During my summer holidays in the States, I observed that almost every woman at the pool was reading this book and magazines were full of reviews. Most of my girlfriends had already been talking about it. So I was starting to wonder what was this “50 Shades of Grey” thing I kept seeing everywhere? A few weeks ago, when I caught the stomach flu, I refrained from my prejudices and gave it a try. Being honest, I admit that I have become Fifty Shades of Grey crazy and have read the three books extremely fast. Somebody said to me recently in astonishment: “But you are a journalist, you cannot like that book!” Another woman exclaimed while I was reading: “You are so lucky, you still have the third book to finish”. Tastes differ.
The story of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele is extremely unrealistic, cheesy and platitudinous but it is so captivating, truly entertaining to read. Personally speaking, E.L. James has summarized what women like to dream about. The story is about an extremely good-looking billionaire (other women start stuttering when they see him) who has only eyes for the woman he loves, who bizzarely enough has all the time in the world to be with his wife (the zillions of dollars just earn themselves), who is the best lover you can imagine (always putting her satisfaction first and is on hand 24/7), who doesn’t want to have a prenup, “as all of his belongings are hers now, too”. Christian, who was adopted and had a horrible childhood, enjoys the BDSM lifestyle in bed but Anastasia is able to change his vision of life (women always like to think that they could change the man of their dreams).
Writing this, I have to smile because it sounds so bad, it is definitely a kind of “mommy porn”, but please give it a try. It is absolutely captivating. At least, you want to know what everybody is gossiping about… and in 2013, the story will hit the cinemas.
LoL, Sandra
Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht
