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Summary: Story of O
Review: My wife and I have read this book and have an original Beta copy of the video. We have throughly enjoyed the book as well as the video. We did not find the book disturbing at all. We found it to be quite stimulating, not in a true Sado-Masachisticist world. The submissive side of this book was very enjoyable. The fact that is was written anonymously adds to the mystic of the novel. For those who consider reading this book, please read it with an open mind. What the young photographer does for Rene is completely within her control to stop. We all face this type of submission within our lives. Just think how many times your boss has made you work late or your spouse made you do something you did not want to. We can control how far submissiveness go, as O could have. She chose not to stop it, because she was enjoying it.
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Summary: A must read for those in and out of the scene.
Review: Never let anyone, especially a rabid feminist, say anything against this book. More than anything else, it is a novel of a woman's right to choose. If that choice happens to be that of giving up her choices, so be it. That in and of itself is the greatest of choices. It is also a novel of love... the simple words "I Love You" mean little next to the act of giving oneself freely to another. These are the points that Reage illuminates with her work, done with a flowing sense of style and a wonderful grasp of the written word
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Summary: Over-rated so-called erotic "classic"
Review: Now I'm no prude; I like good erotica as well as the next girl. But this story is an enormous let-down. Perhaps worth reading only because it is so widely known, The Story of O is neither a thought-provoking read, nor an arousing turn-on. This so-called erotic classic is yet one more pointless, male-targeted story of the submissive woman who is nothing without her man, who will do anything for him, who is nothing without him. O has no mind of her own, no opinions, no thoughts that don't focus on her lover and her desire to please him. She is willingly mutilated and tortured, only to please her so-called lover who seems only mildly interested; not at all interested in her, but in the power he wields over her. Her degradation is not at all arousing, but disgusting and pathetic. Some of this I could forgive if the writing were something special, which it isn't, or if the sex was particularly good, which it isn't. The book drags on and on as you hope for some improvement, some excitement, which never comes.
Rating: 
Summary: I wish I had not read it
Review: Perhaps I'm coming at _Story of O_ from a completely different direction, since I was hardly compelled to feel anything toward the characters in the novel. The translation of Reage's novel is bumpy and broken, and often it is difficult to follow thought patterns and dialogue of the characters. If readers do manage to make sense of the prose, they will find a story of whips and chains, S/M, bondage, and so forth--actions still considered taboo in most social circles. Readers will find the central character, O, enigmatic, confounding, and ambivalent: Why would anyone submit themselves to such emotional and phyiscal pain? Love would be the most obvious answer, but surely Reage was thinking of something more postmodern ... Of course these are purely subjective thoughts of mine. One must remember, while reading this book, that one's dislike of pain is another's passion.
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Summary: O is for "Ouch"
Review: Perhaps I'm coming at _Story of O_ from a completely different direction, since I was hardly compelled to feel anything toward the characters in the novel. The translation of Reage's novel is bumpy and broken, and often it is difficult to follow thought patterns and dialogue of the characters. If readers do manage to make sense of the prose, they will find a story of whips and chains, S/M, bondage, and so forth--actions still considered taboo in most social circles. Readers will find the central character, O, enigmatic, confounding, and ambivalent: Why would anyone submit themselves to such emotional and phyiscal pain? Love would be the most obvious answer, but surely Reage was thinking of something more postmodern ... Of course these are purely subjective thoughts of mine. One must remember, while reading this book, that one's dislike of pain is another's passion.
Rating: 
Summary: Disturbing and fascinating
Review: Perhaps one the most controversial novels of all time, The Story of O focuses on the strange relationship between love and slavery. The heroine, known only as O, is a young woman who chooses to live only as a slave to her lover Rene. She undergoes a variety of "tests" to prove her devotion to him, including a visit to an ominous chateau where women are "trained" to be submissive. Eventually O is introduced to Rene's mysterious half-brother, a man who will change her life and possibly take part in her destruction. As disturbing as the book is, it raises some very interesting questions about the nature of individual freedom. The tone of the writing is lyrical and surreal; this helps to offset the occasionally graphic content.
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Summary: If nothing else it makes you think
Review: So, ok, this person is willingly being treated like a SLAVE just so that she does not have to think for herself or live off of her own freedom. I hate this book, and everything that it stands for. However, it really does make me wonder why I have such a violent reaction, and what it is that is hitting me right where it hurts. If nothing else it really makes you think about the choices that you make in your own life, and the partners whom you wish to share that life with.
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Summary: Be careful which edition you order!
Review: The original "Story of O" is a novel. There is a comic book version by Guido Crepax which is NOT the novel. Amazon.com has mistakenly combined the reviews for the book and the comic book, which is very misleading because I wanted the novel and got the comic book!
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Summary: Past Reviews
Review: This book was not written by an anonymous man. It was written by Pauline as a way of telling her husband that women CAN write erotic literature. Her husband wrote the introduction to the story of O in some editions. I believe that one pof the essays were called Happiness in Slavery. One night, while lying in bed, her husband told her that only men can write erotic literature. One year later, on his birthday, she gave him the story of O. Which he wrote the intro to and had published. They know that hse had written now because they found her beforfe she died with the original manuscript written in her hand writting. She wrote this book.
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Summary: The Best BDS&M comic book
Review: This is the best BDSM comic book I've ever seen! The book's adaptation is simply perfect; it's exciting, poetic and artistic. If you know what expect, won't get disappointed.
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