*****5 Stars*****
If you have never read Story of O, then you have never read real erotica. Story of O is a classic in literature, not just erotica. It was originally published in 1954 by French author Anne Desclos under the pen name Pauline Réage. It was more than 40 years later before she admitted authorship of the novel.
I have read Story of O several times, and I always find something new in it. But recently I picked up a 7 CD audiobook version of the novel published by Tantor Audio with narration by Käthe Mazur. I was not sure what to expect from this, but to be honest I found a brand new copy of it at a used book store for only $4.00. Normally the CD version is closer to $25 or $30 dollars, although you can find the MP3 version much cheaper. And if you're a member of audible.com, I think you can get it for free.
What can I say about the story that hasn't already been said a million times before? It is simply a classic. Without Story of O I don't think we would have erotic romance novels like we have them today. This is the grandmother of the genre and it deserves a special place in any erotic reader's bookshelf.
Is it a real romance? Some might say yes, others would probably say no. O tells René many times that she loves him, and he says the same to her, but do they really love each other? When does love turn into something dark? The plot is rather simple, O voluntarily gives herself body and soul to her lover René. He accepts her gift, and then gives her to Sir Stephen. Sir Stephen is a harsh master, but O accepts completely his ownership of her.
There are layers upon layers of hidden meaning within the novel, far too many for me to go into here. There have been entire books written about the deeper meanings. Multiple adaptations have been published, including a graphic novel, and a movie.
The narration in this audiobook version is by Käthe Mazur and she is simply amazing! She has a sweet as honey voice. There are parts of the book where her voice becomes very low and sexy, but other parts where she is reading the most explicit stuff as if it's something she sees every day. She puts just the right amount of inflection behind her voice when reading what the men say. I've rarely listened to a better audio recording of any book.
I would strongly encourage you to pick up this book in whatever format you prefer, but if you want an audiobook version you could not do better than this version by Tantor Audio.
Blurb
Considered a classic and worthy of standing beside the best writings of the Marquis de Sade, Story of O is a dark, mystical tale of love and subjection that transcends the erotic. O is a young, beautiful fashion photographer in Paris. One day her lover, René, takes her to a château, where she is enslaved, with René's approval, and systematically sexually assaulted by various other men. Later, René turns O over to Sir Stephen, an English friend who intensifies the brutality. But the final humiliation is yet to come. Contains mature themes.
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