Love/Hate
It’s the book I love to hate and hate to love. It’s erotic as hell. Some of the sex scenes and pain scenes are pussy clenching hot. The objectification and dehumanization of O is also hot, hot, hot. But it always strikes me as very unrealistic.Published: January 18, 2009
Pros:
Nails many of the sentiments of a submissive masochist dead on.
Cons:
Unrealistic, vague.
Follow-up commentary
10 days after original review
I received many emails after writing this review from people defending Pauline Reage and the lack of reality in some of the scenes in her book. It appears that, in an interview, she let it be known that she was challenged by her lover and employer, Jean Paulhan, to write the book when he stated that no woman was capable of writing an erotic novel. To prove him wrong she wrote the Story of O - which went on to become an award winning and extremely controversial success. Even in France, in the 1950s, such blatant sadomasochism was horrifying to many - to the extent that obscenity charges were brought against the publisher and author and publicity on the book was banned.
There is a follow up to the book - a conclusion - titled Retour a Roissy, though I've never seen nor read it.
I can only say the book is quite wonderful for someone not actually involved in sadomasochism who wrote it as a challenge! That knowledge does make some of the more obvious physical impossibilities more forgivable, to me at least.
There is a follow up to the book - a conclusion - titled Retour a Roissy, though I've never seen nor read it.
I can only say the book is quite wonderful for someone not actually involved in sadomasochism who wrote it as a challenge! That knowledge does make some of the more obvious physical impossibilities more forgivable, to me at least.
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About author
Reviewed by
Carrie Ann
(Eden Advanced reviewer) "What after all is a halo? It's only one more thing to keep clean." ~Christopher Frey
wrote 325 reviews
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I like your points about how she falls too fast - it does kinda suspend belief. Good blog and review!
Thank you.
Can you believe I have not yet read this? Maybe I'll add it to my list (which isn't getting any smaller when I spend time reading reviews here. LOL).
I know. I'm personally dying to read the book DBD just reviewed now. My list grows ever longer....
LOL I have to actually stop reading reviews...I have too much to buy! My husband laughs and says we'll soon need a bigger house to store just my sex stuff!
Hah nice to see someone who sees the book for what it is. Unrealistic. Well worth reading though and yes, I have the second book just haven't amassed the energy to get through it yet *smirk* x
You'll have to let me know once you do so I know whether I should get it or not.
I was skeptical about putting it on my wishlist, but I had also forgotten the reason it was written. Now that you mention that it was "that French, BDSM porn challenge book," I remember someone recommending this long ago - and I've been meaning to read it for amusement! Thanks! Your reviews are always so informational, clear, concise and fun to read.
I haven't read this classic yet. Think I might go for Carrie's Story first, because I'm more into modern voices. Great review
great review
Thanks for the review!
Thanks for the review and blog.