If you like to read—or even if you don’t—and haven’t at least heard of the best selling book “50 Shades of Grey,” you must have stepped out to another galaxy for a while; because chances are if you were here on earth with the rest of us lately you would have caught plenty of talk about this controversial work of fiction.
What is 50 Shades of Grey About?
The story is focused on a college student and virgin, Ana, and a wealthy 27-year-old entrepreneur and Boy Wonder who is attracted to her. Actually, the attraction is mutual, but Ana initially fears she isn’t good looking enough to appeal to someone as handsome as the hero, Christian Grey.
At one point, very early in the relationship and before having their first date, Grey pulls Ana out of the path of an oncoming cyclist. Despite this chivalrous behaviour, Grey reveals that he is no hearts and flowers type of guy and isn’t interested in anything except a sexual relationship with her—no romance and no strings attached.
Although Ana fears that someone as fabulous as Grey won’t find her appealing, the fact is that Grey is very much attracted to the demure and somewhat shy Ana, but informs her that she must sign an agreement before they have sex. This document is a non-disclosure agreement in which Ana must agree not to divulge anything that goes on between herself and Grey.
He also tells her that there will be a second agreement about dominance and submission and that she must also sign this one, then give her word to go along with the sexual things he wants to do, while keeping their relations to herself. When Grey shows Ana a room full of BDSM sex toys and gear, she understands why he wants her to keep mum.
When Grey learns that Ana is a virgin, he agrees to have sex with her without the signing of the non-disclosure or the BDSM agreement. Ana spends the night and in the morning they have sex again.
Shortly afterwards, Grey’s mother arrives and is surprised to see him with Ana as she had long since decided he must be gay, having never seen him in the company of a female.
Grey sends Ana gifts such as a laptop computer so that they can exchange email messages, and goes into greater detail about the BDSM contract. Ana feels overwhelmed by the thought of this type of sexual relations and also the lack of romance Grey insists upon.
She backs off and doesn’t see Grey again until her college graduation, where he is a guest speaker.
At this point, Ana agrees to sign the domination and submission agreement, as well as the non-disclosure agreement. They talk about Ana’s limits concerning BDSM. Grey spanks Ana and although she finds the experience somewhat exciting, she is still confused and apprehensive. Ana has still not signed the agreement at that point.
They continue to see each other and Grey lavishes gifts on Ana, even taking her to meet his family.
Ana gets a job with a publishing firm and remains unhappy with the current arrangement with Grey. Finally, she asks Grey to punish her just to see how extreme a BDSM relationship could be with him. He beats her with a belt, and Ana realises that their relationship can’t continue.
So, that’s it—until the sequel, anyway; and then the sequel to the sequel.
Is 50 Shades of Grey a good book? That depends on your definition of what constitutes a good read. If you like a love story minus love, a romance without romance, a lot of conflict between the heroine and hero….and enjoy reading about BDSM…….you will probably love this book.
At any rate, it’s well worth a read due to its daring to be different and unique, which it certainly is.
