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The Image
The book that eliminates any doubts anyone might have that the women of Paris in the '50s were indeed some of the most interesting of all time. The Image, published in '56 with a preface by "Pauline Reage," takes its place high in the pantheon of erotica moderne. Told by Jean, who teams up with Claire to really put the submissive Anne through her paces, it's a love story as only that period could produce, and a work seldom out of print. The author has been established as Catherine Robbe-Grillet,
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1956
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 28, 2014
The hardcover Grove Press copy, clocking in at 143 pages, makes this book a pretty fast read, that is, if it weren't so pathetically boring. I know I know, Susan Sontag has blessed it with true literary status, as have countless others starving for a good erotic read. But I never got the point. I never believed in anybody or anything. I never had any stake in it. There was nothing of me involved with anything that mattered. Early on I figured the book was obviously written by somebody from high society, well-educated, and somewhat worldly, at least in their belief system. I have since researched enough to find out that the author was actually Catherine Robbe-Grillet, the wife of a very talented, but dead, writer in his own right, not to mention that Alain Robbe-Grillet did a bit of erotic writing himself that I have found a little more difficult and high brow than his spouse's foray in to the genre. Alain's, JEALOUSY, had more eroticism in it from what he left out than the entire book written by Catherine in all its graphic detail. It is possible I am merely a square, that I have not developed the necessary libido to enjoy this type of deviant behavior (deviant as different, not necessarily bad). Whips, ropes, and chains are definitely not of my cultural upbringing and have no place in the world I live in, unless I am missing something of my neighbors' life. Don't get me wrong, I like a bit of kinky sex as much as the next fellow, but I just wasn't feeling it with this little book, and feeling, feeling it in my body , is what I am always after. Nothing presented in the book made me feel anything strongly pro or con about even trying a little tie up at home.
The hard part now is where to go from here in my personal quest for sexual awakening. Sontag, according to sources, also blessed Pierre Louys', THE SHE DEVILS, George Bataille's, STORY OF THE EYE & his MADAME EDWARDA, and THE STORY OF O by Pauline Reage. After reading a few reviews and one synopsis I have ordered MADAME EDWARDA simply because of the incest factor and the threat of pain I can't imagine on my own. THE IMAGE was too predictable. It was written so simply I felt it was not for me but instead it was written for somebody afraid of the language and what the words might possibly do to me. I want to be challenged intellectually. I want to be confused enough to want to know what's true. The main problem with THE IMAGE was, it did not make me care.
The hard part now is where to go from here in my personal quest for sexual awakening. Sontag, according to sources, also blessed Pierre Louys', THE SHE DEVILS, George Bataille's, STORY OF THE EYE & his MADAME EDWARDA, and THE STORY OF O by Pauline Reage. After reading a few reviews and one synopsis I have ordered MADAME EDWARDA simply because of the incest factor and the threat of pain I can't imagine on my own. THE IMAGE was too predictable. It was written so simply I felt it was not for me but instead it was written for somebody afraid of the language and what the words might possibly do to me. I want to be challenged intellectually. I want to be confused enough to want to know what's true. The main problem with THE IMAGE was, it did not make me care.
September 9, 2016
Catherine Robbe Grillet, como fotógrafa e dominatrix, tem um olho bem treinado no assunto e descreve as cenas de maneira visualmente impecável, mas como tenho uma queda por dominatrices que lidam com homens submissos, vou ficar devendo uma nota maior, embora o lance da sua escrava ser na realidade o seu duplo é de fato bem engenhoso.
December 25, 2021
Jean de Berg es un pseudónimo utilizado por la escritora francesa Catherine Robbe-Grillet, nacida en 1930, esposa del director de cine Alain Robbe-Grillet, fallecido en 2008. Esta pareja fue famosa en el círculo BDSM de Francia, lo cual se refleja en las obras de cada uno respectivamente. Catherine escribió varias novelas y relatos que tratan el tema del sadomasoquismo. Existe incluso un documental sobre su estilo de vida y sus prácticas sexuales llamado «La ceremonia». Como curiosidad, luego de la muerte del marido empezó a circular por internet la anécdota de que al casarse con Catherine le hizo firmar un «Contrato de prostitución conyugal», en el cual acordaron todas las prácticas a las cuales la esposa debía someterse para placer del marido a cambio de una suma fija de dinero. Cierta o no, esta anécdota contribuye a consolidar la reputación de la pareja. Pueden leer más acá: https://uninstantedecaos.blogspot.com...
La nota biográfica de la autora me pareció absolutamente necesaria en este caso para entender el lugar que ocupa «La imagen» dentro del mundo de la literatura erótica, y dentro del BDSM en particular. Este libro escrito en 1956 hace parte de la colección erótica organizada por la editorial Tusquets en los 70 y 88, llamada «La sonrisa vertical», que se compone de 146 obras magníficas, algunas bastantes perturbadoras, pero todas dignas exponentes del género.
«La imagen» trata sobre la relación de dominación-sumisión entre Clara y Ana, en la cual se suma Jean, quien hará primero de espectador y luego de verdugo. El libro está lleno de escenas cargadas de un erotismo muy intenso, poético y salvaje al mismo tiempo. Se trata de una historia muy corta pero de una intensidad bárbara.
Con lo dicho hasta ahora debe bastar para que quien guste de este género literario sienta deseos de leer «La imagen». En este caso, mi misión estará cumplida.
* Como un proyecto personal quiero emprender la lectura ordenada y consciente de toda la colección de «La sonrisa vertical» en el año 2022, con el fin de reseñar todas las obras que pueda.
La nota biográfica de la autora me pareció absolutamente necesaria en este caso para entender el lugar que ocupa «La imagen» dentro del mundo de la literatura erótica, y dentro del BDSM en particular. Este libro escrito en 1956 hace parte de la colección erótica organizada por la editorial Tusquets en los 70 y 88, llamada «La sonrisa vertical», que se compone de 146 obras magníficas, algunas bastantes perturbadoras, pero todas dignas exponentes del género.
«La imagen» trata sobre la relación de dominación-sumisión entre Clara y Ana, en la cual se suma Jean, quien hará primero de espectador y luego de verdugo. El libro está lleno de escenas cargadas de un erotismo muy intenso, poético y salvaje al mismo tiempo. Se trata de una historia muy corta pero de una intensidad bárbara.
Con lo dicho hasta ahora debe bastar para que quien guste de este género literario sienta deseos de leer «La imagen». En este caso, mi misión estará cumplida.
* Como un proyecto personal quiero emprender la lectura ordenada y consciente de toda la colección de «La sonrisa vertical» en el año 2022, con el fin de reseñar todas las obras que pueda.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2020
It is known that the forbidden is sweeter and this is true in this book about the dark world of BDSM. But beyond its boldness and pornographic nature, intensified by the author's admittedly vivid language, it is a book that goes deep enough, revealing the key element of this foreplay that is, of course, the game of power that causes excitement on both sides and that is what makes it something more.
Είναι γνωστό ότι το απαγορευμένο είναι πιο γλυκό και αυτό ισχύει σε αυτό το βιβλίο για τον σκοτεινό κόσμο του BDSM. Πέρα, όμως, από την τόλμη του και την πορνογραφική του ιδιότητα, που εντείνεται από την ομολογουμένως γλαφυρή γλώσσα της συγγραφέως, πρόκειται για ένα βιβλίο που φτάνει σε αρκετό βάθος, αποκαλύπτοντας το βασικό στοιχείο αυτού του ερωτικού παιχνιδιού που είναι φυσικά το παιχνίδι της δύναμης που προκαλεί διέγερση και στις δύο μεριές και αυτό είναι που το κάνει να είναι κάτι περισσότερο.
Είναι γνωστό ότι το απαγορευμένο είναι πιο γλυκό και αυτό ισχύει σε αυτό το βιβλίο για τον σκοτεινό κόσμο του BDSM. Πέρα, όμως, από την τόλμη του και την πορνογραφική του ιδιότητα, που εντείνεται από την ομολογουμένως γλαφυρή γλώσσα της συγγραφέως, πρόκειται για ένα βιβλίο που φτάνει σε αρκετό βάθος, αποκαλύπτοντας το βασικό στοιχείο αυτού του ερωτικού παιχνιδιού που είναι φυσικά το παιχνίδι της δύναμης που προκαλεί διέγερση και στις δύο μεριές και αυτό είναι που το κάνει να είναι κάτι περισσότερο.
July 20, 2016
Here's one bdsm/power-scenario tale that is actually about someone showing a potential lover how they would like to be loved, just as much as it is about sex... and the film isn't half bad either.
One of the best books to be read at night… esp by chapter to a lover over the phone.
Came across a few copies by chance in a great beatnik used bookstore. A very petite novel, but one abounding cautiously and strangely with a menage cast of characters who care very much for one another it seems, in the face of their brutal S&M play. (The protagonist has the same first name as the author)
It is a man's own story of these events as the narrator and the other 2 characters are women. I wonder how the tale would play out in a more modern context should the roles be reversed.
Nonetheless, the writing is excellent- lush and controlled. Revealing and disciplined. Each chapter only 5-7 pgs, which allowed each of them to be paced and devoured like sinfully sweet chocolates. The last questions I am faced with in reading what I might call very "classy smut" is: "could I handle being in a relationship like this? What would I want to give/recieve from being part of such a union?"
One of the best books to be read at night… esp by chapter to a lover over the phone.
Came across a few copies by chance in a great beatnik used bookstore. A very petite novel, but one abounding cautiously and strangely with a menage cast of characters who care very much for one another it seems, in the face of their brutal S&M play. (The protagonist has the same first name as the author)
It is a man's own story of these events as the narrator and the other 2 characters are women. I wonder how the tale would play out in a more modern context should the roles be reversed.
Nonetheless, the writing is excellent- lush and controlled. Revealing and disciplined. Each chapter only 5-7 pgs, which allowed each of them to be paced and devoured like sinfully sweet chocolates. The last questions I am faced with in reading what I might call very "classy smut" is: "could I handle being in a relationship like this? What would I want to give/recieve from being part of such a union?"
September 29, 2011
This book was excellent! my father gave it to me, little did he know that this book is very graphic. I still read it though obviously. There was so much detail put into this book, I was socaptivated by the detail, hence the title "The Image" you could imagine everything. I tend to enjoy books when you're able to have a "mental picture" or "mental movie" I could not put this book down, only when my mom called me for dinner...haha funny. Anyways, I reccomend this book for someone with a mature mind, they'll value the book a lot more rather than an immature 15 year old. I think that's another reason why I enjoyed this book. Overrall excellent piece of writing by Mr. Berg, just excellent.
October 14, 2014
After reading the Vanity Fair piece on Catherine Robbe-Grillet, I admit, I was utterly fascinated. Hunted down the book on the Internet and the rest, as they say, is history. It's a pretty intense read, enough to make most people blush (and maybe tingle, if they are into that kinda thing). I always have a slight issue with translated works, but will refrain from comment until I actually read it in its orignal french.
May 3, 2009
I read this when I was far too young for it. I picked it up again for the Kindle - 80 cents - and am pleased to find that the book is as good as I remembered it. Naughty, literate filth from the late 1950s, by the New Wave novelist and film maker Alain Robbe-Grillet and his wife Catherine. Enthusiastically recommended for those of a perverse bent!
December 21, 2024
Note to self: don’t read another book about BDSM even if Susan Sontag says it’s “one of the only 5 erotic novels credited with true literary status.”
October 14, 2015
A nice little read enabling us to get a glimpse of Parisian S&M life in the 50s with a trio of actors who are not shy to get into it devotedly.
This erotica story has also got a sort of cinema-like style of describing the characters and especially the way they move; this opinion might be directly linked to the fact that actually both of the writers behind the "Jean De Berg" pseudonym were involved into the seventh art environment as well.
This erotica story has also got a sort of cinema-like style of describing the characters and especially the way they move; this opinion might be directly linked to the fact that actually both of the writers behind the "Jean De Berg" pseudonym were involved into the seventh art environment as well.
October 6, 2017
Sadomasochistisch cultverhaal uit 1956 van Jean de Berg (vermoedelijk pseudoniem van Cathérine Robbe-Grillet), met een voorwoord van en opgedragen aan Pauline Réage (van 'Histoire d'O.'). Stijlvol maar weinig diepgaand en te veel opgesmukt met de Franse slag.
February 1, 2013
Extremely well written and very descriptive with a surprising twist at the end.
March 4, 2011
I've never seen Radley Metzger's 1970s porno filming of this novella (retitled The Punishment of Anne) but reading this I can visualize it shot by shot and scene by scene: I can see women in retro garb but with late 60s faces shot through gauze on semi-grainy film acting woodenly with voices that aren't exactly synched properly. Maybe I'm all wrong about the film (I have seen other Metzger movies, which I generally like, so I do have some experience; the black-and-white Therese and Isabelle is a particular favorite) but this book is the perfect template for a cheesy soft-core flick.
It actually is elegantly written. The story is sparse and spare. A man, the author is at a boring society party and spots an old lady friend, Claire, a photographer with a haughty manner yet quite alluring, and a young girl in white, Anne, to whom she exchanges knowing glances. He becomes intrigued by Anne and his friend Claire's apparent connection to her. Soon enough, the three are hooked up into strange sessions in which Claire verbally and physically humiliates Anne, who's her photo model, in front of Jean -- training her to be her submissive slave and to submit also to his desires. But it is Claire who is entirely in control of the dynamic.
There are meticulous descriptions of the S&M photos in which Anne is posed; the various degradations to which she's subjected, including the placement of a thorned rose stem between her garter and skin at her upper thigh. Jean at first seems a little taken aback by all this but soon enough is a game and enthusiastic participant and instigator of Anne's punishments.
The book will strike many as frivolous, but I have to say it is better written than Pauline Reage's similar "The Story of O," of which to date I've only read part. The author pays homage to Reage and the latter also writes the foreward to this book.
Those who agonize over gender politics -- the humiliation of women and the partriarchal male gaze and such -- will not dig this. Or maybe they can just roll with it as a lesbian sex fantasy.
FINAL:
Well, Anne represents not only a form of delayed gratification for Claire, but a surrogate of sorts, as we see at the end. I can't say anymore. At first, it seems like Anne has a bit of a personality, even a bit of individual defiance, but as things progress, her character becomes completely objectified. The idea of someone choosing to be dominated is OK, I suppose, but here we really don't even get an indication of that, since we get no insight into Anne -- her life, her motives, her personality -- at all. That left me somewhat dissatisfied. This was a super fast read. I'm not into S&M, so it didn't get my juices going in the manner of "The She-Devils," but it was a decent-enough read within its limits.
NOTES: De Berg is a nom de plume for Catherine Robbe-Grillet. Not sure why she changed it, although I suspect it might be to eliminate marketplace confusion because there is another writer of more prominence with that last name as well as a well-known French film director.
Since writing my review I've seen some images from "The Punishment of Anne" and the pictorial quality looks better than I suggested, though some of the imagery is close to what I had imagined. I may have to see this now.
It actually is elegantly written. The story is sparse and spare. A man, the author is at a boring society party and spots an old lady friend, Claire, a photographer with a haughty manner yet quite alluring, and a young girl in white, Anne, to whom she exchanges knowing glances. He becomes intrigued by Anne and his friend Claire's apparent connection to her. Soon enough, the three are hooked up into strange sessions in which Claire verbally and physically humiliates Anne, who's her photo model, in front of Jean -- training her to be her submissive slave and to submit also to his desires. But it is Claire who is entirely in control of the dynamic.
There are meticulous descriptions of the S&M photos in which Anne is posed; the various degradations to which she's subjected, including the placement of a thorned rose stem between her garter and skin at her upper thigh. Jean at first seems a little taken aback by all this but soon enough is a game and enthusiastic participant and instigator of Anne's punishments.
The book will strike many as frivolous, but I have to say it is better written than Pauline Reage's similar "The Story of O," of which to date I've only read part. The author pays homage to Reage and the latter also writes the foreward to this book.
Those who agonize over gender politics -- the humiliation of women and the partriarchal male gaze and such -- will not dig this. Or maybe they can just roll with it as a lesbian sex fantasy.
FINAL:
Well, Anne represents not only a form of delayed gratification for Claire, but a surrogate of sorts, as we see at the end. I can't say anymore. At first, it seems like Anne has a bit of a personality, even a bit of individual defiance, but as things progress, her character becomes completely objectified. The idea of someone choosing to be dominated is OK, I suppose, but here we really don't even get an indication of that, since we get no insight into Anne -- her life, her motives, her personality -- at all. That left me somewhat dissatisfied. This was a super fast read. I'm not into S&M, so it didn't get my juices going in the manner of "The She-Devils," but it was a decent-enough read within its limits.
NOTES: De Berg is a nom de plume for Catherine Robbe-Grillet. Not sure why she changed it, although I suspect it might be to eliminate marketplace confusion because there is another writer of more prominence with that last name as well as a well-known French film director.
Since writing my review I've seen some images from "The Punishment of Anne" and the pictorial quality looks better than I suggested, though some of the imagery is close to what I had imagined. I may have to see this now.
June 30, 2011
Quite good. Not particularly raunchy, but still. Quite good. As I mentioned earlier, my attention was drawn to this book after reading about an essay (not the essay itself, but an article about the essay) by Susan Sontag called "The Pornographic Imagination." In that essay, she mentions this book along with four others as examples of "pornographic literature." I would say that this is a fun read, but compared to the kind of stuff that people write today, it's scarcely pornographic. I would say the same about Story of O, another book she mentions. On the other hand, Another book, Story of the Eye, is one of my favorites, and I look forward to reading the other book by the same author (George Bataille) entitled "Madam Edwarda." I purchased that story in a volume with two other Bataille works, which I shall also probably read. Because it is his work that I should most like to emulate in the novel I am working on right now. I aim to write a book of transgressive erotic fiction, and I'm looking to theses books (and the fifth book (The She-Devils) mentioned in Sontag's essay, and the essay itself) for inspiration. If anyone reading this has any suggestions for other books I should look at, please let me know (johnshallesq@gmail.com).
One of the things that I found most striking about this book is that it is called The Image, and it brought to mind an image that I have seen before--I think in Penthouse Magazine. It might have been the image used in Xavier Hollander's column (called "Call Me Madame") or it might have been elsewhere in the magazine. It's the image of a rose with thorn pressed against a garterred thigh. The thigh is bleeding a few droplets of blood. The image itself never struck me as awesomely hot or anything, but when the process of of pressing the rose against the thigh is described in this short novel, well, it's very hot. If you're into that submission/slave sort of thing. Which I am, sometimes.
One of the things that I found most striking about this book is that it is called The Image, and it brought to mind an image that I have seen before--I think in Penthouse Magazine. It might have been the image used in Xavier Hollander's column (called "Call Me Madame") or it might have been elsewhere in the magazine. It's the image of a rose with thorn pressed against a garterred thigh. The thigh is bleeding a few droplets of blood. The image itself never struck me as awesomely hot or anything, but when the process of of pressing the rose against the thigh is described in this short novel, well, it's very hot. If you're into that submission/slave sort of thing. Which I am, sometimes.
July 30, 2008
The movie adaption was named "The Punishment of Anne", which is either misleading or somewhat subtle. The more significant punishment is of Claire. I got the sense that Anne was the surrogate ("The Image") for a younger Claire who was abused. The connection between the two was reinforced when Claire showed Jean a series of photos of Anne, with a photo of Claire, her head cropped out, as the last one. When Jean asked if they're all of Anne, Claire said they were. Which perhaps means, on another level, they were all of Claire. The punishments and comforts that Claire bestowed on Anne seemed to reflect the ambivalent feelings Claire had toward expressing and enjoying her own sexuality.
Jean, whom Claire made an accomplice in her mistreatment of Anne might be the surrogate ("The Image") for the man who abused her. Perhaps his resemblance is why he was chosen. To me, a key turning point in the story is toward the end when Claire tells Anne "Go and kiss your master, who loves you." That may have been the first time the word "love" showed up in the text. And it seemed to signify that Claire now believed that Jean loved Anne, and since Jean was a surrogate for her abuser, that her abuser had really loved her. This twisted rationalization seemed to open up the barriers that Claire had built to protect herself from having been treated as an object, not only allowing her to offer herself to Jean, but to put Jean in the frame of mind to accept her, which previously he had not been.
Jean, whom Claire made an accomplice in her mistreatment of Anne might be the surrogate ("The Image") for the man who abused her. Perhaps his resemblance is why he was chosen. To me, a key turning point in the story is toward the end when Claire tells Anne "Go and kiss your master, who loves you." That may have been the first time the word "love" showed up in the text. And it seemed to signify that Claire now believed that Jean loved Anne, and since Jean was a surrogate for her abuser, that her abuser had really loved her. This twisted rationalization seemed to open up the barriers that Claire had built to protect herself from having been treated as an object, not only allowing her to offer herself to Jean, but to put Jean in the frame of mind to accept her, which previously he had not been.
December 13, 2018
I read this because a friend said it had had a significant impact on his psyche as a young person. I read it out of curiosity and...friendship, I guess? I enjoyed it, more or less, as an example of intellectual sex writing. It is graphic in describing cruelty more so than sex, and I personally didn't find it erotic, though I found some of the scenes momentarily shocking. I think a person who enjoys these types of power dynamics would probably find it much more erotic than I did.
As a book, it was lacking in character development--you know nothing about Claire, Anne, and Jean, except that two of them are mean and one suffers. It is also not clear why Claire includes Jean in her arrangement, considering their lack of association prior to the initial party. Who knows why Anne is doing what she does? I think this sort of information is left out to make the cruel behaviors stand out more starkly, but those were the things I was wondering about as I read.
It was worth it for me to read this because I like to read transgressive works generally, but I don't know that I'd recommend it to anyone else.
As a book, it was lacking in character development--you know nothing about Claire, Anne, and Jean, except that two of them are mean and one suffers. It is also not clear why Claire includes Jean in her arrangement, considering their lack of association prior to the initial party. Who knows why Anne is doing what she does? I think this sort of information is left out to make the cruel behaviors stand out more starkly, but those were the things I was wondering about as I read.
It was worth it for me to read this because I like to read transgressive works generally, but I don't know that I'd recommend it to anyone else.
June 1, 2013
I don't know what to tell you. If you liked Story of O, I guess you'll like this.
Erotic fiction in general is pretty trite and boring. I'm just not sure where it fits in with the entire breadth of literature. I don't mean it shouldn't be written, or read, I just don't think TEXT is the best form of porn. Maybe 100 years ago it made sense. But today...not so much.
I guess 50 Shades of Gray might put up an argument, but it's a cowardly form of pornography for cowardly people. It's the idea of doing something wrong but knowing you can get away with it, that's why housewives go crazy for the stuff.
I don't judge, I just don't think it's worthwhile reading material. Why read 50 Shades garbage when you could be reading Handmaid's Tale or Narcissus and Goldmund?
Let's keep reading at a certain elevation, can we? And let's keep erotica where it belongs: VHS tapes.
Erotic fiction in general is pretty trite and boring. I'm just not sure where it fits in with the entire breadth of literature. I don't mean it shouldn't be written, or read, I just don't think TEXT is the best form of porn. Maybe 100 years ago it made sense. But today...not so much.
I guess 50 Shades of Gray might put up an argument, but it's a cowardly form of pornography for cowardly people. It's the idea of doing something wrong but knowing you can get away with it, that's why housewives go crazy for the stuff.
I don't judge, I just don't think it's worthwhile reading material. Why read 50 Shades garbage when you could be reading Handmaid's Tale or Narcissus and Goldmund?
Let's keep reading at a certain elevation, can we? And let's keep erotica where it belongs: VHS tapes.
November 2, 2016
To summarize, I will pick the text from Wikipedia link The Image (novel)
The Image is centered on a triangular relationship between the male narrator and two women, Anne and Claire. The narrator is puzzled by the meaning of their behavior throughout, gradually accumulating clues which only make full sense in the closing chapter, when Anne is revealed as the mirror image of the woman he actually loves, Claire.
It took long, for me, to understand where the story is going on. It's mostly related to BDSM which is not my taste. But still I read it to the end as it's marked one of the 5 most erotic class novels of that era.
It's fine to read once for me. Not going to read it again.
The Image is centered on a triangular relationship between the male narrator and two women, Anne and Claire. The narrator is puzzled by the meaning of their behavior throughout, gradually accumulating clues which only make full sense in the closing chapter, when Anne is revealed as the mirror image of the woman he actually loves, Claire.
It took long, for me, to understand where the story is going on. It's mostly related to BDSM which is not my taste. But still I read it to the end as it's marked one of the 5 most erotic class novels of that era.
It's fine to read once for me. Not going to read it again.
August 25, 2023
Un texto imprescindible y casi fundacional de la literatura BDSM. Al margen de tópicos y lugares comunes (desarrollados con indudable maestría) realmente llega a sorprender con imágenes de poderosa carga erótica y poética. Creo que en libros como este queda patente que la sensibilidad erótica y talento narrativo de las autoras mujeres supera con creces a la mayoría de obras de este género realizada por autores varones.
February 15, 2008
i read this book in 1967, in front of a live lobster tank at logan airport (boston), totally fried on LSD. it is provocative to put it on the feminist shelf - it is wholly concerned with the sadistic torment of a young innocent woman by jaded aristocrats.
cf. jelinek, sebold
cf. jelinek, sebold
June 10, 2011
Very disappointed in this book. I found it boring and basically a waste of time. If you are interested in why I did not like it, and more about what I do like and why, I have written a review of THE IMAGE here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Sex-Without-L...
October 21, 2019
My brain hurts like hell although I'm not really using it while reading this book.
I don't see the purpose by torturing a person ... Where is the excitement? Torture and sex? 🤐🤐 ...
Brain hurts .... 😵😵😵
I don't see the purpose by torturing a person ... Where is the excitement? Torture and sex? 🤐🤐 ...
Brain hurts .... 😵😵😵
June 3, 2010
My favorite book that deals with sexuality. If you're into the bdsm lifestyle, this is a much better read than The Story of O.
April 5, 2016
Problematic at times but gets the job done. Maybe it was just chaffing to me-- the end at least-- but who am I to argue with Susan Sontag? Some v charming moments too
February 14, 2025
3,5*
Η Κατρίν Ρομπέ-Γκριγιέ ήταν σύζυγος του γνωστού συγγραφέα-σεναριογραφου-σκηνοθετη Αλαίν Ρομπέ-Γκριγιέ. Οι Κατρίν + Αλαίν Ρομπέ-Γκριγιέ ήταν γνωστοί όχι μόνο για τις συνεισφορές τους στη λογοτεχνία και τον κινηματογράφο, αλλά και για τη συμμετοχή τους στον κόσμο του BDSM. Η Κατρίν, ειδικά, έγινε γνωστή ως μια από τις πιο δημόσιες φιγούρες της γαλλικής BDSM κοινότητας. Ήταν ενεργή σε κύκλους και εκδηλώσεις που σχετίζονταν με το BDSM. Οι ταινίες και τα μυθιστορήματά του ζεύγους έχουν πολλά στοιχεία BDSM.
Το μυθιστόρημα "η εικόνα" δεν πρόκειται απλώς για ένα ερωτικό τρίγωνο βασισμένο στην κυριαρχία και την υποταγή, αλλά για έναν ερωτικό χορό που ακολουθεί σαδομαζοχιστικές τελετουργίες, BDSM με συναίνεση.
Το βιβλίο δεν εστιάζει στην γραφή αλλά στην εικόνα μέσω της αφήγησης.
Οι περιγραφές είναι σχεδόν κινηματογραφικές, με έμφαση στις αισθήσεις, τις υφές και τις λεπτομέρειες της υποταγής και της κυριαρχίας, χωρίς όμως να γίνονται ωμές ή χυδαίες. Η λεπτομέρεια στο βλέμμα, στην κίνηση, στην ατμόσφαιρα, στα αντικείμενα που πλαισιώνουν την "παράσταση" ενισχύουν την αίσθηση μιας τελετουργικής εμπειρίας. Σκηνές άγριου ερωτισμού και ακραίου αισθησιασμού....θεατρικής σκηνοθεσίας.
Κυρίαρχοι ρολοι στο τρίγωνο , η Κλαρα-η κυρίαρχος, η Αννα-η υποταγή, ο Ζαν- που αρχικά παρακολουθεί τις πράξεις και σταδιακά εμπλέκεται στην ερωτική δυναμική. Κυρίως γυναικεία λοιπόν υπόθεση.
Παρότι η Άννα είναι φαινομενικά η παθητική φιγούρα, στην πραγματικότητα ασκεί έναν υπόγειο ερωτικό έλεγχο στην ίδια την απόλυτη κυριαρχία που την ορίζει. Η Άννα γίνεται το απόλυτο "αντικείμενο" τέχνης, ένας πίνακας, μια Εικόνα, ένας καθρέφτης που αντικατοπτρίζει και τα θέλω της εξουσίας.
Το βιβλίο δεν είναι απλώς ένα ερωτικό μυθιστόρημα, αλλά μια εξερεύνηση της δυναμικής της εξουσίας, της επιθυμίας και της τέχνης....για όσους τελοσπαντων αντέχουν να διαβάσουν ερωτική λογοτεχνία με ερωτικές σκηνές χωρίς αναστολές 😬
💘 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 💘
Η Κατρίν Ρομπέ-Γκριγιέ ήταν σύζυγος του γνωστού συγγραφέα-σεναριογραφου-σκηνοθετη Αλαίν Ρομπέ-Γκριγιέ. Οι Κατρίν + Αλαίν Ρομπέ-Γκριγιέ ήταν γνωστοί όχι μόνο για τις συνεισφορές τους στη λογοτεχνία και τον κινηματογράφο, αλλά και για τη συμμετοχή τους στον κόσμο του BDSM. Η Κατρίν, ειδικά, έγινε γνωστή ως μια από τις πιο δημόσιες φιγούρες της γαλλικής BDSM κοινότητας. Ήταν ενεργή σε κύκλους και εκδηλώσεις που σχετίζονταν με το BDSM. Οι ταινίες και τα μυθιστορήματά του ζεύγους έχουν πολλά στοιχεία BDSM.
Το μυθιστόρημα "η εικόνα" δεν πρόκειται απλώς για ένα ερωτικό τρίγωνο βασισμένο στην κυριαρχία και την υποταγή, αλλά για έναν ερωτικό χορό που ακολουθεί σαδομαζοχιστικές τελετουργίες, BDSM με συναίνεση.
Το βιβλίο δεν εστιάζει στην γραφή αλλά στην εικόνα μέσω της αφήγησης.
Οι περιγραφές είναι σχεδόν κινηματογραφικές, με έμφαση στις αισθήσεις, τις υφές και τις λεπτομέρειες της υποταγής και της κυριαρχίας, χωρίς όμως να γίνονται ωμές ή χυδαίες. Η λεπτομέρεια στο βλέμμα, στην κίνηση, στην ατμόσφαιρα, στα αντικείμενα που πλαισιώνουν την "παράσταση" ενισχύουν την αίσθηση μιας τελετουργικής εμπειρίας. Σκηνές άγριου ερωτισμού και ακραίου αισθησιασμού....θεατρικής σκηνοθεσίας.
Κυρίαρχοι ρολοι στο τρίγωνο , η Κλαρα-η κυρίαρχος, η Αννα-η υποταγή, ο Ζαν- που αρχικά παρακολουθεί τις πράξεις και σταδιακά εμπλέκεται στην ερωτική δυναμική. Κυρίως γυναικεία λοιπόν υπόθεση.
Παρότι η Άννα είναι φαινομενικά η παθητική φιγούρα, στην πραγματικότητα ασκεί έναν υπόγειο ερωτικό έλεγχο στην ίδια την απόλυτη κυριαρχία που την ορίζει. Η Άννα γίνεται το απόλυτο "αντικείμενο" τέχνης, ένας πίνακας, μια Εικόνα, ένας καθρέφτης που αντικατοπτρίζει και τα θέλω της εξουσίας.
Το βιβλίο δεν είναι απλώς ένα ερωτικό μυθιστόρημα, αλλά μια εξερεύνηση της δυναμικής της εξουσίας, της επιθυμίας και της τέχνης....για όσους τελοσπαντων αντέχουν να διαβάσουν ερωτική λογοτεχνία με ερωτικές σκηνές χωρίς αναστολές 😬
💘 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 💘
August 6, 2024
It becomes much more interesting once it is revealed that this is writtten by Catherine Robbe-Grillet. To what extent this is a novel reflective of her relationship with the novelist-filmmaker is an inevitable question. I haven’t read his novels (have seen a couple films) but I am told there is a resemblance between his style and the style found here. And this isn’t to simply reduce the work of any wife-of-artist to its relation to their husband. Reading this, it is hard not to look at it as a game between husband and wife: Alain the sadist, Catherine the masochist turned dominatrix. Their relationship (romantic and sexual) is clearly within the novel.
Sontag is correct to include this in her list of pornography as literature. Quite often it is what CRG is capable of conveying in such short descriptions and chapters, what clues she gives and what she obscures that are most exciting up until the final chapter.
Something about this as a story of CRG as Claire, ARG as Jean, Anne as cinema (or the image, things alluring) compels me greatly.
Sontag is correct to include this in her list of pornography as literature. Quite often it is what CRG is capable of conveying in such short descriptions and chapters, what clues she gives and what she obscures that are most exciting up until the final chapter.
Something about this as a story of CRG as Claire, ARG as Jean, Anne as cinema (or the image, things alluring) compels me greatly.
July 4, 2021
This book is definitely not for everyone but it’s written so well. i have so many questions about the characters and the content. even i am confused wether if this is my favorite book or if i just really liked the way it was written.
May 31, 2020
Plotless erotica touted by some as literature.
September 5, 2022
The way I didn't expect to read what I read
👁️👄👁️
👁️👄👁️
January 22, 2024
someone lent this to me . no comment. #susansontagrecommendationworldtour
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