Story of O by Ballantine Books

This book evokes intense emotion in the reader. It is a tale of domination and submission at its most severe and most life-altering. Many in the BDSM lifestyle know this book well and admire the concepts, though it is the rare person that lives out a lifestyle similar to the main character in this book.

The Story of O is not for the faint of heart. If you are easily shocked, offended, disgusted, or define yourself as a prude, stay far away from this book. Those who want to read a book that will evoke feelings in you of horror and lust, sometimes simultaneously, well, then you may want to give this a read.

The story is about a woman whose lover brings her to a chateau where she is trained to serve a group of men. Much of the book includes brutality of all kinds, such as whippings, rape, branding, bondage, emotional control, piercings, and used in about every way imaginable.

To the average Joe on the street this book may shock or disgust you. If you have some secret fantasies you're too guilty to admit, it would be worth your while to read The Story of O. The main character, O, is written as a masochist, or a person who gets enjoyment from pain. She surrounds herself willingly with sadists, who oblige in exacting pain. O also identifies as a submissive woman. She is drawn to dominant individuals, primarily men, but there are some parts of the book where she does submit to women.

Some might call this book a horror story. Some might classify it as pornography. This book was banned for a short period of time for obscenity. Again, if you're a straight-laced, vanilla, god-fearing person, prepare to damn this book to hell. However, for some who enjoy tales or scenes including domination, submission, masochism, and sadism, you might call this a romance novel.

This book will always have a place on my shelf. Well, I may get it in hardcover. I consider it a classic. It's erotic, horrifying, compelling, like a car accident you can't look away from. People have very strong reactions to this book and I am no exception. I like to bend and stretch my sexual limits and this allows me to. It makes me exquisitely uncomfortable in my skin and then leaves me fantasizing about Roissy.