The Anonymous Widower

Fifty Shades of Grey

There is an article in The Times on Saturday, where they ask several men to read this publishing sensation or so-called mommy-porn.

Out of curiosity, I read the book a couple of months ago and I think broadly, I have come to similar conclusions to the writers in yesterday’s paper.

The book is rather stereotypical in many ways, as no man could be as perfect in as many ways as is Christian Grey, and Ana fits a lot of male fantasies. Ana seems to have been created round the table in the local pub, by EL James asking all the men present, what they would like in a woman, what she should wear and how she would behave.

But I do think, that in some ways some long-standing and strong relationships do evolve a little like the one in the book. It’s not to say that I ever hit my late wife, or any other woman for that matter, but C sometimes wanted sex on terms her mother would have disapproved of and would dress to get it. She is probably not the only woman to have gone to the toilet, just before the sweet course, in a two-Michelin star restaurant and on return handed her companion, her knickers screwed up in a tight ball. She got the dessert for which she was looking.

One point about the book is that Christian is a pilot. I used to be and didn’t find those scenes too credible.  I wonder if EL James has ever flown in a smaller aircraft, upside the pilot. C always found flying as one of those experiences, where you had to do as you were told, even if she didn’t at other times. Especially, as when I had a partial engine-failure in a single-engined aircraft. She didn’t panic at all, did what I said and never worried about flying with me again after the incident.

So! Did the book turn me on? And did I enjoy it? Not really!  But it might have been fun to read with a lady. I would have certainly bought it for C, if she hadn’t bought it for herself.

July 8, 2012 - Posted by AnonW | World | Books, Erotica, Words