Rating: 
Summary: PLEASURE IN PAIN
Review: At the innocent and naive age of twelve, I discovered "The Story of 'O'" lying on a dusty shelf in an old bookstore much to the dismay of the bookstore's owner. As soon as the old man warned me that the book was filled with "bad things" and "wasn't appropriate for a young girl of my age" I knew I had to possess it. From the first reading of this intriguing and passionate novel, I knew that my innocence and naivite was no more. And every year since my "sexual awakening" I have read "The Story of 'O'" Even now, 12 years later, I find myself coveting this tale of sexual domination and submission. To some, "O" endures only pain, but it is this very "pain" that she treasures. And after all, isn't pain merely pleasure from a different perspective? Though "O" is offered her freedom on several occasions, she chooses the physical bondage and torture over this freedom-perhaps her release comes from being dominated. Readers will experience an intense intimacy with "O". For aren't we all in some form of psychological, physical, or mental bondage in our lives? "O" teaches us that to accept this bondage is to receive unbountiful pleasure, but to deny our environment is to suffer unnecessarily. Those readers who are not stimulated by this novel are deaf and blind to life (or simply do not understand the novel itself.) I highly encourage you to read this novel. It will change your life and most assuredly alter what you consider pain and pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: A new definition of love
Review: I discovered this book when I was 16 years old, that was three years ago. My mother of course, told me I wouldn't like it, but she never stopped me from reading it. Being 16, I could not truly understand the book, so I stopped reading, mid story and put it up. Two years later, after my introduction to D/s and BDSM, after my awakening and metamorphosis from a girl to a submissive, I picked up the book again. From the very first word I was captivated, I felt the love that O had for Rene, I understood the torture, the pain, all the suffering. A person who has no knowledge of BDSM or D/s cannot possibly understand this book or enjoy it for what it is. I read one review that completely dissed the book, the woman said she couldn't get past the first chapter. She said that there was no love between Rene and O. To comprehend that love, one has to have felt it before. The love between a submissive and her Master or Mistress, I think, is stronger than that of a vanilla couple. What you have to realize in reading this book is: O chose the chains, she wanted the lashings and torture. She needed to be controlled. In that submission, in giving up her every right to make Rene happy, she was set free. No one but a submissive or Dominant could truly understand that. This book is a must have for those in the BDSM lifestyle, both old and young, experienced and new.
Rating:
Summary: Shocking
Review: I read this book 2 years ago and found it very profound. It has stayed with me and I consider it a classic. The main character gives up herself completely to her lover to lose him and eventually find personal ruin. The attraction I had to this book was not in the eroticism but in the shocking ways O, gave in to her lover. O, becomes the ultimate sex object but in the most humiliating way. This book is a worthwhile experience, you'll never be the same after reading it.
Rating: 
Summary: Disjointed story with violent themes; insider-only appeal
Review: I am fascinated by BDSM myself, and I still think this text is weak with limited appeal to a fringe audience. While it's true that the detail in description of the scenes was sharp, the description lacked a window into the heroine's mind, so that the scenes are only tintilating if acute descriptions of gratuitious violence are your thing. The storyline jumped disjointedly from one inexplicable turn of events to another, without any insight into what would make the characters behave in such a way. In short, it makes a frustrating read for those interested in power exchange but turned off by extreme abuse, and a mystifying read for those not already familiar with the sexual cliches of BDSM.
Rating:
Summary: PLEASURE IN PAIN
Review: At the innocent and naive age of twelve, I discovered "The Story of 'O'" lying on a dusty shelf in an old bookstore much to the dismay of the bookstore's owner. As soon as the old man warned me that the book was filled with "bad things" and "wasn't appropriate for a young girl of my age" I knew I had to possess it. From the first reading of this intriguing and passionate novel, I knew that my innocence and naivite was no more. And every year since my "sexual awakening" I have read "The Story of 'O'" Even now, 12 years later, I find myself coveting this tale of sexual domination and submission. To some, "O" endures only pain, but it is this very "pain" that she treasures. And after all, isn't pain merely pleasure from a different perspective? Though "O" is offered her freedom on several occasions, she chooses the physical bondage and torture over this freedom-perhaps her release comes from being dominated. Readers will experience an intense intimacy with "O". For aren't we all in some form of psychological, physical, or mental bondage in our lives? "O" teaches us that to accept this bondage is to receive unbountiful pleasure, but to deny our environment is to suffer unnecessarily. Those readers who are not stimulated by this novel are deaf and blind to life (or simply do not understand the novel itself.) I highly encourage you to read this novel. It will change your life and most assuredly alter what you consider pain and pleasure.
Rating: 
Summary: one of the worst books I have ever read
Review: I have read a lot of books, but this book is the worst I have ever read. I am no stranger to erotic books but this book just left me cold; There were no positive emotions between the main characters. Do not buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: beat me daddY
Review: Silly but harmless. Amazing how this has survived so many years, as it isn't a "classic" or "deep" - although there are some for whom it is a life changing event. Who knows - perhaps it will be for you also? But you may find the dark side pretty crowded already when you "cross over." You might be surprised at who has read this supposedly sexy but actually cold little book. So many of your friends and co-workers. Your boss. Your Mom's lawyer. Your real-estate person. The guy behind the counter at the convenience store. Everybody in fact. Or almost. What a strange world we live in. Soon it will be spring.
Rating:
Summary: Heavy but ultmiately a great read.
Review: What astounds me about The Story of O is that it was written a long time ago. I liked it though I didn't really think of it as being a "sexy" read. To me, it was more like a study in one woman's quest for complete and total submission. Other books I've read, like "Breaking the Girl" are more subduded and erotic. This one is mind blowing as well but less sexual than others.
Rating:
Summary: Read it as a book not a fantasy...
Review: I think most people go into this book wrongly. They start it thinking it more as a way to "get off" or delve into their fantasies instead of reading it as a story. And then they are often disappointed when realizing that they can't identify with O and quickly give the story up. If you want a quick sexual release, no this is not the book for you but if you want a good read and your mind blown away then give it a shot. Don't automatically try to find yourself in this book, if you identify with the character then great but if not then no big deal. As someone who has a high interest and only dabbled in BDSM and D/s I enjoyed this book very much. Does that mean that I want to go through everything O went through? No not at all. Beyond role playing i'm just not interested in that sort of complete power exchange. But that doesn't mean that I was disgusted by O or thought any less of her as a woman either. I did often find myself trying to be in her position throughout reading the book. Sometimes I was able to and other times not. There were many points in the book where I was in fact turned on and other points where I was just amazed and curious. The only thing I can caution about with The Story of O is that I think anyone who decides to read this should have at least a basic knowledge of D/s and BDSM. I can see how reading this book with no knowledge beforehand could leave someone to believe that this is a full representation of the BDSM world. When in truth I have rarely heard of D/s couples or BDSM communities who go as extreme as this book depicts.
Rating:
Summary: This is not Love!!
Review: I'll be honest, I couldn't make it past the first chapter. The violence, abuse and self-deprecation was too much for me to stomach. What offended me most was the use of the word Love throughout the chapter. This word was used(or should I say mis-used) by both the tortured and the torturer. Although the subject matter sickened me, the writing style and attention to detail was excellent (and scary). If you can stand it I'm sure there's something to be gained from reading this book. I personally will never know.
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