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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
The erotic aspects were quite surreal and kaleidoscopic which revolved around animalistic urges, dom-sub relations, etc. which was quite spellbinding. On one hand, much of the short stories revolve around women exploring their sexual fantasies and it describes a rather fresh feminine perspective in erotica. I liked the diversity inclusion with lots of characters from different cultures, sexual orientation, etc.
On the other hand, there are events that normalized rape or so-called ' the something very violent in men' which had no satirical sense whatsoever and hence it was a bit disappointing especially coming out from someone who writes about feminism. However, it is not true for all the stories. Two of the stories portrayed incest as rather unearned and ridiculous.
I refuse to term this book as the quintessential Anaïs Nin and I preferred 'House of Incest' and 'A Spy in the House of Love' better.
P.S. I hated the cover of this edition.
On the other hand, there are events that normalized rape or so-called ' the something very violent in men' which had no satirical sense whatsoever and hence it was a bit disappointing especially coming out from someone who writes about feminism. However, it is not true for all the stories. Two of the stories portrayed incest as rather unearned and ridiculous.
I refuse to term this book as the quintessential Anaïs Nin and I preferred 'House of Incest' and 'A Spy in the House of Love' better.
P.S. I hated the cover of this edition.
if you weren’t into women before reading this, you will be after you’ve finished it [speaking from experience]
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
“…We reviled him, because he almost caused us to take vows of chastity, because what he wanted us to exclude was our own aphrodisiac - poetry.”
- Anaïs Nin, December, 1940
Despite being forced to subdue the “language of sex” by her client, as she states in the postscript, Nin’s voice as a sexually embodied woman is still prevalent throughout her stories. Allowing her to often beautifully express the dichotomy of woman’s sensuality: to be loved/worshipped and to be ravished.
These two sides of sensuality can also be divided into gendered categories, with the former largely being represented as a traditionally female perspective in literature (especially in the 1940s). Whereas the latter appeals heavily to men, and has been bastardised within culture as an act that only involves the man taking pleasure, without understanding the nuances of the act that allow women to seek out this form of sex. To be ravished is to be worshipped. To be ravished is to be loved.
In some of these stories, we see Nin be influenced by her client, taking a more male approach to the idea of ravishing women, in a way that is almost tongue and cheek to the women reading. Whilst it may seem undoubtedly erotic and factual to some men reading (particularly contextual men). They want to take from us, that’s the role we serve in sex. Yet Nin still plays with this idea even in these moments, using language to suggest that these women are enjoying this merely because they were worshipped prior to this act. Nin let’s us know that this dichotomy is symbiotic. A woman will not let you ravish her if you do not court her.
- Anaïs Nin, December, 1940
Despite being forced to subdue the “language of sex” by her client, as she states in the postscript, Nin’s voice as a sexually embodied woman is still prevalent throughout her stories. Allowing her to often beautifully express the dichotomy of woman’s sensuality: to be loved/worshipped and to be ravished.
These two sides of sensuality can also be divided into gendered categories, with the former largely being represented as a traditionally female perspective in literature (especially in the 1940s). Whereas the latter appeals heavily to men, and has been bastardised within culture as an act that only involves the man taking pleasure, without understanding the nuances of the act that allow women to seek out this form of sex. To be ravished is to be worshipped. To be ravished is to be loved.
In some of these stories, we see Nin be influenced by her client, taking a more male approach to the idea of ravishing women, in a way that is almost tongue and cheek to the women reading. Whilst it may seem undoubtedly erotic and factual to some men reading (particularly contextual men). They want to take from us, that’s the role we serve in sex. Yet Nin still plays with this idea even in these moments, using language to suggest that these women are enjoying this merely because they were worshipped prior to this act. Nin let’s us know that this dichotomy is symbiotic. A woman will not let you ravish her if you do not court her.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not even slightly erotic, but surprisingly witty. Love how the characters from one story reappear in others down the line.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape
tried to give it a chance but I just can't handle it. I likd the backstory of this more than the actual thing. I don't think it's the author herself just the content (see warnings). I think I'll try another one of her books though because the little preface from her diary was quite interesting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
Read the content warnings… too much for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment