Story of O by Pauline Reage Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Story of O
Book Review: Awful
Summary: 1 Stars
This book makes me ill. I don't see how anyone can read it. I only got through the first few chapters and decided it was not worth reading.Book Review: Barely Naughty
Summary: 1 Stars
I've read some nicely naughty adult books before and heard this one was great. I'd call it an "intro" book. It's mostly about being emotionally and physically "owned" and about pain. Not much time spent on erotica outside of those items. I found other books to be much more erotic because they went into detail about touching, licking, tasting, penetrating, etc. I was underwhelmed by this book. Try the sleeping beauty trilogy by Anne Rice instead!Book Review: Beware those faint of mind!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are the least bit close-minded, this book is not for you. To appreciate this novel, one must enter its pages submissively with an open mind. Despite some of the adverse reviews this novel has received, I feel that the persons who delivered those reviews originially entered its pages with an open mind, but through conforming to society's rules, decided that the book was filfth and deviant.
What "O" endures is repulsive and needless to many. But in reality, all of us face what "O" does in our lives. It is within the choices that we make that distinguish us from her.
"O"is given the choice to be free or to be bound; hence, she chooses the bondage and in doing so strengthens her love for Rene. This parallels with the choices we make to remain in our stifling jobs (and our love for money, social status, and physical possessions.) Or how we choose to engage in marriage (which is a union founded in possession, bondage, domination, and submission) and see it through despite our disappointments, outside lusts, and yearning for freedom.
To say that "O"'s motivations are not founded and explainable is ludicrous. Deeply search your life for what motivates you to love, lust, work, dream, and trust and therein you will discover why "O" chooses the path she does.
I believe that "O" is the greatest love story ever written. To truly love someone is to do anything in your power to make that person happy. "O" shows Rene her unconditional love for him by fulfilling his desires and obeying his wishes.
With a closed mind, one would not see this.
Book Review: Big disappointment
Summary: 1 Stars
This has nothing at all to do with Oprah's magazine.Book Review: Break-through, genre-defining, misunderstood by newer D/sers
Summary: 5 Stars
A few years ago just prior to her passing, Ms. Reage finally revealed herself - even offering interviews. What she has created, what she has defined and brought into the open for our age (opening the door in the 1950's,) we cannot easily repay. Before her work, there were no publications in the genre save the puerile, repetitive musings of de Sade: "Justine" and "101 Days." Ms. Reage changed this. She re-invented it. She brought it forth from the darkness. Just, for example, in creating the "chateau" device - seemingly obvious, even simple - yet it remains the most copied to this day. But chiefly, I believe, she brought a feminine wisdom to the characters, seeing actions and intent - bereft of particulars, specifics or trivia - through O's eyes as only a woman could. If you read it, take careful note not only of the symbolism of O's name but of how she is an anywoman, she has no physical characteristics save those shared of all women. I cannot do justice to Story here, but it is, truly, literature.The submissive emerges as human for the first time in O. In the Story Reage gave reign to the freedom of mind inherent in humanity. And it is because of that that O is able to desire her freedom's diminishment for - and all the while despite - herself. Indeed, she completes her own submission - not merely because she has in her possession the freedom itself to relinquish - which de Sade's heroine's did not - but as party to her own subjugation she proves her worthiness to be possessed, affirms her subjugation, gives to her masters a freedom that is inconceivable in lieu of her consent.
When Ms. Reage still sought anonymity, it was written that the Story, like O, would stand naked before her judges. Sadly, Ms Reage's apologetic noises about Story's harshness and its unlikeliness, I believe, directly contrive to render Story's criticism a certain chic-ness in the community - criticism most undeserved: Especially when Story is appreciated in its context.
With this book Ms. Reage provided a defining statement for what would become today's D/s.
Story is not a classic. It is THE CLASSIC.