The Story of O

I have just begun reading the book, "Confessions of O", and while I was searching for the book, and at this point I was under the impression that Dominique Aury was using the pen name of Pauline Reage only to find out they are both pen names. Turns out she really is Anne Cécile Desclos, who also was part of the French Resistance. I have found the book quite interesting and her insight into the world of gender interesting as well.

When I was a pledge at the sorority, we were cleaning out the Sorority House attic. I came across a hard copy of "The Story of O". I had heard of the novel but never had seen a copy of it. Needless to say, you couldn't find it in my high school library and I doubt it was in the University library. I took it back to the dorm and read it. I couldn't believe what I was reading. Now I had read some erotica before like "Peyton Place" and "Candy" but nothing like "The Story of O".

Now there were parts I hated like the branding. I love the double ending. On my date that evening I actually tried to go through the evening without fully closing my lips or crossing my legs. Needless to say, I couldn't do it.

@ddell2 Peyton Place is erotica?!

@ddell2 Peyton Place is erotica?!

Although I didn't read it until the late '60s, I would think that it was certainly considered erotica in its time. I believe that it was written in the '50s.

@ddell2 Peyton Place is erotica?!

In some parts of conservative USA, it was considered inappropriate reading in any case. And the book banning crowd does so love to exaggerate things beyond measure to show their displeasure at certain works of literature. Usually without having read the book.

At the same time, back then at least, such notoriety was great for sales.

And the book banning crowd does so love to exaggerate things beyond measure to show their displeasure at certain works of literature. Usually without having read the book.

When I was a senior in high school, I wanted to give a book report on "The Catcher and the Rye". Any book not in the school library had to be preapproved for outside reading. I was denied, The teacher couldn't stop me from reading it but it would account for one of my novels. Much to my amazement, the instructor did accept "The Fountainhead."

When I was a senior in high school, I wanted to give a book report on "The Catcher and the Rye". Any book not in the school library had to be preapproved for outside reading. I was denied, The teacher couldn't stop me from reading it but it would account for one of my novels. Much to my amazement, the instructor did accept "The Fountainhead:

If they wouldn't accept 'Catcher ...' then it is most certainly no surprise they would accept Ayn Rand's 'Fountainhead' ... I mean c'mon, they are sort of like polar opposites.

Philosophy wise they are polar opposites but remember "The Fountainhead" had rape in it. Howard Roark took Dominique Flancon by force.

"The Fountainhead" has one of the most impactful lines in literature. When Ellsworth Toohey asks Roark what he thinks of him. Howard Roark responds succinctly. "I don't."

remember "The Fountainhead" had rape in it. Howard Roark took Dominique Flancon by force.

C'mon, there are holy books that are full of rapes and other horrendous goings-on. So no disqualification on that front ...

C'mon, there are holy books that are full of rapes and other horrendous goings-on. So no disqualification on that front ...

There are schools in the US that have banned the bible for just that reason!!

Re; Fountainhead. There is also Rhett raping Scarlet in GWTW, though it is made to seem like forceful male seduction, as it often is.

C'mon, there are holy books that are full of rapes and other horrendous goings-on. So no disqualification on that front ...

We're talking about public schools in America in 1972. I was just turned down on "The Catcher in the Rye". My mother didn't believe that she would accept "The Fountainhead" and was surprised when the teacher did. My mother was an Ayn Rand fan too.

Perhaps the best story is when I reported on Einstien's "Theory of Relativity". She asked me if I understood it. I retorted. "I said read it. I didn't say I understood it." I did, however, explain to her how and why Einstein claimed that people get younger when they go into space.

Perhaps the best story is when I reported on Einstien's "Theory of Relativity". She asked me if I understood it. I retorted. "I said read it. I didn't say I understood it." I did, however, explain to her how and why Einstein claimed that people get younger when they go into space.

I believe that according to Relativity people don't get younger when going into space. Space has nothing to do with it.

The key factor is speed. And they don't get younger if they go faster, they age more slowly than people back on Earth.

Which is a whole different ball game.

I've driven through Peyton Place (Gilmanton, NH) several times. I recall newspaper stories about Grace being a persona non grata around there. It is a mainly true story and most of those mentioned knew who she was talking about. One of the cars they used in the movie belonged to a judge in my town.

Catcher in The Rye was a popular bad boys book when I was in High school, banned of course. The only part I knew about was "he wiped his prick on his underpants". I suppose that would be enough for the old ladies who liked to help our gym teacher watch us boys take showers, to take it off the book report list.

The Story Of "O" I read about in Playboy and the part where she decides to get a ring in her clit or labia so her master could use a leash to lead her around.

Catcher in The Rye was a popular bad boys book when I was in High school, banned of course. The only part I knew about was "he wiped his prick on his underpants". I suppose that would be enough for the old ladies who liked to help our gym teacher watch us boys take showers, to take it off the book report list.

Ha ha ha ... bunch of bloody hypocrites.

I read the book long ago, when in high school I think. It didn't interest me much, I found it kind of boring and never understood the 'catcher in the rye' symbolism thing or whatever it was supposed to be. I don't remember the phrase you quoted either, but it wouldn't have been much of a big thing for me at the time. I'd read the 5 big Henry Miller classics by then and by the end of 'Nexus' (the last of the Rosy Crucifixion Trilogy?) it was getting pretty repetitious as well.

And 'Story of O'? Well it was written by a woman and that was the big hoopla for the most. Otherwise garden variety French erotica. Guido Crepax made a nicely illustrated comic of it though, made him famous for erotic illustrating of the classics.

I believe that according to Relativity people don't get younger when going into space. Space has nothing to do with it.

The key factor is speed. And they don't get younger if they go faster, they age more slowly than people back on Earth.

Which is a whole different ball game.

Which is the way I astutely explained it to the English teacher. It has everything to do with speed. You're playing semantics with me.

@roscoe The rings in the labia were not for a leash to lead her around but a ownership tag was attached.

@roscoe The rings in the labia were not for a leash to lead her around but a ownership tag was attached.

The brand was a permanent symbol of ownership.

Guido Crepax made a nicely illustrated comic of it though, made him famous for erotic illustrating of the classics.

I still have a copy of that. I "read" it often when I was younger!

I read the book when I started college, omg my eyes popped out of my head. I was taken by the fantasy world it took me into and also the submissive state it put me in while reading. Never seen the movie, don't think I want to... my own visuals are just too good!

I read the book when I started college, omg my eyes popped out of my head. I was taken by the fantasy world it took me into and also the submissive state it put me in while reading. Never seen the movie, don't think I want to... my own visuals are just too good!

The movie, or at least the first one, was a big hit because it was more or less accepted in the free-thinking mainstream, sort of like 'Fifty Shades of Grey'. It had a sort of David Hamilton veneer of tasteful but not explicit nudity.

Never seen the movie, don't think I want to... my own visuals are just too good!

@GraceT --- So true. Excellent observation and on so many things in life! Likely far more defining of being human than an opposable thumb or the size of our brain cavity.

Then linking back to "O" and such it occurs so many punishments growing up arose when the reality of "Tom" didn't match the visuals of "Tommy" mom had in her mind for how I was to act.

As I said earlier in this thread, I read "The Story of O" as a college freshman. While there were parts that made me cringe (The branding in particular), I enjoyed the book. Later I saw the movie and thought the producers did a good job following the novel.

There was also a TV series. I didn't see all the episodes but the ones, that I did, I enjoyed.

I find the concepts of Château Roissy exciting even today. I thought the vaginal ring and gold chain were cute. No, I have no desire to be led around by my mons Venus. I didn't get the significance of the bird mask.

As a college freshman, I did try to go through an evening on a date without completely closing my mouth and crossing my legs. Considering the dress lengths of the skirts in the 70s, I probably gave a few beavers that evening. Needless to say, I couldn't do it.

I didn't get the significance of the bird mask.

I still haven't either. About the only link I could think of was such masks were commonly used in carnival festivities and balls in Venice and other places during the 18th century, it was something of a Baroque theme I suspect.

But otherwise? No clue.

Which is the way I astutely explained it to the English teacher. It has everything to do with speed. You're playing semantics with me.

If you wanted to keep the game going, you could argue with him that people are aging at the same speed regardless of whether they're on Earth or in space, it is the way people in space experience time that causes the difference. But you wouldn't do that, because that would just be petty, wouldn't it? But I would. Lol

As far as the book goes, never read it, never cared to. I skimmed the movie, there are some hot elements to it, but by and large, I found it just strange. I like the little rules for her, especially her not crossing her legs and lifting her skirt when she sits so her skin touches her seat. I had used the whole don't cross your legs thing on a few women before ever seeing the movie, but I never thought of the other one. The piercing I liked, the branding I liked, because each of those things is a deeper level of submission, but I would like to have seen both or at least had them portrayed in a different way. O seducing/convincing the other woman to visit the institute was good, but I'd like to have seen more of her beginning there.

Most of the rest of the movie was kinda... dramatic filler, which isn't a bad thing if it is good, this just wasn't. If we look at a movie like The Secretary, even when James Spader isn't spanking her, the rest of the movie is still interesting and well-acted, and the relationships between characters is a lot easier to care about. Also the whole whipping thing in The Story of O, I could have done without. Were they trying to break her sexually? Or punish her for spray painting cars in Singapore? I couldn't tell.

Keeping in mind this was first published in 1954 and started out as writing to her lover, Jean Paulhan, written in French which was way before any of us were born. It was first published in English in 1965 and to note, Anne Desclos was bilingual, French and English. Jean Paulhan was a fervent admirer of the Marquis de Sade. What I find interesting is she wrote this, and wondering how she came up with these ideas. I also find interesting is how this strikes a cord with woman who want to experience this. I have also noticed many authors of male dominated, female submissive erotica are mostly woman, and if hard pressed I can't think of any men who have written stuff. So we have women writing this erotica and why are so many women drawn to it. Why do they want to experience it?

Keeping in mind this was first published in 1954 and written in French which was way before any of us were born.

Hey, speak for yourself. I was already around then, but couldn't read or speak any French at the time though ... ha ha ha

@ddell2 What vaginal ring?

If I recall correctly, the Story of O was published under a pseudonym by a highly respectable lady working in the publishing business. One wonders how many respectable women have such fantasies.

I still haven't either. About the only link I could think of was such masks were commonly used in carnival festivities and balls in Venice and other places during the 18th century, it was something of a Baroque theme I suspect.

But otherwise? No clue.

I'm going to amend a quote from Fitzsgeld.

"The French, they are different than us." I lived in France for two-plus years and I have had a French maid for years. I assure you that no truer words were ever spoken.

If you wanted to keep the game going, you could argue with him that people are aging at the same speed regardless of whether they're on . Also the whole whipping thing in The Story of O, I could have done without. Were they trying to break her sexually? Or punish her for spray painting cars in Singapore? I couldn't tell.

Perhaps if you had read the book, you would understand. O was being trained to be the ultimate lover (submissive) they whipped to prepare her for pain so that her owner could whip her when he felt the urge.