After reading this book series, I am deeply afraid that this type of relationship will be viewed as the romantic ideal for women. And I consider that to be extremely dangerous.

What would be really great is a book with just as many hot scenes minus the glamourization of the cycle of abuse. Any takers?

Fifty Shades of Grey began as Twilight fan fiction. This is no accident at all. The two publishing phenomena are using the same basic device -- women who learn to view themselves as prey.

This is the kind of "novel "that plays by its own rules and offers something of obvious value to its mostly female readership. For the uninitiated it can be gloriously instructive and for the more mature it could offer a choice menu of self-help inspiration.

What Sex and the City did for women's sexuality, Fifty Shades takes to another level. Christian Grey might even make Samantha Jones blush.