Story of O is one of those books that everyone has heard of, but far fewer people have actually read. It's a curious little book, in that it is undeniably erotica, and BDSM erotica at that, but its quality and scope take it beyond genre fiction. An argument could easily be made that it is a literary classic.

That might sound a bit intimidating, but make no mistake: Story of O is a must-read for any erotica reader. It is translated into simple, beautiful prose, and is unrelentingly sexy. O's story is a hero's journey: it's about a woman testing the boundaries of her endurance, and her sexuality. She begins by allowing herself to be physically and sexually mistreated out of adoration for her lover, but it quickly becomes obvious that O is on this journey for herself. And the reader is forced to go along with her, through all the atrocities and triumphs, to the white-hot perfection of her symbolic submission in the book's final scenes.

It's worth noting that this is absolutely not realistic BDSM. This is a fantasy, using all the tried-and-true implements of Victorian spanking novels. So, a reader familiar with modern BDSM erotica should be prepared to take O's trials and tribulations with a grain of salt. Read this book for the elegant prose, the sexually charged atmosphere, and the curiosity of the tale; don't read it for tips for your next dungeon crawl.

There's nothing more that can be said except that you should read it. Everyone comes to Story of O from a different place, and leaves with a different impression, but this is only evidence for the richness and worthiness of this book. Take a risk, move outside your comfort zone, and dive into this powerful story of one woman's humanity, sexuality, and fierce devotion to passion and love. It's possible that, like me, you will want to immediately run out and tell others about the treasure you have found.