Fifty Shades Darker

‘How is it possible that you are eating a smoked salmon sandwich again?’ asked my boss. ‘That’s been
every day for what? Maybe four weeks now?’

I shrugged. ‘I’m a creature of habit,’ I said. ‘I get little obsessions,
and just do that one thing over and over and over again until I get bored and
ditch it for something else.’

‘Any chance of ditching the panini for a salad obsession?’ she said.

‘Fuck off,’ I replied.

Sandwiches called Wonderwoman aside
(yes. Really. Everyday I say, “I’ll take a small Wonderwoman, please. And that
cream cake.’) it will come as, oh, I
don’t know, ABSOLUTELY NO SURPRISE AT ALL that my current obsession
continues to be the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.
It’s hot and sexy. BUT, as much as I’ve threatened the men of Rome, I refuse to
break my promise to myself. I’m not going to go on some raging sex spree just
because I have read a particularly saucy book.

Probably. Maybe. OH GOD HOWEVER WILL I NOT JUST START HUMPING THIS TABLE
LEG?

I’ve been so obsessed with these books that I’ve done actual research on their origin, the writer, and, apparently, the knock-on
effect these manuscripts are having on the fire of many a woman’s loin. Reading
about other people doing sexy time appears to be a substitute for doing my own
sexy time.

Wow. I think that’s the saddest thing I’ve ever typed.

Also:

Do women have loins?

Am I a pervert?

Should I even be writing about this on the Internet?

That’s all beside the point.

Apparently the press are calling it ‘mommy porn’, because before last
month when it was finally published in pretty paperback form, it was only
available on download to an (YUCK!) eReader. Thus, many a bored housewife could
happily consume the tales of Ana Steele and Christian Grey at the bus stop, or
waiting for Clementine to finish ballet, or in the coffee shop with a
cappuccino after noon, because nobody could tell that they were learning how to
use Chinese love balls, discreet as an eReader is.

Related: CAPPUCCINO IS A BREAKFAST DRINK INTERNET. Let’s at least get
that right, please. It really is upsetting me.

Anywoohoo, apparently all these stay-at-home mums and wives and
girlfriends are reading this trilogy, feeling a bit naughty, and as a result there’s
a wave of very surprised but very
satisfied gentlemen across the globe who are now lay panting and purple and
wondering what the fuck happened whilst they were at work, because women across
the globe are getting their fantasies on, and the boys are reaping the benefit.

(At this point in my reverie I’d like to point you in the direction of
this particular Simpson’s episode, wherein Marge writes similarly effective
prose. Is there anything in life that can happen that hasn’t already been
parodied by Matt Groening?)

The effect of these books knows no age limit. The audience is not just
single twentysomethings, as one would
expect. Oh no. Seeing my pregnant thritysomething
friend at the weekend, one of the first things I whispered to her was OHMYGOD I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS
BOOK I’M READING, and she was all, FIFTY
SHADES? BEAT YOU TO IT. So then we burst out laughing, because there is
nothing quite like knowing that somebody you love is also reading about a man
who is so confident in his total possession of his woman that he can reduce her
to orgasm simply by FUCKING BLOWING ON HER LADY GARDEN.

And then my friend did a funny leg cross movement and said BOY OH BOY DID IT GET TO ME which was
weird, because OH HI PREGNANT WOMEN WHO STILL THINK ABOUT SEX. But then she
said something really disappointing about the sex parts getting boring after a
bit, so she kept skimming them to concentrate on the narrative. I was all,
SKIPPING THE SEX TO READ THE ACTUAL STORY? I SKIPPED THE STORY TO JUST READ THE
SEX.

And then we did an awkward silence.

I say these books know no age limit because not long after this
conversation her mother Skyped us from America. Two minutes in she said,
‘GIRLS. I’ve got a book for you.’

I held my breath, because it’s a phrase I’ve said myself so many times
this week as I’ve slipped my paperback across table or lap to suggest to the
receptionist at work, or a student in my classroom, or old friends at breakfast
that they need in on this secret sex society. I held my breath. My Pregnant
Friend’s mum is 65. I kind of didn’t want those next words to leave her mouth.
Then she said it.

‘FIFTY SHADES OF GREY.’

OMFG. She went there. It was inevitable.

My Pregnant Friend and I burst out laughing, because it turns out we’re
all sodding at it- we’re all turning into dirty little porn pushers, licking
our lips and telling our friends to go have some special alone time with these
naughty poorly-written tales.

And the reason I keep talking about this out loud is because if the
straight males of this world do not wise-up to what is happening right now,
with this mood of sexual revolution amongst women who otherwise would go their
whole lives thinking vanilla is the only flavour to be tasted, then well. There
is a huge injustice going on.

BOYS. GO BUY A COPY AND LEARN HOW TO BE CHRISTIAN GREY. Urm, minus the
stalking bit though. But totally with the dominant bit, please.

Honestly. I’m telling you all this for your own good.

And possibly, in another 30 weeks time, mine. Because yes. I’m counting
the days. Get your practise on.

THANKS E.L. JAMES.