Reviews

Story of O by Pauline Réage

sidharthvardhan's review

3.0

If you think about it, we are only part humans. And our sexual instincts still come from our animal part - thankfully, just consider 1984 and Brave New world universes to get an idea of what would happen if we let it be too governed by social values (with exception of consent which is a must of course). That is probably true for feminism too - I am sure I have read somewhere feminists have objections to some of sexual positions and I think that is going too far. If you really want to write a code of conduct, then that would look like something straight out of some medical church. Sex costs a lot more to women than to men and that is balanced by their bargaining power.

Now this book has some beautiful prose and some occasional glimpse of aesthetic but some other qualities bring it down to too vulgar a taste. The characters are ridiculously unidimensional. It is not that O is submissive but that there are no stop words which bothers one. Again, she is always submissive. There is no moodiness to her. What really bugs me is that she seems to give up her career, her Social life etc (something I don't much like, even when it has nothing to do with BDSM, for example when women do it after marriage) and it crossed all lines when O go suicidal in one of alternative endings upon being abandoned by her lover and seeks his permission for even that.

minusfigures's review

I couldn't get on with this translation. It felt clunky and stilted.

angus_mckeogh's review

2.0

I love sex. I love provocative writing about sex. But ultimately this book was a bit dull. Read it as a classic and found that it shouldn't be.

klarybelmillo's review

it was.....

b0hemian_graham's review

2.0

The original 50 shades of grey, but with a slightly better plot and higher caliber of writing. Still doesn't make it great. I understand the historical significance of this novel, but, it's just not my thing. 2.5/5

icanread17's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

nicole_night1092's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

taushkis's review

1.0

gross.

catforister's review

2.0

ok here’s my thing. usually books that women got in trouble for writing because they were “scandalous” in the mid 20th century are not that at all. this one…was like 75 shades of grey.
like, i am impressed. that being said, it was extremely uncomfortable and difficult to get through and i’m glad to be done with it. i was honestly surprised this was written by a woman, it was so male sounding.
sorry pauline, i respect the hustle but you’re too much for me ✋

holly_suds55's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0