Fifty Shades of Grey

Bet that title caught your attention huh?!

I've thought long and hard about posting this, but I figured, what the heck.  This is my blog and my place to write whatever I want.  But as a disclaimer - all the words in this post are just my opinion of the book and the debate that it's created.  I completely respect everyone's point of view and I expect the same respect for my point of view.

Whether you've read the books or refuse to read the books, the title is enough to make you look twice.  I had heard of these books a while back, but I never made the time to research them further and then buy them.  I honestly haven't had much time to read and once I pick up a book, it's really hard for me to focus my attention on anything else.  And considering I have two little people who depend on me to provide them with food and other things - starting a new book just wasn't on the agenda for me.

I've had several close friends tell me how wonderful the books were.  I took a mental note and even browsed amazon and added the trilogy to my shopping cart.

Then another friend of mine announced that she would share the books with whoever wanted them.  I quickly put my email address through to her.  I figured I would get the books and then read them if I ever got a free moment. With the girls in bible school last week, I had 2 hours of free time for 4 nights.  I decided that I would start the first book and see what all the hype was about.  Granted, the book started off pretty slow and I had about decided to just save it for later - until I turned the page.  LOL

From that moment, I threw myself into this book and was captivated by it.  I could NOT put it down!!!!!

Now, I am fully aware that there is a huge debate going on about this book and what it means in relation to being a Christian.  I was a bit taken aback by all the negativity surrounding the book.  Yes, I get that the book is very sexual and somewhat demeaning towards women.  Some of the scenes in the book made my blood pressure rise because I simply did not agree with what Christian Grey was putting Ana Steele through.  Then again, she was allowing herself to be treated that way.

BUT!!!!

It's just a book.  A bunch of words on pieces of paper.

I read it and enjoyed it - does that make me less of a Christian?  No, I don't think so.

I've talked about it with my friends and we all loved it.  Does that make us less of a Christian?  No, I don't think so.

In talking with several of those friends, I learned that Fifty Shades put the spark back into their marriage and I got nothing but a thumbs up from several of those same friends' husbands.  Does that make us less christian?  No, I don't think so.

Are there better way to ignite the spark that goes dull after a few years of marriage?  Yeah, probably so.  There's always a better way of doing something.

Do I live in some fantasy land where I expect my "Christian Grey" to come busting into my life and sweep me off of my feet?  Not at all (although I have wished for it! Ha!)

There have been talks of a movie being made about the book.  I, along with a lot of people I know, plan to see the movie if it does get made.  Are we less of a christian because of that?  No, I don't think so.

It just baffles me that a trilogy of books has sparked such a huge debate.  I completely get that the text of the book isn't something you read about every day, but neither was Twilight.  Where was the big christian debate when those 4 books were all the rage?  Or was it ok to lust after Edward and/or Jacob because sex wasn't involved until after Edward and Bella were married?

In my opinion - both of these books intrigued women everywhere.  Whether they were married, single, divorced, whatever - any woman that read either of these books became enthralled by the image that Christian Grey and Edward Cullen portrayed.

Strong.  Rich.  Romantic.  Gorgeous.

After the initial shock of Fifty Shades of Grey was over for me - meaning I got past the shock of some of the sex scenes - I started reading Fifty Shades as a romance.  Christian Grey and Ana Steele were head over heels for each other.  Sure, there were some strange and kinky scenes, but both of them were willing to do whatever it took to make the other happy - in and out of the bedroom.  Christian compromised for Ana.  Ana compromised for Christian.  Christian went above and beyond to protect Ana and make her happy.  Ana brought Christian out of a shell that he had hidden behind for more than half his life.

Isn't that what real life relationships (marriage) are about?

Compromise.  Love.  Protection.  Devotion.

Women expect so much from their husbands and vice versa.  Do we all wish we had money at our disposal like Christian Grey?  Absolutely.  What woman doesn't want a man who loves her with everything in his body?  What man doesn't want a woman who's willing to try different things (in and out of the bedroom)?  What woman doesn't have the desire to have her man be her protector and provider?  What man doesn't wish he could give his woman the world?

I guess what this post is all about is the fact that the Fifty Shades trilogy is just an imaginary tale of characters in a book.  People are digging way deeper than needs to be dug and it's stirred up a huge controversy and negating people as Christians because they are reading (and enjoying) this book.  I see the book as a way to jump start imaginations every where.  E.L. James was just brave enough to put it all into a book (or three) and reap the benefits of people going crazy over Mr. Grey and Ms. Steele.

If you haven't read it, I suggest that you do.  I read all three books in less than 5 days and would read them all over again!

Remember though....  Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed ARE JUST BOOKS!!!!!!!