Can This Book Change Your Sex Life?
Fifty Shades Of Grey is more than an erotic novel, it’s a revolution!
Chances are, you’ve read, flippedthrough, or at least heard of E L James’ steamy novel, Fifty Shades of Grey. The book, first in a trilogy, originally launched as an e-book, and did so well, the publishers took it to print in 2011. Now, over 10 million copies and a big-budget movie deal later, it seems people still can’t stop talking about this ‘bodice ripper’. The media is abuzz with reports of how women are fervently turning the pages of Fifty Shades at home, work, and in trains and planes; SNL did a special spoof on the novel; and it remains one of the most hotly debated topics at book clubs around the world. And while we’ve always known that women enjoy erotica (hey, we’re Cosmo!) even the publishers of the novel are a tad surprised with the book’s snow-balling success. After all, the plot is far from regular—based on a dominant/ submissive relationship between soon-to-be-graduate Anastasia Steele, and handsome-tycoon Christian Grey. What follows is a sexual contract, lots of spanking, caning, and tied-up sex, and a complicated relationship. So what is it about this kind of kinky, graphic erotica that has women hooked? According to sex therapist Gloria Brame, Ph.D., and author of Come Hither: A Commonsense Guide To Kinky Sex, BDSM fantasies make sense because submission is a primal urge, likely linked to our need to function in groups. And, say other experts, because women are so busy taking the lead at work and home, it’s nice for them to imagine a strong man taking charge in the bedroom.
Whatever the reason, James’ debut novel is fuelling the imagination of millions of women...and, as Cosmo discovered, their sex life too. As one reader reported, “Reading about Ana and Christian’s sex life encouraged me to experiment with mine. My boyfriend and I played out certain bits, and were very pleased with the results.”