Ok, I admit it....

I read the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy. I had too. There were so many women at work talking about it, so much controversy surrounding it. The last straw was a blog that I came across saying how this book set the women's movement back 50 years... blah... blah... blah. I had no idea that the book started out as Twilight fan fiction or that would have been a deal breaker for me. I hate the Twilight books. But, since I didn't know, I proceeded to read. So, let me start off by saying that this book is not something you would want to leave casually laying around where the kids might find it. This book is hot. Lots of sex of the kinky variety. (Leaving it in a place where your husband might find it, not such a bad idea...) To answer the blogger that stated she thought this set the women's movement back - I couldn't disagree more vehemently. For centuries it has been expected that men would share their deepest, darkest sexual fantasies. It was something completely proper, while women's desires have been repressed - to put it mildly. Anastasia Steele is not a mindless piece of jello as aforementioned blogger has suggested. Instead, she is a bit naive and inexperienced when the book starts; however, she becomes a strong willed woman, in touch with her own self and sexuality. She knows, by the end of the trilogy, what it is she wants and doesn't want. Further, not only does she come to terms with her own self, she helps the person she loves do the same. I hardly think that kind of self realization is such a set back. I did find the constant use of "inner goddess" to be tiring and found my eyes rolling every time I heard it. Also, I found Mr. Gray's ability to give his virginal partner an orgasm during every encounter comical. Not even Babe Ruth batted 1000. Finally, I found it ironic that Anastasia was a huge tea drinker and had phrases and words in her vernacular that were very British - odd for a character that has supposedly never left the PacWest of the US. No Shades will never win a Pulitzer, but it is an entertaining, lively beach read. If you don't like HOT, HOT, HOT... pass on by. If you are willing to explore your own fantasies and desires.... read on.