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beatriix's review against another edition
3.0
Mira si leo poco que un mierdi libro de 250 hojas me ha llevado dos años. Fuck.
timetotalkbeauty's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Torture
ainy90's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
newson66's review against another edition
2.0
Incredibly dated and to be honest quite a disappointing book. Whilst understanding why it must have been so shocking when originally released it really has not stood the test of time.
phoenixish's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bmg20's review against another edition
2.0
This story was written in 1954... I cannot even begin to imagine the outrage this novel must have caused.
Taken at face value it’s a strange, odd, and confusing tale of female submission. The main character, known as O, is brought to the château of Roissy where she is taught to be constantly ‘available’ to the men who belong to that ‘elite group’. Like I said, awkward. You’re not given much background story at all so you don’t quite understand the O and why she’s allowing this to happen when she doesn’t even appear to be enjoying this (regardless of the fact that she actually gives her permission frequently for them to do such things to her).
After reading more about Anne Desclos (The Story of O being written under the pen name Pauline Réage) the story begins to make a bit more sense. It wasn’t originally intended to be a novel; however, it was written as a series of love letters to her lover Jean Paulhan. Her lover had been a fan of the work of Marquis de Sade and had once said that a woman could not write anything such as that. Taking it as a dare, she set out to accomplish it. So it probably wasn’t meant to make sense, her lover may have been into stuff like that and she was trying to … pacify him. Either way it was quite the difficult read and wasn’t exactly enjoyable.
Taken at face value it’s a strange, odd, and confusing tale of female submission. The main character, known as O, is brought to the château of Roissy where she is taught to be constantly ‘available’ to the men who belong to that ‘elite group’. Like I said, awkward. You’re not given much background story at all so you don’t quite understand the O and why she’s allowing this to happen when she doesn’t even appear to be enjoying this (regardless of the fact that she actually gives her permission frequently for them to do such things to her).
After reading more about Anne Desclos (The Story of O being written under the pen name Pauline Réage) the story begins to make a bit more sense. It wasn’t originally intended to be a novel; however, it was written as a series of love letters to her lover Jean Paulhan. Her lover had been a fan of the work of Marquis de Sade and had once said that a woman could not write anything such as that. Taking it as a dare, she set out to accomplish it. So it probably wasn’t meant to make sense, her lover may have been into stuff like that and she was trying to … pacify him. Either way it was quite the difficult read and wasn’t exactly enjoyable.
a_r_e_l_i_c's review against another edition
4.0
"Lost because these fine strands of hair, these cables which Rene held, without exception, in his hand, were the only network through which the current of life any longer flowed into her."
Have you ever loved someone so earth shatteringly hard, soul debasingly deep - only to be tossed aside like a used toy? If you can identify with the above, this will be a beautifully painful read. Painful because of how disturbingly closely you will relate to O.
That said, I have some serious issues with the consent factor of this novel - or rather the lack thereof. Being asked to agree to some future event you're ignorant of, especially one that involves prostitution and permanent body modification, does not constitute as informed consent! Therefore, I refuse to read this work as a BDSM story. The fact that Anne Desclos wrote this book to prove to her real-life lover that women can write erotica (and to write something that would please him) might explain the disconnect.
As an erotic tale of unrequited love, this story succeeds.
Have you ever loved someone so earth shatteringly hard, soul debasingly deep - only to be tossed aside like a used toy? If you can identify with the above, this will be a beautifully painful read. Painful because of how disturbingly closely you will relate to O.
That said, I have some serious issues with the consent factor of this novel - or rather the lack thereof. Being asked to agree to some future event you're ignorant of, especially one that involves prostitution and permanent body modification, does not constitute as informed consent! Therefore, I refuse to read this work as a BDSM story. The fact that Anne Desclos wrote this book to prove to her real-life lover that women can write erotica (and to write something that would please him) might explain the disconnect.
Spoiler
Ultimately, just as Desclos was not enough for her lover, neither was O for either Rene nor Sir Stephen; even after she relinquished her mind, body, and soul to them.lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
3.0
There's two problems I have with BDSM literature. Firstly, I find most authors tend to write the novels when they have little to no experience in the BDSM scene. This, I find, also leads into the second point; most characters are written to be polyamorous or have no problem with cheating on their partner(s). This frustrates me a lot, as authors should at least attempt to experience or do heavy research into what they're writing if they have no prior involvement, and secondly, it leads to stereotypical characters and scenes which undermine the people who lead the lives the author is writing about.
The Story of O does this. Now, the first problem I can forgive, or at least understand. Anne Desclos' partner was a fan of de Sade, and presumably had some kind of interest in BDSM. Desclos wanted to write him something he would enjoy, even if she didn't like it. Fair enough. She sounds like she was a good partner and wanted to make her boyfriend/husband/whatever (I'm not sure) happy. And de Sade often wrote about multiple sexual partners and the like, so she was copying him. Fine.
But other aspiring BDSM authors out there, please understand, not all BDSM relationships are like those portrayed by de Sade! There is a reason 'sadism' and 'sadistic' originated from his name- his novels are intentionally sadistic. YES, the 'S' in 'BDSM' can be sadis*, YES, there is typically a dom(me)/sub, master/slave, sadist/masochist, top/bottom, what else edge to the relationship, but you know what else is typically in a (healthy) relationship? Love. Trust. Respect.
And fortunately, fortunately, fortunately, Desclos included this. I really liked the scenes where O and Rene told each other they loved one another, even if they both had the personality of a wet blanket. I liked how O was a tiny bit hesitant about bringing Jacqueline into the scene. I liked how O gave her consent. THAT, aspiring BDSM authors, is what is so utterly sexy and delightful about BDSM relationships. Mutual bleeding respect.
I didn't like the novel entirely. Maybe it was wonky translating, but children being involved in sex? Not so sexy. Vaguely incestuous relationships? Uh, okay, kind of odd, but okay. Consistent use of 'belly' for 'vagina'? I'm not too sure.
But at least Desclos had the characters give consent and express love for another, gosh darn it.
The Story of O does this. Now, the first problem I can forgive, or at least understand. Anne Desclos' partner was a fan of de Sade, and presumably had some kind of interest in BDSM. Desclos wanted to write him something he would enjoy, even if she didn't like it. Fair enough. She sounds like she was a good partner and wanted to make her boyfriend/husband/whatever (I'm not sure) happy. And de Sade often wrote about multiple sexual partners and the like, so she was copying him. Fine.
But other aspiring BDSM authors out there, please understand, not all BDSM relationships are like those portrayed by de Sade! There is a reason 'sadism' and 'sadistic' originated from his name- his novels are intentionally sadistic. YES, the 'S' in 'BDSM' can be sadis*, YES, there is typically a dom(me)/sub, master/slave, sadist/masochist, top/bottom, what else edge to the relationship, but you know what else is typically in a (healthy) relationship? Love. Trust. Respect.
And fortunately, fortunately, fortunately, Desclos included this. I really liked the scenes where O and Rene told each other they loved one another, even if they both had the personality of a wet blanket. I liked how O was a tiny bit hesitant about bringing Jacqueline into the scene. I liked how O gave her consent. THAT, aspiring BDSM authors, is what is so utterly sexy and delightful about BDSM relationships. Mutual bleeding respect.
I didn't like the novel entirely. Maybe it was wonky translating, but children being involved in sex? Not so sexy. Vaguely incestuous relationships? Uh, okay, kind of odd, but okay. Consistent use of 'belly' for 'vagina'? I'm not too sure.
But at least Desclos had the characters give consent and express love for another, gosh darn it.