After discussing this in the Skin Addiction group and knowing so many of my friends – including scores of friends, friends of friends and subscribers on Facebook that have read the trilogy – to start with, I am shocked that EL James has actually achieved the virtually impossible of getting certain people in Western society to read. In particular, the socially excluded of British society appear to be taking to Book stores, and branches of their local Supermarkets to pick up copies of what’s been mockingly dubbed Mommy Porn – so much so that the stores have run out of copies with hundreds on order in almost every available store.

Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, is the Trilogy of books penned by first time author EL James – a former TV Executive, wife and mother of two based in West London, UK. The fact EL James actually has socially excluded and otherwise illiterate people reading – she should be praised for that; however, the content in the trilogy is indeed an acquired taste. For me, the entire trilogy can be summed up by just visiting Chapter Eleven of the first book – Fifty Shades of Grey. There is a Contract between Mr Christian Grey and Miss Anastasia Steele – both parties are agreeing to embark upon a journey of sexual self-discovery, however – there is no equality, justice or fairness in the relationship between these two people – the relationship is based on sex in it’s entirety with Mr Christian Grey as the Dominant and Miss Anastasia Steele as the Submissive. My honest opinion is that no enlightened person can get anything other than insight into the sexually depraved and starved mind of the author EL James, who has probably been roleplaying a submissive in the Gorean regions of Second Life. I wouldn’t be surprised. The 50 Shades Trilogy is no more than a modern day Gor-fest, in terms of the BDSM element. BDSM is all about extreme sexual exploration of the brutal kind, bondage, domination, sadism and masochism; it focuses on intense sexual discipline. In short, it is a power game that uses harsh discipline practices to the benefit of the Dominant. BDSM is un-natural and is an irresponsible sexual activity. Having said that, any person that participates voluntarily, much like the Dominant – has serious self-destructive-emotional-health issues, and without help, these people will continue to put themselves at risk in the selfish belief that they are doing no harm to anyone other than living what they believe is their way of life.

In my humble opinion, if you must read the Trilogy then take it with a pinch of salt. Don’t delve into it and fall in love with the characters because it is not real life – you are never going to find any such relationship unless you actually want to embark on a cycle of self-abuse and self-hate, because once you let yourself loose in that world – you will begin to lose yourself; it’s playing with the devil. A relationship with BDSM will not end well – you will just mess up your mind and give yourself a past that no sane person wants to look back on. There can be no happy ever afters’ with this topic; this is not a new-style pretty woman story – it is an insight into the lives of the sadistic and mentally disturbed. Seek this world at your own risk. That said, Universal Pictures have bought the film rights and with Fifty Shades of Grey fever invading the world I have to ask who you would like to see playing the lead characters Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. I’ll go first –

My Choice: Brad Pitt as Christian Grey, Alyssa Milano, Megan Fox or Rachel McAdams as Anastasia Steele