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Guido Crepax - Erotica #5
The Story of O (Graphic Novel Version) Volume 1
Il fumetto di Crepax opta per la modernità: niente più profondo né umanesimo; coi tormenti dell'anima sono scomparsi anche i segni del tempo. L'effetto è anzitutto sensibile sui corpi, raffigurati piatti secondo le migliori regole del genere. I protagonisti, i loro volti, i loro gesti, sono divenuti un gioco d'immagini, in cui l'immaginazione stessa addita il suo artificio e la sua libertà. Mentre Pauline Réage si era preoccupata di avvicinare a noi la sua eroina con degli appena percettibili segni di usura o minute debolezze fisiche.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
39 people are currently reading
1034 people want to read
About the author
Pauline Réage
44 books245 followersFifty years ago, an extraordinary pornographic novel appeared in Paris. Published simultaneously in French and English, Story of O portrayed explicit scenes of bondage and violent penetration in spare, elegant prose, the purity of the writing making the novel seem reticent even as it dealt with demonic desire, with whips, masks and chains.
Pauline Réage, the author, was a pseudonym, and many people thought that the book could only have been written by a man. The writer's true identity was not revealed until 10 years ago, when, in an interview with John de St Jorre, a British journalist and some-time foreign correspondent of The Observer, an impeccably dressed 86-year-old intellectual called Dominique Aury (born Anne Desclos) acknowledged that the fantasies of castles, masks and debauchery were hers.
Aury was an eminent figure in literary France, and had been when she wrote the book at the age of 47. A translator, editor and judge of literary prizes, for a quarter of a decade, Aury was the only woman to sit on the reading committee of publishers Gallimard (a body that also included Albert Camus) and was a holder of the Légion d'Honneur. She could scarcely have been more highbrow, nor, according to de St Jorre, more quietly and soberly dressed, more 'nun-like'.
Read the full text at http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/...
Pauline Réage, the author, was a pseudonym, and many people thought that the book could only have been written by a man. The writer's true identity was not revealed until 10 years ago, when, in an interview with John de St Jorre, a British journalist and some-time foreign correspondent of The Observer, an impeccably dressed 86-year-old intellectual called Dominique Aury (born Anne Desclos) acknowledged that the fantasies of castles, masks and debauchery were hers.
Aury was an eminent figure in literary France, and had been when she wrote the book at the age of 47. A translator, editor and judge of literary prizes, for a quarter of a decade, Aury was the only woman to sit on the reading committee of publishers Gallimard (a body that also included Albert Camus) and was a holder of the Légion d'Honneur. She could scarcely have been more highbrow, nor, according to de St Jorre, more quietly and soberly dressed, more 'nun-like'.
Read the full text at http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/...
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December 21, 2012This is a banned book off my list of 120 to read. AND IT'S INCOMPLETE! I didn't know this going in. The final chapters of the Story of O were not originally published. It was only 10 years later that they were published separately in "Return to the Chateau". I just spent all last night and this morning trying to figure it out. It drove me that crazy. Here's why...
There's not a page that goes by where someone's not naked or engaging in a sexual act of some sort. It's an erotic novel about a Parisian woman on her journey as a slave. THAT much sex, to me, gets boring. I just don't care after a while. However, with the BDSM dynamic thrown in, there's something larger unfolding that's only hinted at in those last couple of paragraphs that tell you what happens in the suppressed chapters. Something interesting and horrible that saves the book from being shallow pornography. I don't think I'll rate this book without reading the second book, to be honest. It's too important. I don't think I'll be disappointed though.
What I did like...so far: BDSM power dynamics is my favorite subject to investigate in human sexuality studies. There are no two stories that are the same. Protocols, levels of submission, who is in control?, who thinks they're in control?...it's fascinating. The Story of O got a lot of backlash from feminists who thought it glorified violence against women. It's just not that simple. Yes, O is debased and beaten, but it's clear that she takes pleasure from it and she is reminded over and over again that she can choose to leave. "Slave" is as valid an identity as "feminist" and just as much a choice. I think the author anticipated that not everyone would understand this, and that's why we get the character Anne-Marie. It lets readers see that there's not just one dynamic, but many. In this diversity, there is certainly a space where women have an enormous amount of power.
There's not a page that goes by where someone's not naked or engaging in a sexual act of some sort. It's an erotic novel about a Parisian woman on her journey as a slave. THAT much sex, to me, gets boring. I just don't care after a while. However, with the BDSM dynamic thrown in, there's something larger unfolding that's only hinted at in those last couple of paragraphs that tell you what happens in the suppressed chapters. Something interesting and horrible that saves the book from being shallow pornography. I don't think I'll rate this book without reading the second book, to be honest. It's too important. I don't think I'll be disappointed though.
What I did like...so far: BDSM power dynamics is my favorite subject to investigate in human sexuality studies. There are no two stories that are the same. Protocols, levels of submission, who is in control?, who thinks they're in control?...it's fascinating. The Story of O got a lot of backlash from feminists who thought it glorified violence against women. It's just not that simple. Yes, O is debased and beaten, but it's clear that she takes pleasure from it and she is reminded over and over again that she can choose to leave. "Slave" is as valid an identity as "feminist" and just as much a choice. I think the author anticipated that not everyone would understand this, and that's why we get the character Anne-Marie. It lets readers see that there's not just one dynamic, but many. In this diversity, there is certainly a space where women have an enormous amount of power.
August 24, 2013
Unless you have any background researching, participating in, or witnessing real S&M/BDSM/other like-minded sub-cultures I would suggest you stay far far away from this book because you simply will not appreciate it. This book is a classic. This book holds several foundations for the culture which it describes and, to keep away from the misconception that this book simply objectifies women or that O is a "weak" individual, it must be understood that in the real sub-culture men play the same roles as O does in this book and that O's story is about some individuals' need to tap into a part of their psyche that most of us simply do not possess. Yes, many if not all of these things really happen. No, these things are not "perverted" or "grotesque". This is simply an alternative lifestyle which seems extreme by the standards of mainstream western culture.
I would like to point out that besides O's alternative sexual preferences, she was a functioning part of her society, complete with a career, an apartment which she paid for before Rene's appearance in her life, and she continued to keep up her facade of conforming to a "normal" daily life like her coworkers despite her private life; no one besides those she chose to expose her secret life to knew about the conditions of her willing servitude. When one considers how little they actually know about those they deal with on a daily basis it begs the question, "how common are these types of alternative lifestyles?"
I would like to point out that besides O's alternative sexual preferences, she was a functioning part of her society, complete with a career, an apartment which she paid for before Rene's appearance in her life, and she continued to keep up her facade of conforming to a "normal" daily life like her coworkers despite her private life; no one besides those she chose to expose her secret life to knew about the conditions of her willing servitude. When one considers how little they actually know about those they deal with on a daily basis it begs the question, "how common are these types of alternative lifestyles?"
August 29, 2013
I found this dark tale fascinating as well as titillating. Haunting almost. Fascinating because of the insight into the protagonist named simply "O", and titillating because the sex scenes were, well, titillating; graphic without being gross.
The narrator completely drew me in to the mind and emotions of "O", as she teIls the story from "O"s point of view. It starts with O being introduced to a BDSM world in 1950's Paris by her lover, Rene. At first it is hard to accept that any woman would consent to such abuse and subjugation, and I was waiting for the turning point where O comes to her senses and realises she is being used like a whore by a pimp. But as the story unfolds we learn that however she was led into this life of depravity, O really does want to be subjugated and abused, and it gives her physical and emotional pleasure. Where others judge and are disgusted by her actions, O is proud of her condition as a sex slave.
The story is authored by a woman, reputedly to titillate her own lover, and I started wondering whether she might have first hand knowledge of the Paris BDSM scene, or whether it was all the product of imagination; at the conclusion I was still wondering, because O's story does border on incredible, particularly one scene where she consents to being branded with a hot iron.
The story ends (spoiler coming), where we see that O has become the ultimate sex object, in a literal sense. The author also offers an alternate ending, which some readers may prefer.
I would give it 5 stars but at times I did stumble with the prose; this I think may be a translation issue because the writing is quite beautiful.
The narrator completely drew me in to the mind and emotions of "O", as she teIls the story from "O"s point of view. It starts with O being introduced to a BDSM world in 1950's Paris by her lover, Rene. At first it is hard to accept that any woman would consent to such abuse and subjugation, and I was waiting for the turning point where O comes to her senses and realises she is being used like a whore by a pimp. But as the story unfolds we learn that however she was led into this life of depravity, O really does want to be subjugated and abused, and it gives her physical and emotional pleasure. Where others judge and are disgusted by her actions, O is proud of her condition as a sex slave.
The story is authored by a woman, reputedly to titillate her own lover, and I started wondering whether she might have first hand knowledge of the Paris BDSM scene, or whether it was all the product of imagination; at the conclusion I was still wondering, because O's story does border on incredible, particularly one scene where she consents to being branded with a hot iron.
The story ends (spoiler coming), where we see that O has become the ultimate sex object, in a literal sense. The author also offers an alternate ending, which some readers may prefer.
I would give it 5 stars but at times I did stumble with the prose; this I think may be a translation issue because the writing is quite beautiful.
September 9, 2020
I originally rated this book 1 star, but upon further thought, I’m upping to 2 because it’s an interesting read, if nothing else.
I DNF @ 75%ish But I’ll probably finish it soonish.
Jeeeesus this book. I can appreciate this book as a work of fiction. But I can’t comprehend those people who are leaving reviews saying that the things that happen in this book are a lifestyle choice. I hope they are just trolling, because if not... JESUS FUCKING CHRIST... THERAPIST. GO. NOW.
O didn’t choose that lifestyle, she was forced into it. She was manipulated into accepting the will of others, she had absolutely no say in anything happening to her. She couldn’t say no to ANYTHING. She also didn’t know what she was getting herself into ahead of time. She may have accepted her role in it at the end, she may have even liked some parts of it. But she didn’t choose it. She didn’t give herself freely. She was coerced, she was brainwashed, she was literally beaten into submission. That is not sexy! This is a story of abuse, torture, and slavery. I’m not an expert on the BDSM lifestyle - but I’m fairly sure that most people would agree that all participants should we willing and have some way to communicate their own desires.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on how she was then forced to be a lure for other women to be enslaved. Yeesh. There’s just too much wtf in this book to list it all. But, I’m not sorry I spent my time reading this, because it is certainly something different.
I DNF @ 75%ish But I’ll probably finish it soonish.
Jeeeesus this book. I can appreciate this book as a work of fiction. But I can’t comprehend those people who are leaving reviews saying that the things that happen in this book are a lifestyle choice. I hope they are just trolling, because if not... JESUS FUCKING CHRIST... THERAPIST. GO. NOW.
O didn’t choose that lifestyle, she was forced into it. She was manipulated into accepting the will of others, she had absolutely no say in anything happening to her. She couldn’t say no to ANYTHING. She also didn’t know what she was getting herself into ahead of time. She may have accepted her role in it at the end, she may have even liked some parts of it. But she didn’t choose it. She didn’t give herself freely. She was coerced, she was brainwashed, she was literally beaten into submission. That is not sexy! This is a story of abuse, torture, and slavery. I’m not an expert on the BDSM lifestyle - but I’m fairly sure that most people would agree that all participants should we willing and have some way to communicate their own desires.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on how she was then forced to be a lure for other women to be enslaved. Yeesh. There’s just too much wtf in this book to list it all. But, I’m not sorry I spent my time reading this, because it is certainly something different.
June 27, 2013
The edition I read is not shown here. A recent paperback.
I had high expectations of this book given its long history, but I was ultimately very disappointed by the book.
It helps to know that the book was apparently written by a woman who wrote BDSM type stories for her boyfriend who wanted such a relationship with her. She, however, was not interested and wrote about the subject for him, instead, maybe as a means of compensation for not complying with his desires.
This explains alot when it comes to assessing how the novel was written.
Firstly there's the problem with substance being lost in translation. From French into English. The whole style is stilted as a result. It doesn't translate well. Pages are blocked into just one paragraph. Sentences go on forever and do not read well.
Most importantly, however, is that it is clear that the writer does not understand anything at all about BDSM relationships. We have a woman who is effectively abducted, beaten and gang-raped, then passed on to someone else to use by her boyfriend. There is no talk of her feelings or emotions during any of this. It is all action and no substance. All she ever says is 'I love you' which is meaningless in this context. The woman is presented as an object throughout not as someone who is willingly participating.
I may have missed something by finishing about halfway though, but I doubt it. One of the few occasions that I haven't completed a read.
Ultimately it was boring and I wouldn't recommend it.
I had high expectations of this book given its long history, but I was ultimately very disappointed by the book.
It helps to know that the book was apparently written by a woman who wrote BDSM type stories for her boyfriend who wanted such a relationship with her. She, however, was not interested and wrote about the subject for him, instead, maybe as a means of compensation for not complying with his desires.
This explains alot when it comes to assessing how the novel was written.
Firstly there's the problem with substance being lost in translation. From French into English. The whole style is stilted as a result. It doesn't translate well. Pages are blocked into just one paragraph. Sentences go on forever and do not read well.
Most importantly, however, is that it is clear that the writer does not understand anything at all about BDSM relationships. We have a woman who is effectively abducted, beaten and gang-raped, then passed on to someone else to use by her boyfriend. There is no talk of her feelings or emotions during any of this. It is all action and no substance. All she ever says is 'I love you' which is meaningless in this context. The woman is presented as an object throughout not as someone who is willingly participating.
I may have missed something by finishing about halfway though, but I doubt it. One of the few occasions that I haven't completed a read.
Ultimately it was boring and I wouldn't recommend it.
December 31, 2020
Dopo aver letto Emmanuelle nell’interpretazione di Crepax, ho fatto mia questa Histoire d’O illustrata. Il celebre fumettista, come ci si poteva immaginare, è abbastanza fedele al testo originale. Vicenda e situazioni sono in linea di massima rispettate (salvo qualche piccola licenza qua e là), così come viene colto appieno quel’inestricabile groviglio di tenerezza e durezza, di piacere e dolore che è il significato più profondo del BDSM (e che poco ha a che fare con buffonate del genere “inginocchiati schiava, io sono il tuo signore e padrone”).
Allora perché solo due stelle? Cosa c’è che non va?
Il disegno non va. Troppo calligrafico, troppo in punta di penna; l’eccessiva magrezza dei personaggi, maschi e femmine, che sembrano tutti anoressici; l’inespressività dei visi (ognuno sembra avere una maschera perennemente appiccicata sulla faccia). La scelta di retrocedere l’epoca dei fatti di qualche decina d’anni, come si inferisce dai vestiti, dalle auto, dal fatto che O sia una modista e non una fotografa (sarebbe stato troppo moderno) come era nel romanzo. Lo splendido personaggio di Anne-Marie, matura ed affascinante padrona della comunità lesbica-sadomaso di Samois, trasformato in una spilungona odiosa e grinzosa. Insomma, poco o niente che vada nella direzione dei sogni coltivati tra le pagine di questo libro. Nonostante il prevedibile downgrading della rappresentazione sessuale, il film di Just Jaekin con Corinne Cléry era molto meglio.
Allora perché solo due stelle? Cosa c’è che non va?
Il disegno non va. Troppo calligrafico, troppo in punta di penna; l’eccessiva magrezza dei personaggi, maschi e femmine, che sembrano tutti anoressici; l’inespressività dei visi (ognuno sembra avere una maschera perennemente appiccicata sulla faccia). La scelta di retrocedere l’epoca dei fatti di qualche decina d’anni, come si inferisce dai vestiti, dalle auto, dal fatto che O sia una modista e non una fotografa (sarebbe stato troppo moderno) come era nel romanzo. Lo splendido personaggio di Anne-Marie, matura ed affascinante padrona della comunità lesbica-sadomaso di Samois, trasformato in una spilungona odiosa e grinzosa. Insomma, poco o niente che vada nella direzione dei sogni coltivati tra le pagine di questo libro. Nonostante il prevedibile downgrading della rappresentazione sessuale, il film di Just Jaekin con Corinne Cléry era molto meglio.
January 23, 2017
"Історія О." Полін Реаж, як відомо, - культова порнографічна книга, присвячена темі мазохізму. Її головна героїня, О., на початку книги потрапляє в таємничий замок Руасі, де вона стає (сексуальною) рабинею для всіх чоловіків замку. Останній не є центральним місцем, де відбувається дія роману, а лише його початком, але тут О. проходить свою ініціацію як людина, яка починає позбуватися пут своєї особистості.
Особисто роман Реаж захопив ідеєю деперсоналізації головної героїні. Мазохізм для О. - це не просто бажання фізичного болю, це спосіб не належати собі більше для того, щоб реалізувати кінцеву мету переродження О., започатковану її перебуванням у Руасі, - стати річчю. Тому фізичний біль, який завдають пліткою або прутом О., виконує водночас дві функції: з одного боку, він постійно нагадує О. самим своїм існуванням, що вона - рабиня, а цей біль - це щоденна реактуалізація її становища й, відповідно, умонастрою, який вона має мати щодо нього. З іншого боку, О. отримує задоволення від болю, але навіть воно їй не належить: задоволення настає не під час того, як її карають, а опісля, коли вона згадує це як акт, який а) прив’язує її до її коханого чоловіка, який є водночас її господарем; б) який приносить задоволення насамперед йому - від видовища її тіла, що здригається від завданої йому муки. Тому мазохізм О. - це насамперед медіум, засіб, яким вона демонструє свою знеособленість.
Чому О. стає дедалі щасливішою з розвитком подій у романі, коли водночас фізичні муки її помножуються, а сама вона дедалі більше втрачає ознаки незалежної особи (Зонтаґ тут у своєму есе “Порнографічна уява” занотовує, що О. з самого початку позбавлена імені, а в кінці роману вона взагалі з’являться на вечірці оголена в масці сови, так схожа на цього птаха, що навіть жоден з присутніх на вечірці не наважується говорити з нею - аж так вона втратила людську подобу)? Мені здається, що О. відчуває насолоду від свого становища, бо відтепер вона не має н��залежності; вона - продовження тіла свого господаря, яка відчуває насолоду, коли відчуває її він. Та попри цю центральну тему щастя знеособлення, в романі ще є принаймні дві жіночі постаті, щодо яких О., навпаки, діє дуже активно - як коханка й завойовниця, але яким вона водночас бажає такої ж долі, яку має сама. В цьому випадку її задоволення, що виникає від уяви про майбутнє становище цих жінок - таке ж, як і її власне, вже не є просто знеособленим, тобто належним її господарю, але водночас є великою мірою задоволенням від солідарності й думкою про те, що якась інша жінка матиме таке ж сповнене екстремального відчуття життя, як вона сама. І цей закрут у книзі повертає мене до думки, що насправді шлях, який проходить головна героїня, не є шляхом, побудованим на її специфічних рисах, натомість пропонується як певна універсалія, насолоджуватись якою може будь-хто, бо втрата себе, своїх бажань і життя задля бажань і наказів іншого, що знімає з тебе проблеми відповідальності й вибору, - це справді якоюсь мірою щастя.
Особисто роман Реаж захопив ідеєю деперсоналізації головної героїні. Мазохізм для О. - це не просто бажання фізичного болю, це спосіб не належати собі більше для того, щоб реалізувати кінцеву мету переродження О., започатковану її перебуванням у Руасі, - стати річчю. Тому фізичний біль, який завдають пліткою або прутом О., виконує водночас дві функції: з одного боку, він постійно нагадує О. самим своїм існуванням, що вона - рабиня, а цей біль - це щоденна реактуалізація її становища й, відповідно, умонастрою, який вона має мати щодо нього. З іншого боку, О. отримує задоволення від болю, але навіть воно їй не належить: задоволення настає не під час того, як її карають, а опісля, коли вона згадує це як акт, який а) прив’язує її до її коханого чоловіка, який є водночас її господарем; б) який приносить задоволення насамперед йому - від видовища її тіла, що здригається від завданої йому муки. Тому мазохізм О. - це насамперед медіум, засіб, яким вона демонструє свою знеособленість.
Чому О. стає дедалі щасливішою з розвитком подій у романі, коли водночас фізичні муки її помножуються, а сама вона дедалі більше втрачає ознаки незалежної особи (Зонтаґ тут у своєму есе “Порнографічна уява” занотовує, що О. з самого початку позбавлена імені, а в кінці роману вона взагалі з’являться на вечірці оголена в масці сови, так схожа на цього птаха, що навіть жоден з присутніх на вечірці не наважується говорити з нею - аж так вона втратила людську подобу)? Мені здається, що О. відчуває насолоду від свого становища, бо відтепер вона не має н��залежності; вона - продовження тіла свого господаря, яка відчуває насолоду, коли відчуває її він. Та попри цю центральну тему щастя знеособлення, в романі ще є принаймні дві жіночі постаті, щодо яких О., навпаки, діє дуже активно - як коханка й завойовниця, але яким вона водночас бажає такої ж долі, яку має сама. В цьому випадку її задоволення, що виникає від уяви про майбутнє становище цих жінок - таке ж, як і її власне, вже не є просто знеособленим, тобто належним її господарю, але водночас є великою мірою задоволенням від солідарності й думкою про те, що якась інша жінка матиме таке ж сповнене екстремального відчуття життя, як вона сама. І цей закрут у книзі повертає мене до думки, що насправді шлях, який проходить головна героїня, не є шляхом, побудованим на її специфічних рисах, натомість пропонується як певна універсалія, насолоджуватись якою може будь-хто, бо втрата себе, своїх бажань і життя задля бажань і наказів іншого, що знімає з тебе проблеми відповідальності й вибору, - це справді якоюсь мірою щастя.
January 29, 2016
Nunca li o livro na qual essa HQ foi baseada, mas já tinha uma noção do que se tratava. É basicamente a iniciação de uma mulher, a tal da O, no mundo S&M.
Pensa em um desenho extremamente detalhado. É assim essa obra do Crepax. Para alguns pode ser meio poluído, mas eu achei que só enriqueceu.
A única crítica negativa que eu tenho, é que pareceu muito que ele selecionou as partes que ele mais gostava e as desenhou. Não tem fluidez na história, passa de um momento X para um momento Y sem uma transição entre elas.
Tirando isso, obra prima.
Pensa em um desenho extremamente detalhado. É assim essa obra do Crepax. Para alguns pode ser meio poluído, mas eu achei que só enriqueceu.
A única crítica negativa que eu tenho, é que pareceu muito que ele selecionou as partes que ele mais gostava e as desenhou. Não tem fluidez na história, passa de um momento X para um momento Y sem uma transição entre elas.
Tirando isso, obra prima.
January 12, 2020
Asi po dvaceti stránkách jsem litoval, že jsem si to vzal na recenzi. Totální utrpení.
July 16, 2021
Sou uma péssima feminista
July 2, 2013
After hearing a lot about The Story of O I decided to check it out for the same reason I've read, but never finished, Fifty Shades of Grey: To harshly attack it. Having made up my mind about this book, as I plunged to it I found that I won't be disappointed.
So O, a passive pathetic excuse for a woman in love, submits herself to strangers as a token of love for Rene. I only got through with 20% of the book and even though I thought I knew what to expect, I found the BDSM scenes highly disturbing, inhuman, and sexist. Some paragraphs I read were accompanied by a disgusted cringe on my eighteen year old face.
This is not to say that I am attacking the entire erotic literary business and all, I am a big fan of Anais Nin and have thoroughly enjoyed her books, however The Story of O is pathetic, abusive, and not the least bit entertaining. I don't know if I have to give credit for the narrative technique and the detailed description (which both were too boring for my taste) because I'm too overwhelmed by the character of O who devalues herself under the name of love. It pains to think that some people actually enjoyed the book and tried to reflect some of the scenes on their sex lives. Besides being degrading, it sets a bad standard for women and views as objects far away from pleasure.
Reading it is no less than a psychological rape. In the first two chapters I was actually feeling sorry for her but upon realizing that she is doing this by her own free will, I thought "to hell with it". It is overrated, silly, and inhumane. Being a woman herself, I don't know what the hell Anne Desclos was thinking as she wrote this.
Thank God I downloaded this as a pdf, it's not even worth a penny.
So O, a passive pathetic excuse for a woman in love, submits herself to strangers as a token of love for Rene. I only got through with 20% of the book and even though I thought I knew what to expect, I found the BDSM scenes highly disturbing, inhuman, and sexist. Some paragraphs I read were accompanied by a disgusted cringe on my eighteen year old face.
This is not to say that I am attacking the entire erotic literary business and all, I am a big fan of Anais Nin and have thoroughly enjoyed her books, however The Story of O is pathetic, abusive, and not the least bit entertaining. I don't know if I have to give credit for the narrative technique and the detailed description (which both were too boring for my taste) because I'm too overwhelmed by the character of O who devalues herself under the name of love. It pains to think that some people actually enjoyed the book and tried to reflect some of the scenes on their sex lives. Besides being degrading, it sets a bad standard for women and views as objects far away from pleasure.
Reading it is no less than a psychological rape. In the first two chapters I was actually feeling sorry for her but upon realizing that she is doing this by her own free will, I thought "to hell with it". It is overrated, silly, and inhumane. Being a woman herself, I don't know what the hell Anne Desclos was thinking as she wrote this.
Thank God I downloaded this as a pdf, it's not even worth a penny.
February 7, 2022
After years of reading all kinds of "hype" about this slender novel, I thought it was time I finally read it since I'm now writing not only lesbian romance novels, but erotica. I thought I might be able to learn something from it, and I did, but not what I expected. It's far more of a psychological study of O, the woman who gives up everything in the way of independence to her lover Rene, thinking this will please him, for she loves him desperately and she's not sure of his devotion to her. But she soon finds Rene is giving her away to Sir Stephen, his older half-brother, after she has gone through extensive training among men like Rene and Stephen who run a secret club devoted to molding submissive lovers to their whims. She endures beatings, forced sex, bondage and eventual branding (all presented matter-of-factly from her POV, largely devoid of eroticism) at this club, and is rather proud of her status when she leaves with Rene, until she's handed over to Sir Stephen. Both men give her permission to continue seeing Jacqueline, a woman she'd been obsessed with prior to her training, in the hope that she will recruit Jacqueline, and she does. As Sir Stephen falls in love with her, she finds value in herself again, until Jacqueline reveals o he two men that O broke their rules when she was out on the town with Jacqueline one day. The consequences to O are dire, but not as sensational as we are led to believe in the forward -- rather, as part of her submissive duties, which is equally as shocking.
October 27, 2014
This isn't a story for "the weak of heart" it is explicit BDSM and the depths of depravity...and I love it! Just like the film it explores O's need to be dominated and enslaved by the darkest of Doms, exposing the deviant side of the human psyche with disturbing reality. It's more a book for those of us in the life-style, probably too heavy for the "FFSOG" set. For most this book crosses a line but if you're open minded and enjoy your erotica dark, you will enjoy the "edge play" in this novel. A good glimpse of the desires a submissive feels, her needs and experiences of slavery. Instead of being repetitive here, I recommend you read other the reviews explaining another important stuff re: this novel.
Read
December 2, 2009I don't know if it's because of bad translation or the style of the writting, but I found this book is boring and exploiting violence too much. I don't understand how a smart girl like O can do things depicted in this book. Maybe I haven't reached the explanation part, but so far...boring.
November 11, 2011
A very well written story about delightful submissive girl O and the people around her
August 6, 2024
I don’t know how to write this review, honestly. Given the time this book was written, I can “understand” why it’s a banned book (although I don’t think any book should be banned, but I hope you know what I mean). This was full of horrible acts and treatment, and very taboo subjects, and overall I felt horrible for the main character, and such disgust for many of the side characters. But I also think a lot of the story got lost in translation for me. It just didn’t grab me like I wanted it to, and I found myself skimming parts of it because I just couldn’t get into it. I can appreciate this book for what it is, but it definitely wasn’t for me.
September 15, 2018
L'ho divorato in 40 minuti. Crudo, di un'erotismo sbattuto in faccia che non chiede perdono di essere quello che è, con una protagonista che, benché schiava in tacchi alti e segni di frusta, è quasi il personaggio più dominante di tutto il fumetto. Scandalo per l'epoca in cui uscì in italia, dal famoso romanzo dell'autrice francese, Crepax da vita a tavole complesse e bellissime, di un sentimento sottile e struggente, talvolta difficili da osservare in ogni sfumatura. Bisogna perderci tempo, bisogna rileggerlo, anche solo per gustarsi i vari piani narrativi.
May 21, 2025
Ilustrações belíssimas. Muita informação por quadrinho, Guido Crepax realmente leva o tempo dele construindo cenário. A qualidade e detalhamento das ilustrações de vestuário são geniais, só de corset eu perdi as contas dos diferenciados tipos que ele conseguiu passar pro papel, definitivamente um trabalho muito bem feito. Quase não tem texto, afinal muito da história se passa pela própria ilustração, mas eu sinto que a história escrita realmente não era o forte dele. Mas não deixa de ter sido uma ótima leitura.
January 10, 2026
first time I've read a book on this theme and it was interesting. I couldn't get to grips with the writing style in parts but was surprised that the language showed no vulgarity, it was sophisticated rather than offensive. The theme is thought provoking - is it abuse or pleasure between consenting adults?
October 6, 2020
Not all classics are works of genius and here's the proof
December 3, 2023
She is my hero, what i most want to be!
December 23, 2016
If you are weak, don't ever try to put your nose here.
April 17, 2024
O bad ending da Marianne de Normal People versão francesa
January 28, 2020
Kniha plná velké spousty hodně tvrdého sexu.
V první části se paní O ve snaze zalíbit se svému partnerovi ještě víc nechává týrat, bičovat a znásilňovat cizími muži. O něco později se zdá, že se z bolesti zrodila slast, v poslední části prvního dílu už to vypadá, jako by ve svém podřízeném postavení byla šťastná.
Ve druhém díle se posouváme o několik let do budoucnosti, kdy najednou paní O přebírá dominantní úlohu a snaží se přes vyvolávání sexuálních situací, které potom fotí, zkompromitovat jednu rodinu. Potíž je v tom, že celé vyprávění nedává příliš smysl, a nepomáhá tomu ani to, že od sebe jednotlivé postavy lze jen velmi obtížně odlišit.
Kresba je poměrně nezvyklá, lidské proporce správné, ale vadí mi právě to, že se v "příběhu" vyskytují prakticky jen dva typy žen (blond a tmavovlasá), z citoslovcí fakt není poznat, jestli aktéři úpí bolestí nebo slastí, a že si Crepax musí často pomáhat šipkami, bez kterých nelze odvodit správný sled okének a celkově některá místa prostě nedávají smysl.
Nelituju času stráveného s tímto skvostem, ale jsem ráda, že jsem si ho nekoupila, protože vracet se k Příběhu O rozhodně nebudu.
V první části se paní O ve snaze zalíbit se svému partnerovi ještě víc nechává týrat, bičovat a znásilňovat cizími muži. O něco později se zdá, že se z bolesti zrodila slast, v poslední části prvního dílu už to vypadá, jako by ve svém podřízeném postavení byla šťastná.
Ve druhém díle se posouváme o několik let do budoucnosti, kdy najednou paní O přebírá dominantní úlohu a snaží se přes vyvolávání sexuálních situací, které potom fotí, zkompromitovat jednu rodinu. Potíž je v tom, že celé vyprávění nedává příliš smysl, a nepomáhá tomu ani to, že od sebe jednotlivé postavy lze jen velmi obtížně odlišit.
Kresba je poměrně nezvyklá, lidské proporce správné, ale vadí mi právě to, že se v "příběhu" vyskytují prakticky jen dva typy žen (blond a tmavovlasá), z citoslovcí fakt není poznat, jestli aktéři úpí bolestí nebo slastí, a že si Crepax musí často pomáhat šipkami, bez kterých nelze odvodit správný sled okének a celkově některá místa prostě nedávají smysl.
Nelituju času stráveného s tímto skvostem, ale jsem ráda, že jsem si ho nekoupila, protože vracet se k Příběhu O rozhodně nebudu.
October 16, 2012
Me gustó más en versión comic que versión libro normal, no sé, es chistoso porque el libro es una mezcla de perversión y vergüenza muy extraña, porque aunque describe situaciones muy locas en lugar de decir sexo anal dice "me tomó por el dorso" y la vagina es "el vientre" y no hay ninguna descripción de lo que la chica siente o un orgasmo, supongo que era la época, que a pesar de aventarte a escribir una obra erótica, no era tan fácil ahondar: se describen escenas de sexo pero muy superficialmente, una orgia puede pasar en un pequeño párrafo.
El caso es que siento que se trasladó muy bien a comic porque en los cómics por lo general hay más diálogo que monólogos internos, entonces no se sentía "raro" no saber lo que O está pensando; además, es mucho menos violento: aunque me parece bastante fiel a la historia, no te enseña las heridas o golpes que el libro describe, los dibujos son super sexies, a la O del comic le ves el cuerpo y la cara, sabes que está disfrutando, no hay ese "hueco" donde no estás segura si la están violentando o a ella le gusta que lo hagan.
El caso es que siento que se trasladó muy bien a comic porque en los cómics por lo general hay más diálogo que monólogos internos, entonces no se sentía "raro" no saber lo que O está pensando; además, es mucho menos violento: aunque me parece bastante fiel a la historia, no te enseña las heridas o golpes que el libro describe, los dibujos son super sexies, a la O del comic le ves el cuerpo y la cara, sabes que está disfrutando, no hay ese "hueco" donde no estás segura si la están violentando o a ella le gusta que lo hagan.
August 21, 2013
While the story was well written, it seems near unbelievable that an educated, beautiful woman would let herself be just an objectified sex slave being completely used by random men for the sake of the love of another man.
Would this woman truly feel she had no self worth as to sink so far into the depth of depravity? Did she do it for him or to test the resolve of her own spirit by surrendering her mind, heart, body and eventually her soul?
The idea of letting the mind go completely quiet seems very desirable since it never fully turns off, it might be tempting to lose herself so completely to her body, to her Master, without fully realizing the consequences?
It is such a sad story, her love being blind, her unbreakable devotion, it all makes her so beautiful and depraved despite her having been broken down to less than human, void of a soul.
I couldn't of cared less about all the BDSM sexual scenes, too many and it gets boring. Sprinkle in just enough to wet the appetite, not have all out gluttony.
Would this woman truly feel she had no self worth as to sink so far into the depth of depravity? Did she do it for him or to test the resolve of her own spirit by surrendering her mind, heart, body and eventually her soul?
The idea of letting the mind go completely quiet seems very desirable since it never fully turns off, it might be tempting to lose herself so completely to her body, to her Master, without fully realizing the consequences?
It is such a sad story, her love being blind, her unbreakable devotion, it all makes her so beautiful and depraved despite her having been broken down to less than human, void of a soul.
I couldn't of cared less about all the BDSM sexual scenes, too many and it gets boring. Sprinkle in just enough to wet the appetite, not have all out gluttony.
February 10, 2015
I've read quite a few erotic novels, but I can't say I ever would have picked this one up if it weren't for the Vaginal Fantasy book club. It is disturbing and confusing. I found the violence too sadistic for my tastes, but I offer no judgement to those that do enjoy this type of relationship. O's reaction and enlightenment to her own desires are quite fascinating.
I think the most fascinating part of this book is actually the history behind its publishing. The mysterious author and various (poor) translations, the reactions to its release (back in 1954!) proved intriguing enough for me to read it.
I read the various introductions and prefaces in the edition I had which actually spoiled quite a bit of the book, but I am actually glad of that because it allowed me to prepare myself better for some of the more outrageous activities that were detailed.
I can't say I'm happy to have read this, but I can appreciate reading it for its place in history.
I think the most fascinating part of this book is actually the history behind its publishing. The mysterious author and various (poor) translations, the reactions to its release (back in 1954!) proved intriguing enough for me to read it.
I read the various introductions and prefaces in the edition I had which actually spoiled quite a bit of the book, but I am actually glad of that because it allowed me to prepare myself better for some of the more outrageous activities that were detailed.
I can't say I'm happy to have read this, but I can appreciate reading it for its place in history.
January 31, 2016
Narración: Simple
Trama: Empieza bien y luego flojea
El libro no está mal al principio, pero como he dicho luego flojea.
Además, me gusta el tema BDSM y tal, no creo que sea denigrante para la mujer como leo en algunos comentarios (sabéis que también existe con el hombre como sumiso, no? Espero que lo sepáis antes de hacer esa critica).
Como digo, es algo respetable y nada denigrante siempre que sea por voluntad propia (obviamente). Lo que si veo fatal en la historia es:
[Spoiler]
Que Renee la entregue y pase de ella de esa manera, de repente y sin explicación alguna. Si le haces daño con su consentimiento es que a ambos os gusta y punto, no significa que no os querais, pero entregar (que no compartir) a una persona como el que regala un libro que no piensa volver a leer... eso ya es imperdonable y obviamente ahí el amor no tiene cabida, ni el amor ni ningún buen sentimiento. Es bastante despreciable.
Trama: Empieza bien y luego flojea
El libro no está mal al principio, pero como he dicho luego flojea.
Además, me gusta el tema BDSM y tal, no creo que sea denigrante para la mujer como leo en algunos comentarios (sabéis que también existe con el hombre como sumiso, no? Espero que lo sepáis antes de hacer esa critica).
Como digo, es algo respetable y nada denigrante siempre que sea por voluntad propia (obviamente). Lo que si veo fatal en la historia es:
[Spoiler]
Que Renee la entregue y pase de ella de esa manera, de repente y sin explicación alguna. Si le haces daño con su consentimiento es que a ambos os gusta y punto, no significa que no os querais, pero entregar (que no compartir) a una persona como el que regala un libro que no piensa volver a leer... eso ya es imperdonable y obviamente ahí el amor no tiene cabida, ni el amor ni ningún buen sentimiento. Es bastante despreciable.
January 18, 2017
The only reason this book doesn't get a 1 star like the novel is because of the art. Omfg the art is beautiful and unique. Also, it escaped a LOT of the annoyance of the book by preventing us from spending too much time in the annoying mind of O, and cut out the terrible alternate ending.
I still don't like O. I still don't like her lover, I kinda tolerate Sir Stephen. I hate how this book misrepresents bdsm as abuse. Plus, this edition has an extra\alternative story set in the 60s/70s? where all the characters are there, except O instead of being the naive damsel is the mistress of the house where in the original story she's tortured and she does some spanking and torturing of her own, then gets involved in some complex game of cat and mouse that ended up being so complicated I fell asleep.
I still don't like O. I still don't like her lover, I kinda tolerate Sir Stephen. I hate how this book misrepresents bdsm as abuse. Plus, this edition has an extra\alternative story set in the 60s/70s? where all the characters are there, except O instead of being the naive damsel is the mistress of the house where in the original story she's tortured and she does some spanking and torturing of her own, then gets involved in some complex game of cat and mouse that ended up being so complicated I fell asleep.
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