Story of O

By: Pauline Reage

Narrated by: Käthe Mazur

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

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

Critic reviews

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

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.

the story of O no

was okay the auther is known now wish the last chapter was on here but leaves it to your own imagination

Haunted and absolutely disturbing!

Wow, what a well written slave story that was shocking, erotic, and brazen. I can only say with absolute certainty that lifestyle is way beyond my compression and further I felt twisted internally by what O would have considered joyous and I found immensely sad. I only recommend this if you are prepared to be stricken by immense emotional upheaval. It's not for the faint of heart.

Very well done/read

The story itself is unique and interesting. BDSM is such a fluid concept despite the disciplines exacted in its lifestyle that to gain an insight into one person’s experience is thought provoking. The narrator I thought brought out the story in an exquisite way.

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.

disturbing

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

no not really

Would you be willing to try another book from Pauline Reage? Why or why not?

no

What three words best describe Käthe Mazur’s voice?

I didn't care for the narrator

Could you see Story of O being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

no idea

Any additional comments?

This is my opinion...I read this book about 16 years ago, give or take a few years. This book is quite hard to forget. Rene- O's boyfriend takes her to Roissy ( a house of torture) she is raped, beaten, humiliated and she does it because she loves Rene. At the end of her time there Rene gives her to Sir Stephen H. I hated Rene at that time in the book. his character is just a whimpy, stupid man. Sir Stephen takes over and tortures, disfigures and rapes O constantly, By the end of the book she doesn't know her head from a hole in the ground. One of the endings had something to do with Sir Stephen leaving and she was going to kill herself and he gave her his permission, I was thinking.... she really should.... I think everyone should read this book (listen to it) I enjoy reading different opinions. Also this book is not easily forgotten.

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.

Definitely worth a listen

What did you love best about Story of O?

Authentic passionate story. Quite a perspective from which to view life. A very different culture. Strangely seductuve.

Strange

Characters seemed completely lacking of any sort of feeling. There was no connection between any of them which was obviously the intent of the author but it didn't evoke any feelings from me as the reader. I wanted to read it because of the controversy surrounding it and I'm glad I did. It was by far one of my least favorites however.

Sadness...

Would you listen to Story of O again? Why?

I probably would

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The story in its self is just sad. While I didnt hate the book there is nothing erotic about the story.

What aspect of Käthe Mazur’s performance would you have changed?

nothing? She did fine.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was nice to have a break to absorb the depth of what was happening.

Any additional comments?

We are all prisons of our own devise...