The classic erotic novel, THE STORY OF O relates the love of a beautiful Parisian fashion photographer for Rene. As part of that intense love, she ...
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Jan 30, 2012
Manny
rated it: 
The most useful piece of advice on literary criticism that I've ever come across is Nabokov's dictum to identify with the author, not the characters. This book is a perfect example. If you make the mistake of identifying with O, it's all a bit bewildering. Why exactly is she interested in being blindfolded, tied up, whipped, and fucked from all angles by a bunch of people she doesn't even know? It seems bizarre and rather distasteful.
But, take Nabokov's advice and see it from the aut More...
But, take Nabokov's advice and see it from the aut More...
9 comments
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(20 people liked it)
Jul 31, 2011
Emily
rated it: 
This is what I remember about this book:
I found it when I was fifteen at a Half Priced Books store and liked the cover due its simplicity. You see, I was reading a lot of Emerson at the time and had just turned my hair orange, so a novel titled, "O" (as if to say to the world at large "screw you and your 25 other alphabet letters!!!!!) was right up my pre-pubescent alley. A good friend happened to be with me--(the type of friend who wears a cool, spiky ha More...
5 comments
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(22 people liked it)
Dec 16, 2009
Marielle
rated it: 
This book is a classic, although people have been a bit slow at recognizing it. When it was written, it was shocking. Today it may still be for some. It's the story of a woman and her lover. It's a story of pain, and an unusual sort- deliberately inflicted and, in some capacity, enjoyed. The book has erotic moments, but it is not fundementally erotica. The author Pauline- a woman- claims she is not a sexual masochist nor interested it, in particular. Rather, the unusual setting is a tool t
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(10 people liked it)
Dec 16, 2009
Don
rated it:
My parents had a pretty hands-off attitude to my compulsive reading, and so in my early adolescence I read a lot of stuff that probably did my developing sexuality no good. Finding this book at a garage sale (I picked it up because I had read of it in /Playboy/, another ungoverned input) and reading it at the age of 13 was likely not to my benefit.
Re-reading it as an adult, I found it interesting in many ways that my eighth grade self could not have, such as noticing the exploration More...
Re-reading it as an adult, I found it interesting in many ways that my eighth grade self could not have, such as noticing the exploration More...
9 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Dec 17, 2009
Casey
rated it:
Since my child is currently one of my 2 friends, I will refrain from writing a real review of this book. Manon, when you're living far far away and are much older you should check this out. And when you do, please don't tell me about it.
Jan 28, 2011
Kim
rated it: 
This book must have been really something when it first came out, but to me, this was just another one of those unintentionally funny chick flicks. I do realize I completely missed the point of this book, because it just completely flew by me.
I won't go into detail too much but the story begins when O and her lover Rene (I use an Allo Allo! accent here) are in the backseat of a taxi, and O is instructed to take her underwear etc off, walk into a building and let herself be abused and More...
I won't go into detail too much but the story begins when O and her lover Rene (I use an Allo Allo! accent here) are in the backseat of a taxi, and O is instructed to take her underwear etc off, walk into a building and let herself be abused and More...
3 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Jun 06, 2008
Anders
rated it:
From the Guardian 4 May 1998:
Dominique Aury, who has died aged 90, was for half a century a pillar of the French establishment. Yet she will be remembered less for her influence on modern French literature than as the key to one of the most celebrated literary mysteries of hte 20th century.
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Yet in 1994, she admitted that to ... should be added one further title: the Histoire d'O, which caused a sensation when it appeared in 1954. ... The detail is graphic ...
The b More...
Dominique Aury, who has died aged 90, was for half a century a pillar of the French establishment. Yet she will be remembered less for her influence on modern French literature than as the key to one of the most celebrated literary mysteries of hte 20th century.
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Yet in 1994, she admitted that to ... should be added one further title: the Histoire d'O, which caused a sensation when it appeared in 1954. ... The detail is graphic ...
The b More...
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(4 people liked it)
Sep 19, 2007
Heather
rated it:
Shocking! Seriously shocking! And that, despite all the sex, drugs, violence, etc. that we are constantly barraged by. This book is seriously shocking. I mean it. Things are done in this book that even nihilist sadomasichists would be wide-eyed at.
The author cleverly first draws readers in with risque light trashy novel pornography. Then she turns it up a notch, and turns it up, and turns it up. In this way, she makes the reader complicit in what happens. You'll be unable to put th More...
The author cleverly first draws readers in with risque light trashy novel pornography. Then she turns it up a notch, and turns it up, and turns it up. In this way, she makes the reader complicit in what happens. You'll be unable to put th More...
2 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Dec 13, 2007
Jessica
rated it:
....preferably while eating bonbons, cutting class, and wearing snagged-up fishnet stockings and too much eye makeup.
I don't remember anything about this book except that I think it pretty much delivered on what I expected a slightly older, naughty, European sex novel would be like. It is rather ridiculous and actually pretty dirty, if I remember correctly. Plus more hardcore than the leading brand.
I don't remember anything about this book except that I think it pretty much delivered on what I expected a slightly older, naughty, European sex novel would be like. It is rather ridiculous and actually pretty dirty, if I remember correctly. Plus more hardcore than the leading brand.
5 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Jan 26, 2009
Eri-chan
rated it:
Not for the faint-hearted or the closed-minded, this novel is a strangely romantic tale of willing enslavement. I suspect anyone who has even a hint of Dom/sub tendencies would appreciate and enjoy this book - it may not be brilliantly written, but it is the most real published account (ie. not blogs) of female submission from the female perspective that I have ever read.
I do wish that the final chapter had not been lost, as the end leaves you hanging and a bit confused. However, I h More...
I do wish that the final chapter had not been lost, as the end leaves you hanging and a bit confused. However, I h More...
Jan 01, 2011
Petra X
rated it:
The original ending of this book was suppressed because it supposedly objectified women. However, I think the book is very empowering for women. It makes very clear the difference between being submissive as a person and being submissive as a sexual preference. O is a successful career woman who gets her freak on as a sexual slave. We are all hedonists at heart! The prudish, Protestant roots of society plus the pc attitudes for which feminism is responsible in part, make this a very shocking b
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(8 people liked it)
Apr 21, 2008
Kay
rated it: 
I read this only because it was tagged 1001 to read before you die. I'm neither pro nor con on it. But BEWARE which version you buy. This is BS! My version, by Ballantine Books with the white dust jacket HAD NO LAST CHAPTER. It has TWENTY SEVEN pages of lead in "notes" and preamble, most of it written by someone else and contained spoilers. But when I got to the last page there were just three italicized lines that said, "In the last chapter which has been SUPPRESSED,"
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Jan 06, 2008
Lisa
rated it:
While this was one of the most original and mind blowing books I've ever read (and the history behind it is fascinating as well), it is definitely not for everyone, especially the sexually squeamish and the faint of heart. It deals with a sadomasochistic relationship in early 20th century France. It feels very reminiscent of Marquis de Sade's type of literary eroticism, but is a much easier read in terms of language and prose. This book stayed with me for months after I read it leaving me with t
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(5 people liked it)
Jan 01, 2009
Duncan
rated it:
I like the history of this book most of all.
Composed by a member of the Academie Francaise, who created it in response to a challenge by her lover to write a "Marquis De Sade" novel and that he stated a woman could never create a book like that. It was written as a series of love letters.
The episodic nature of the tale supports this even though towards the end it runs out of steam.
Author Anne Desclos also known as Dominique Aury, novel addressed to her lover/employer
Composed by a member of the Academie Francaise, who created it in response to a challenge by her lover to write a "Marquis De Sade" novel and that he stated a woman could never create a book like that. It was written as a series of love letters.
The episodic nature of the tale supports this even though towards the end it runs out of steam.
Author Anne Desclos also known as Dominique Aury, novel addressed to her lover/employer
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 09, 2011
I must say that, while the actual story was interesting, I was disappointed with this particular book. It is a translation that doesn't include the multiple endings written, yet includes essays at the beginning which all take into account the specific alternate ending not included. That ending is when O asks for and submits to being killed by Sir Stephen. And, I believe, it is the only adequate ending for such a novel. O, essentially, insists upon the destruction of every other part of herse
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 08, 2011
This is without doubt the most difficult review I’ve tackled to date. I first had to rant and rave privately - and to the other Dolls - in order to view the book somewhat objectively. And even that wasn’t much help.
Published in 1954, Story of O is a study in deviant sexual extremism – sadism and masochism at their worst. Because the story is both graphic and clinically objective, it fails to qualify as either erotica or pornography. According to various accounts, the French More...
Published in 1954, Story of O is a study in deviant sexual extremism – sadism and masochism at their worst. Because the story is both graphic and clinically objective, it fails to qualify as either erotica or pornography. According to various accounts, the French More...
Nov 28, 2010
Meggan
rated it:
S & M novel about female submission. I was not expecting it to be as dirty or perverse as it was, from page one. The reason I read it was because the history was interesting to me. But it is really nothing more than a 'trashy' fetish novel. It's the only book I've ever read in that genre so I don't know how it compares to others. The main female character is subjected to the ultimate female objectification and abuse. Could be very offensive to some people.
History: The female author wro More...
History: The female author wro More...
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 22, 2010
Brad
rated it:
With a work like this (the inspiration from de Sade is obvious), there's no way to avoid the injection of the personal into a reading. Pretty deep fault lines in one's character are exposed by texts this ambitious.
It came from way, way outside my comfort zone. I was 24, temping for a Pharmaceutical company in NYC. It was given to me by my girlfriend-- the first older woman I'd ever dated-- and a woman who'd done some sex work early in her 20's. Saying there was a gulf between More...
It came from way, way outside my comfort zone. I was 24, temping for a Pharmaceutical company in NYC. It was given to me by my girlfriend-- the first older woman I'd ever dated-- and a woman who'd done some sex work early in her 20's. Saying there was a gulf between More...
Aug 17, 2010
Emma
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jul 29, 2009
David
rated it:
I usually read anything anyone suggests to me, which is how I came to read Story of O.
This is an erotic novel about a young woman's journey into the BDSM lifestyle. While this is not a lifestyle choice for me, I am curious as to why others participate in it, so I hoped this book might give me some insight.
Unfortunately this book did as poor a job of shedding light on the motivations of that lifestyle as it did in creating believable characters. The latter was what really More...
This is an erotic novel about a young woman's journey into the BDSM lifestyle. While this is not a lifestyle choice for me, I am curious as to why others participate in it, so I hoped this book might give me some insight.
Unfortunately this book did as poor a job of shedding light on the motivations of that lifestyle as it did in creating believable characters. The latter was what really More...
Apr 10, 2009
Victoria
rated it:
This book was not what I was led to believe it was but that didn't make it necessarily bad. I think a lot of people believe it is a work of erotic literature. I found it in the erotic literature section of the book shop. I don't particularly consider it erotic literature. Although there are erotic moments in the book, it is essentially a book of love and the things people are willing to do for the person they love.
O is not a natural submissive but allows herself to be subjected t More...
O is not a natural submissive but allows herself to be subjected t More...
Aug 04, 2011
I used to consider myself very open minded but after reading this book I feel like a prude! No wonder Pauline Reage used a male pseudonym when she published it in 54! ...and I must say that had it not been written by a woman I would have petitioned to rename the book "How to make someone a feminist"...
On first glance the story leaves you wanting...She describes the torture, piercing of the genitalia and prostitution of O in a matter-of-fact kind of way and personaly left me to wonder a More...
On first glance the story leaves you wanting...She describes the torture, piercing of the genitalia and prostitution of O in a matter-of-fact kind of way and personaly left me to wonder a More...
May 09, 2010
Jay
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Feb 22, 2011
Annie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
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Apr 29, 2009
Felicia
rated it:
Bleh. Bleh. Bleh.
I didn't care about anyone in this story, not even the tortured "slave", O. She wanted to be treated that way and got off on it, so how can one feel sorry for her. But I don't think feeling sorry for her was the point....I think the point was supposed to be "erotic". It wasn't. It was totally like watching a movie through a smoke screen - distant and unconnected from the story.
And the terms the author used to describe sexual acts: More...
I didn't care about anyone in this story, not even the tortured "slave", O. She wanted to be treated that way and got off on it, so how can one feel sorry for her. But I don't think feeling sorry for her was the point....I think the point was supposed to be "erotic". It wasn't. It was totally like watching a movie through a smoke screen - distant and unconnected from the story.
And the terms the author used to describe sexual acts: More...
12 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Feb 26, 2008
Eastofoz
rated it:
An extremely disturbing piece of erotic literature that will turn your stomach a long time after having finished reading. Very graphic. No romance here. It's a frightening story of creepy, sadistic sexual power. Very difficult to rate. If you like reading this kind of story then you could easily give it a 5. I'd still recommend it just to know that books like this are out there but you have to be in the right frame of mind to read it I think.
3 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Nov 10, 2011
Geralynne
rated it:
This was a little tough to get through in places but it was one of our first Book Club books in WA. It was a really rowdy meeting, we had fun. 2/3rds of the group gave up and had REALLY STRONG opinions about it. The leader just watched the movie on Nflix, practically in the closet because it was under erotica. lol
One girl ordered it from the library not having any idea what it was, we live in a very religious community, well when she picked it up all the library ladies were already wh More...
One girl ordered it from the library not having any idea what it was, we live in a very religious community, well when she picked it up all the library ladies were already wh More...
Mar 23, 2010
I should probably re-read this--I read it when I was in highschool (!!!)-- because for all of the supposed eroticism involved in it, I remember being seriously turned off and unable to comprehend or identify with the main character, O. This is probably the intention, the protagonist isn't given a name or much of a background after all, if characters aren't well developed you're left with er, descriptions of S&M sans an important parts of the BDSM ethos* (SSC-- safe, sane, consensual) and an obed
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May 23, 2011
Heather
rated it:
I find this book quite difficult to analyse. In one sense, I admire the sentiment expressed in it; that ultimate freedom does include the freedom to give oneself over to another person wholly, to have to give up your will and not have to make choices, but on the other hand the pure objectification at the end of the book (as published) is so difficult to relate to, so unhuman has O become, that it sort of throws off all the sense of the story.
I have read many reader reviews that simply More...
I have read many reader reviews that simply More...
Oct 29, 2010
Traveller
rated it:
I read this quite a while ago, and thought I had already rated it.
Anyway, what I still cannot fathom is why a woman would write fiction that so thoroughly dehumanizes women. Even the Marquis doesn't come close,and one could excuse it more from a man. One can only feel sorry for poor Desclos.
On the other hand, I'm possibly missing the point, which might be put across more subtly than it was in 9 1/2 weeks, the point being that if you play around too much with, and slide d More...
Anyway, what I still cannot fathom is why a woman would write fiction that so thoroughly dehumanizes women. Even the Marquis doesn't come close,and one could excuse it more from a man. One can only feel sorry for poor Desclos.
On the other hand, I'm possibly missing the point, which might be put across more subtly than it was in 9 1/2 weeks, the point being that if you play around too much with, and slide d More...
