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Story of O  By  cover art

Story of O

By: Pauline Reage
Narrated by: Käthe Mazur
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Publisher's summary

O is a young, beautiful fashion photographer in Paris. One day her lover, René, takes her to a château, where she is enslaved, with René's approval, and systematically sexually assaulted by various other men. Later, René turns O over to Sir Stephen, an English friend who intensifies the brutality. But the final humiliation is yet to come.

©1965 Grove Press, Inc. (P)2012 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: Erotica

Critic reviews

"A rare thing, a pornographic book well written and without a trace of obscenity." (Graham Greene)

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What listeners say about Story of O

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    3 out of 5 stars
  • AS
  • 10-12-16

Crazy, misguided, dangerous love

Still a better love story than "Twilight" or "50 Shades." Everyone who thinks those two "love stories" are good literature ought to elevate their game and read "Story of O." And remember: all the crazy stuff that happens in the book is fully consensual because it's all done out of love.

"Story of O" is a crazy love story. As in, no one would be so crazy as to love someone so much as to subject themselves to such torture. And yet, such is the case with O, the titular character, who allows herself to be subjugated the point where she has no name and is referred to only by that letter. While it's a well-written piece of literature, the characters are flat at best and unbelievable at worst. And then the story falls flat at the end, wrapping up in a matter that feels unsatisfying.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

A tedious explanation of BDSM.....

Remember this is "classic literature", I am more of a modern story listener myself, I did not enjoy this.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A character study that is dismissed as pornography

WARNING #1: If you have never read Story of O, you will want to skip the introductory chapter and the essay "Happiness in Slavery" which comes afterwards. Skip to chapter 3, where Story of O begins, then when you are finished with the novel, come back to those introductory chapters as they give you important insights into the deeper meaning of the text.

Warning #2: If you have ever used the term "problematic" to describe erotica or erotic romance, this novel is not for you. The Story of O is erotica, not romance. It is interested, at least at the surface level, in taking us through a character's sexual awakening. BUT, beyond that is a book about a woman's dark descent until she is slowly stripped away into nothingness.

Story of O has more in common with de Sade's brand of erotica than it does mass market erotic romance where HFN or HEA are expected. This is a dark and twisted but also very clever novel. It is both a love letter written to the writer's lover at the time but also a novel that can viewed through a feminist lens. The narrator is almost like a detached naturalist observing O's descent. There are hints that the author is in no way advocating for women to completely submit to men. In fact, she shows the horrors of what becomes of O as she continuously gives up her agency in service to a man.

I expected dark erotica, and I got so much more. I did research into the author, and she was a famous and respected literary critic and essayist, and it shows. Story of O is a literary work that gives us dark insights into the psychology of power dynamics, how women choose to define themselves, and the stark reality of the libertine lifestyle. We get to watch O become more twisted as the story moves along until the horror of what she has become is apparent to others. The last chapter is subtly haunting in its imagery. Well done., Ms. Reage for giving your reader the unflinching portrait of the destruction of a woman disguised as an adoring love letter.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A look inside the mind of a young woman

Very well written. This isn't typical erotica. It's a classic. This book has changed me forever. Very well read too.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Excellent reader!

What did you love best about Story of O?

The reader found great nuance in this novel.

What does Käthe Mazur bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her interpretation of the characters and rhythms of the story.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Cruel ending - I guess I’m not deep enough to understand

I liked the story but it was very very far from the realm of something I could understand. The very worst part was the cruel, abrupt, unclear end. I have to alter the ending in my brain in order to accept the parts I liked of this book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

First 3 chapters the narrator is just lecturing.

What would have made Story of O better?

I wish the narrated would just read the book. I know the author is kinda unknown. But going over the thoughts or the maybe's about the author, could have been posted at the end of the book.

Would you ever listen to anything by Pauline Reage again?

I don't know.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

PIECE OF CRAP

It was the voice of the narrator. It was the most boring, dragging put you to sleep. Finally after three tries," I SAY THE HELL WITH IT".

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Sad and disturbing

The character deserves more feelings. I felt that O deserved a greater life. Was not a fan of the ending. The more I read it, the more I kept waiting that it will get better but nope. I don’t understand the point of a book like this. It’s like she existed, that’s it. O never really lived through the story, which is why it is sad.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Horrible

I can’t believe this is a real book, its horrible.
It’s a woman who gets made into pretty much a sex slave and then manipulated into believing that’s exactly what she wants.

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