No doubt you would have seen, or heard about, or read 50 Shades of Grey? I decided to read it to get my dose of pop culture. It was my way of knowing whats going on out there in the world, of keeping up. Mum but not out of touch, ya know?
When we travelled to Darwin I was in awe of just how dominant this book is. It seemed every second couple on the flight looked a little something like this: husband drinking a Jim Beam can, wife next to him happily reading 50 Shades. Completely compelled. Her husband did not exist (I wonder if that’s how their holiday was going play out as well?). I saw at least a dozen couples like this and I’m not even exaggerating (a favourite past time). When I went to purchase my copy, a woman was grabbing herself the set (it’s a trilogy) somewhat desperately. Relieved that she was able to get her copies since they’d been sold out Geelong wide apparently for a time. Sold out city wide? Well then, it’s fair to say it is in the hands of a large magnitude of woman. That there is a 50 Shades epidemic. I’ve heard all the opinions about it. It’s hot, it’s about a fu*#*ed up individual, it’s degrading to woman… ya di ya di ya da. But I had to find out why woman around the globe where fixated on this trilogy for myself. There has to be a reason why it’s now the biggest seller of all time right?
It starts out rather like a Sweet Valley High novel. It’s about an all American sweet kinda college girl called Anastasia. It’s simple (and bordering on the dull initially) and even after the conclusion of the book I can tell you it is written relatively simply - tired Mummy language I would call it (easy to read even after the most fu*#ked up, exhausting of days). This will either irritate you or you’ll love how easy it is to read. It’s simple too for the character Anastasia until the part where she meets a gent called Mr Grey (the man at the centre of many housewives fantasies) a dominant as it would turn out. A dominant in the bedroom that is. Some would say a sadist, a bondage freak. Whatever. He’s a rich guy who has strong preferences. There is no skipping over the outwardly erotic moments. The book is a string of kinky sexual moments let’s be frank. Anastasia has a coming of age you could say, an awakening of inner sexual goddess. I will say this, it’s educational. Indeed it is. I had not heard of a riding crop being used in the bedroom before nor did I think a flogging could be sexy to anyone.
I confess I felt a little self conscious about reading this novel out in public. We all know it’s been titled housewife porn so I wasn’t about to flap it about in a public place and let people think I make a habit of reading filthy material or that I needed to. A number of times Mr Vick was flabbergasted that I might read it out publicly. Like I 
should be truly ashamed or somehow it was commenting on his pro-ess. I did often re-think putting it out on show, it’s true. For instance, I often like to read when I’m at work at lunch time but this was certainly not a staffroom kinda book. There is no way I could put my teacher on and act all moral only to flick my 50 Shades of Kinky in front of the principal in the staffroom. I’m liberal but not that liberal. No, this book is a at home kinda of read for sure but not one that should be left around for your teenage daughter to flick through.
As said, I’m a fairly liberal and open minded person. I mean, I went to acting school, we wern’t affraid of being playful or the occasional state of nudity, but I did openly blush and gasp during several reading moments. It’s steamy for sure, but the impact of the kinkiness does mellow. I found for me it become less about the sex and more about discovering things about this dark man, Mr Grey. For me I wanted to know if it was really going to be a story of love.
I read in a magazine that the book is actually creating a baby epidemic. More sex = more babies. It’s created a real sexual awakening for many woman in the bedroom. Husbands must be happy. I can’t say it made me want to shag anymore. If anything, I was too busy reading these pages of kink rather than getting down and diggy with my husband.
When I typed into Google and Pinterest, Mr Grey, I was flooded with images posted by woman about what they think Mr Grey might look like. For many, Mr Grey is real to them (50 Shades of theraphy maybe?). You can imagine the fantasy going on in their head right? I kinda like the look of this guy but don’t worry I know he’s not really Mr Grey. I know Mr Grey is not really waiting for me.
There is something about this book. It makes you want to keep reading through all the simplistic language and erotic passages. I didn’t intend on getting “hooked” (Mr Grey would like the sounds of that) but seems I might be one of Mr Greys submissives after all since I purchased the second book in the trilogy yesterday and so Mr Grey will remain my companion for a bit longer.
A zillion of you must have read the trilogy? Did you fall under Mr Greys spell too? Will you be having a 50 Shades baby?? 
If you romanticise about the idea of moving to Paris or would love to taste and cook the luxurious cuisine of the French then this an ideal read for you. Elizabeth Bard has a quirky and honest writing style that will make you chuckle all the way as you read about her learning the ways of the French. Part love story, part cook book this is a really great read. I’d love to write like her!