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angelfo0d's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
imanit's review against another edition
3.0
This book was... challenging to say the least. I read the first two stories and immediately put the book down in disgust and ran to Goodreads to find others with my thoughts. However, after some research into the genre of erotica and the fact that it is not just a genre meant to excite you, I went back into it a bit more open minded. This book has it all, a flasher, necrophilia, pedophilia, assault, voyeurism, exhibitionism, rape, anything that is perverse is in here. But there are also moments of exploration, empowerment, and an open mindedness about sex that was not common for the time, especially for a woman. This does not mean I enjoyed it nor did I find a lot of the stories sexy, many times I put my hand over my mouth in shock and disgust but I was really committed to finishing the book. I can't in good faith recommend this book to others because the topics can be very triggering and disgusting. Maybe I will just stick to her diaries.
willygsides's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
kostopoulos2000's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mme_carton's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: War
crucius's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
amelielucy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
I can’t really tell if I prefer Little Birds to Delta of Venus, yet I found the second time around reading Anaïs Nin’s erotica significantly less scandalising. I still hold her writing style in high regard, perhaps my favourite even, but I guess being more accustomed to her erotica and the longer length of this one made it slightly tiring to wade through.
However, with context everything makes sense. When you consider that Nin was commissioned to write all these by a little old perv, with very little allowance for poetry and plot, every little subversion feels like a feat. Lesbians who are never allowed to stay lesbians are at least named, women’s sexual exploits feel truly authentic, the sheer creativity - there’s little gems everywhere.
Sometimes it really leans into the perversion without any substance, that’s when the stories really feel like they exist for the titillation of one random guy. Maybe, just maybe, I should’ve skipped those parts, and maybe it’s why it took me so long to read…
However, with context everything makes sense. When you consider that Nin was commissioned to write all these by a little old perv, with very little allowance for poetry and plot, every little subversion feels like a feat. Lesbians who are never allowed to stay lesbians are at least named, women’s sexual exploits feel truly authentic, the sheer creativity - there’s little gems everywhere.
Sometimes it really leans into the perversion without any substance, that’s when the stories really feel like they exist for the titillation of one random guy. Maybe, just maybe, I should’ve skipped those parts, and maybe it’s why it took me so long to read…
famine's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
i guess i read this
lindseywyen's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75