What is it about GREY?

Photo by AdirondackUK @ Flickr

"Form an orderly queue ladies."

The words uttered by many a modest sales assistant as droves of women line-up at the till with their sort-after purchases. They are all eager to get home and find out what all of the fuss and hype is about. Is it a miracle elixir they possess; a feminine-phenomenon promising its user a glowing complexion and total product satisfaction? In some senses, yes. This isn't however, a new beauty serum that would rival the hysteria caused by Boots' Protect and Perfect serum. No, this product is in a completely different league. An astounding 40 million copies have been sold worldwide... the item is '50 Shades of Grey' and the magical ingredient; Christian Grey.

I will admit it; I have the book. I'm reading the book and I like the book… but why? What is it about this particular paperback that has caused women of all ages, backgrounds and regions to settle down with a glass of wine, next to their partners and give in to the persuasions of Mr Grey?

I first heard about the book whilst walking home after a strenuous day in the office. Amid a casual conversation with my boyfriend, he aimlessly started to discuss a book that “everyone had been talking about”. Now that particular working week had been a taxing one; I had an usual amount of deadlines and was spending the rest of my free time at the gym, thus not keeping as up-to-date with the outside world as much as I would have liked to. I asked him the title of this ‘infamous’ book, to which he replied, “50 Shades of something…” As a keen reader, I refused to believe that a book everyone was talking about was something I hadn’t heard of. I told myself that it must be a Harry Potter-type novel; something probably quite gripping but nothing that would interest me, let alone something I would actually read.

A few days had gone by, when I received a mystery Amazon parcel through the post. Puzzled as I hadn’t purchased anything from the site in weeks, I eagerly opened the package to see a dark coloured book cover, entitled '50 Shades of Grey – by E L James’. Chris (my boyfriend) had bought it for me (brave move!) and I knew at that point my curiosity would get the better of me and that I’d have to read it.

So, what is the book’s attraction? I'm about half way through and so far I have witnessed the hazardous traits of wonderment, desire and hope in the form of Ana Steele; the character central to the book and the storyteller of this erotic novel. But it's her perception of Christian Grey - the powerful, sexy and conceivably dangerous protagonist who captivates the young woman - which is really engaging. It's him that keeps my fingers turning the pages and him that fuels my, and each reader's fantasy of the ideal man...

Anonymous Female Friend 1: "Having been sucked into the world of ‘Fifty Shades’, I found myself instantly addicted to Grey. He's clearly a haunted man and I wanted to understand why this sexy character was the way he was. I wholeheartedly admit it; I felt the ‘Grey effect’."

Anonymous Female Friend 2: “For me, it was the way Ana acted around Christian that really got me interested. I think a lot of women can relate to that feeling of immeasurable attraction towards a man – even though many wouldn't want to admit it! It’s the power he has over Ana that makes the book so addictive; you don’t know what road he’s going to take her down… her naivety towards him is both frustrating and understandable.”

And the other halves... what's their critical analysis? Essential in gaining a greater scope of understanding about Mr Grey and his dazzling perception, I spoke to the opposite sex about the book, their girlfriends/wives reading the book, and the whole world who seem to be reading - the book.

The general opinion is that Christian Grey is putting all men to shame. His smooth persona, slick acts of confidence and 'gorgeous appearance' - manufactured by desirous woman the world over - catapults him to a level of 'charming' matched only by the likes of Clooney and Grant (both similar to a Chanel suit; classic and always in style).

Anonymous Male Friend: "Grey has an aloof demeanour; he doesn't appear to want to deal with his problems, he just represses them. Throughout the book, Grey's character shifts between his friendly, flirty attitude and his more reserved one. 

"Does he represent the 'ideal man' at present? Perhaps. Is he realistic? Certainly not. Do I feel inferior or threatened by the character's obvious appeal? No! He's like marmite in my opinion; a very acquired taste. I like to take the safer route when romancing a girl."

Admittedly, the book's sexual descriptions play an important role in its extraordinary success. The adult film business (a multi-million pound industry) is targeted predominately towards men and, if the age-old saying that "men get turned on by what they see, whilst women get turned on by what they hear" is anything to go by, those in charge are clearly onto a good thing. This phrase also suggests that women find what they hear - or read - pleasing, and so surely a book of this description and magnitude has been a long-time coming. 

Why do I think the book is so popular? Because to me, it is a 'how to' book in disguise. From a man's perspective, it explains how to romantically entice a woman and make her feel admired, loved and primarily, wanted. For ladies, it explores wanting someone unobtainable... and actually being able to have them. It is laid out on a plate; how good a man should make you feel and precisely how he should do it. Christian Grey is the optimum woman's fantasy, and within reach, with the simple turn of a page.

"Sometimes I wonder if there's something wrong with me.

"Perhaps I've spent too long in the company of my literary romantic heroes, and consequently my ideals and expectations are far too high." 

E. L James, 50 Shades of Grey