I succumbed to the hype and bought these books.
Firstly, I have to admit that I enjoyed them. I did not read them for the sex, which I am reliably informed, is not that different to Mills and Boon. They are written from the point of a young, inexperienced graduate who falls hopelessly in love with a Billionaire, charting the first few months of their relationship. I am not going to go into plot details, as they might spoil the story for the few readers who are not reading for the many sex scenes!!
I have a large problem with these books though. They remind me of the same thing I did not like about the Twilight novels; the portrayal of women.
I get why women are reading these novels, they are more than just sex. There is a story there, and it reminded me of falling in love with my partner- just like Twilight reminded me of being 16 and falling in love for the very first time. The angst and uncertainty of entering an deep relationship are something people can relate to - and there is the mind-blowing getting to know each other sex - the hormones overload that is a new relationship. But, is it enough?
Ok, so there will be spoilers now - If you do not want to know what happens in these books - do not read any further!
The heroine, Anastasia Steele, is pursued by the Billionaire Christian Grey (Steele and Grey? I suspect they are meant for each other!!) He is a Dom, and decides that Ana (young, virginal and inexperienced - maybe like Bella from Twilight?) would make a great new submissive for him. She, on the other hand, whilst falling head over heels in love with him, does not want to be a sub. The first novel sets up Ana as being a feisty young woman who wants to be in control of her fate, and does NOT want to be a sub. Reading this book, I could almost respect Ana. She was willing to try new things, even if they appeared to be - well, violent. The book finishes with Ana realising that she is not willing to be Chrisitan's sub, and walking out on him. Maybe the author should have left it there.
After that, the books have a pattern. Ana defies Christian. Christian subjects Ana to 'punishment' - which she is willing to put up with because she loves her man. Each time she does something to defy him, the level of punishment rises. The justification for Christian treating Ana this way is given as him being seduced by an older Dom when he was younger, and the abuse he suffered at the hands of his mother's pimp, resulting in him being emotionally disturbed.
At the beginning of the second book, Christian (apparently) realises that he does not want to be a Dom anymore, through Ana leaving him. This would be fine, if he stopped being a Dom. He doesn't. He carries right on doing the things Ana does not want. He is controlling, he smothers her. He stalks her. He demands her full attention all the time - and she capitulates.
This is where the problem lies. The novels are presented as if they show character progression - and I suppose they do. Christian gets falls in love, gets married, has babies and smiles. However, the character changes appear to be all on Ana's side. She forgoes her independence. she allows him to control her. She puts up with his rapid and sometimes scary mood swings and she gives up most of her friends to give him her full attention - and eventually, she becomes his sub - for life. It's just not said like that. According to the novel, she likes him being rough and being controlling.
Just like the Twilight novels, this series paints women as if they are just waiting for the right man to come along and to take care of them - to sweep us off our feet and be all strong and protective around us. We are not like that. I do not dream of that. I can put my hand on my heart and say that I have never been like that. AND I do not want my daughters growing up thinking that it is OK for a man to impose his will on her - to lose herself in his identity. Women have spent a very long time changing that perception - proving that we are strong and capable of looking after ourselves, and we do a very good job.
Just not in this series - where what women do, is what what her man wants.
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