"The Story of O"

[sweetsub4u]

...

.....

 

[seela]

Yeah, I've read it close to ten-ish years ago. I managed to finally finish it maybe on my third or fourth attempt, and even then I mostly read it just because I just have to finish all books I start. I'm weird that way. To me it was boring and unrealistic, I couldn't find most anything to identify with in it.

But then again I'm not a huge fan of erotic fiction in general, let alone BDSM fiction.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Story of submission, it was a love letter from the author to the man she desired. I'm just curious if anyone has read it and what your take on it is.

I always loved it-- but like my writing much better not to mention a whole lot of other modern writers.

O is responsible for all of those wishful stories about Great Houses Of Europe, and the reason so many people claim to be "descended" from such.

 

[Noor]

It was better that the second part, Retour à Roissy/Return to the Chateau, although I like how the ending in part 2 works, I think.

In case you haven't read Part 1

 

[ecstaticsub]

I read it for the first time a little over seven years ago...before I knew that BDSM was something real people do. I had thought it was just something in XXX movies.

I had met my dominant on a kinky vanilla site. I didn't know then that he was a dominant. When I started sharing my kinky fantasies with him he told me to read The Story of O. I started reading it in an airport on my way to visit my sister in San Fran. By page 40 I had to go to the rest room to ummm..take matters into my own hands.

When I told my dominant my reaction to it he started sending me lists of books (non-fiction) to read and links for me to learn more about the realities of BDSM.

Eventually I became his owned submissive. So for that reason my copy of the book has a sort of nostalgic, sentimental special place in my heart.

About a year ago I re-read the book. It didn't have the same effect on me. But I still enjoyed it.

Even if it is not perfect and fairy-tale-ish it is a million times hotter and better written then today's 50 Shades of Grey.

 

[dirtywilf]

I've read it recently, but have had the book for a few years--I decided to read it before I read Fifty Shades, because of all the accolades for story of O. After reading it I was a bit disappointed, as I think there was something lost in the translation. There were parts of the book that I did like, and enjoyed but overall I wouldn't read it again. It was too choppy and overall just not a satisfying read for me.

 

[Cattypuss]

Story of submission, it was a love letter from the author to the man she desired. I'm just curious if anyone has read it and what your take on it is.

Meh...

 

[Shankara20]

Story of submission, it was a love letter from the author to the man she desired. I'm just curious if anyone has read it and what your take on it is.

I liked the dress she wore....

 

[Stella_Omega]

I liked the dress she wore....

Yes!

.

 

[catalina_francisco]

I read it in the mid 70's and loved it. Still have it on the bookshelf, though a bit more worn now. There were parts which I didn't enjoy as much as others, but still think it was worth the time. Didn't think the movie was worth seeing though.

Catalina

 

[FurryFury]

I tried to read it, online. Couldn't get into it at all.

 

[ecstaticsub]

I read it in the mid 70's and loved it. Still have it on the bookshelf, though a bit more worn now. There were parts which I didn't enjoy as much as others, but still think it was worth the time. Didn't think the movie was worth seeing though.

Catalina

I thought the movie was extremely boring

 

[laceNlthrgrrl]

I had a major furniture and clothing fixation for a long, long time after I first read that. Ottoman's still get me hot, lookin at em.

My first almost-Mistress gave me a copy to read. It made me think and made me chicken out because I was young and dumb. O wasted time!

Still fond of it. Even related to Return. Don't feel suicidal, exactly, but not sure I could bear being owned again if this relationship ends. Metaphorical death, anyways.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Ottomans, yes!

And anyway, they are such useful things to have around.

 

[butterfly_flip]

Yeah, I've read it close to ten-ish years ago. I managed to finally finish it maybe on my third or fourth attempt, and even then I mostly read it just because I just have to finish all books I start. I'm weird that way. To me it was boring and unrealistic, I couldn't find most anything to identify with in it.

But then again I'm not a huge fan of erotic fiction in general, let alone BDSM fiction.

I don't know what I was expecting when I first read it, but I certainly was not expecting to feel so non-plussed about it. It left me feeling nothing but meh-ness(ok, so not really a word, but you get what I mean, I hope).

I'll probably keep the book, maybe re-read it to see if I maybe missed it's point.........either that or I'll line the pusslekittens litter tray with the pages *shrug*

 

[laceNlthrgrrl]

I don't know what I was expecting when I first read it, but I certainly was not expecting to feel so non-plussed about it. It left me feeling nothing but meh-ness(ok, so not really a word, but you get what I mean, I hope).

I'll probably keep the book, maybe re-read it to see if I maybe missed it's point.........either that or I'll line the pusslekittens litter tray with the pages *shrug*

Had more of an "oh i wish" feeling, but can still relate.

Funny how this book resonates so much into the future. Guess it still works for some after all these years?

 

[catalina_francisco]

I thought the movie was extremely boring

Yep, though many seem to worship it.

Catalina

 

[Stella_Omega]

BDSM wasn't even a word back when O was written, and most of the wonderful things we do hadn't been thought of yet either.

Also, we expect more interior life from our heroines in our writing these days... Regiere included more thoughts than most porn writers did at the time, but it's still a bit paltry

 

[Noor]

BDSM wasn't even a word back when O was written, and most of the wonderful things we do hadn't been thought of yet either.

Also, we expect more interior life from our heroines in our writing these days... Regiere included more thoughts than most porn writers did at the time, but it's still a bit paltry

You are joking right?
"O" is a relatively recent book.
BDSM is not a word now, and things not thought of?
Have you read any really old erotica or pillow books?

Everything old is new again!

 

[Stella_Omega]

You are joking right?
"O" is a relatively recent book.
BDSM is not a word now, and thing s not thought of?
Have you read any really old erotica or pillow books?

Everything old is new again!

BDSM was not a word in 1954.

People might have said "sadomasochism"when talking about whipping, forced sex, what we would now call "imprisonment play," but what we do, and how we think about what we do under the BDSM umbrella has only developed since the late seventies, and really only flowered in the nineties, forty years after O was written.

Not to mention piercing.

 

[Noor]

BDSM was not a word in 1954.

People might have said "sadomasochism"when talking about whipping, forced sex, what we would now call "imprisonment play," but what we do, and how we think about what we do under the BDSM umbrella has only developed since the late seventies, and really only flowered in the nineties, forty years after O was written.

Not to mention piercing.

BDSM is it not a word now either!

I don't agree, I would say that some groups are more open about what they do, but it is not new. There is also more access to public information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM#History

 

[Stella_Omega]

BDSM is it not a word now either!

I don't agree, I would say that some groups are more open about what they do, but it is not new. There is also more access to public information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM#History

Sure, it's a word. It's a set of phonemes that means something. It's in my mouth almost daily, just like all the other words I use.

shibari (in the West) fireplay, scarring, decorated needles, electroplay, community sharing, community play, demos-- leather-- mummification, situational roleplay and so much more.

Negotiation. Consent. Safewords. And safety in general.

The practices that separate BDSM from the general run of things.

I could go on.

 

[velvet_crush]

I loved it. Read it 20 years ago, when I didn't have any clarity about all these crazy feelings centered around these dirty dirty things I wanted to do and have done to me that made me feel more true to me.

I recall a section where O was at Anne-Marie's, tied spread eagle to columns. O realized she'd be going back to Stephen even more open than ever. It was my Oprah-bdsm-aha! moment. I still think about that. Ways to be more open, not just physically but in my submission. I know, I know -- kind of maudlin. I'll be quoting Anais Nin real soon.

'O' put those feelings in focus and (as much as I dislike this cliche) the book started my journey of understanding service, submission, suffering and honestly, just enjoying "that kind" of sex.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I loved it. Read it 20 years ago, when I didn't have any clarity about all these crazy feelings centered around these dirty dirty things I wanted to do and have done to me that made me feel more true to me.

I recall a section where O was at Anne-Marie's, tied spread eagle to columns. O realized she'd be going back to Stephen even more open than ever. It was my Oprah-bdsm-aha! moment. I still think about that. Ways to be more open, not just physically but in my submission. I know, I know -- kind of maudlin. I'll be quoting Anais Nin real soon.

'O' put those feelings in focus and (as much as I dislike this cliche) the book started my journey of understanding service, submission, suffering and honestly, just enjoying "that kind" of sex.

What a beautiful post.

And I know exactly the scene you're talking about, too-- but what I got out of it was "That can't be the right way to heal a piercing (not that we called anything peircings yet) but how fucking hot to be tied that way..."

I'm a physically oriented person, see, while you seem to be wired toward the emotional.

 

[Netzach]

It's one of those fairly good stories that people have taken way way way too literally.

It's an impassioned love letter to a lover whose attentions she believes to be wavering. The torments stand for somethin' folks...

not to say they're not fun, but when they seem over the top, that's why.