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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
This read more like a parody of erotica than straight-up erotica. Nin mentions in the beginning that she was among a group of writers that wrote erotica for "The Collector" who paid by the page for straight up erotica with graphic, sexually explicit content, hold the poetic and flowery language. And that is exactly what this is. I haven't read much Nin, but I would definitely like to read more.
funny
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:
Complicated
It’s all erotica but great quality of writing!
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There were moments in a story, or two, or three, where my interest was lost, but for the most part, I was infatuated with this collection! Anaïs is a true master of writing erotica. The way with which she uses her words, in the most subtle yet artful way, provokes a lot of thought. This gives the reader free reign with their imagination, yet at the same time she is telling an enthralling story. This is true erotica. Erotica with today's authors is pornography (not to say there is anything wrong with that!). In my opinion, this is erotica in a purer form.
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Are these stories good? Well, I don't know, "good" is subjective. Are they sexy? Well, I don't know, "sexy" is subjective. Are they worth reading? You already know what I'm going to say.
Written for a dollar a page and paid for by a collector who liked Anaïs Nin's writing but wanted her to dial down the ornate floridity of the prose, these stories range from superb quality to a bit of a slog. One thing that's constant, however, is Nin's excellent mastery of prose as a tool to set the scene. Here's an example:
I mean, obviously this is erotica, if you couldn't tell from the everything about it. But note how Nin begins the paragraph with short, choppy sentences and minimal punctuation which lengthen into slow, languid, sensual sentences like wandering hands. "Lingering in the warmest curves" is a great summation of the prose: Nin knew when to hurry along the action and where a more dilatory approach would serve.
There are some excellent examples of prose, such as this fragment which has a feel reminiscent of Plath:
Or, y'know, porn. That works too.
Written for a dollar a page and paid for by a collector who liked Anaïs Nin's writing but wanted her to dial down the ornate floridity of the prose, these stories range from superb quality to a bit of a slog. One thing that's constant, however, is Nin's excellent mastery of prose as a tool to set the scene. Here's an example:
He was in France without papers, risking arrest. For greater security Elena hid him at the apartment of a friend who was away. They met every day now. He liked to meet her in the darkness, so that before they could see each other's face, their hands became aware of the other's presence. Like blind people, they felt each other's body, lingering in the warmest curves, making the same trajectory each time; knowing by touch the places where the skin was softest and tenderest and where it was stronger and exposed to daylight; where, on the neck, the heartbeat was echoed; where the nerves shivered as the hand came nearer to the center, between the legs.*tugs collar*
I mean, obviously this is erotica, if you couldn't tell from the everything about it. But note how Nin begins the paragraph with short, choppy sentences and minimal punctuation which lengthen into slow, languid, sensual sentences like wandering hands. "Lingering in the warmest curves" is a great summation of the prose: Nin knew when to hurry along the action and where a more dilatory approach would serve.
There are some excellent examples of prose, such as this fragment which has a feel reminiscent of Plath:
I feel a little like the moon who took possession of you for a moment and then returned your soul to you. You should not love me. One ought not to love the moon. If you come too near me, I will hurt you.Or this, which (while inaccurate) can be read as a very amusing pun:
I had a feeling that Pandora's box contained the mysteries of woman's sensuality, so different from a man's and for which man's language was so inadequate. The language of sex had yet to be invented. The language of the senses was yet to be explored.Or this, which is... well, you know:
When she closed her eyes she felt he had many hands, which touched her everywhere, and many mouths, which passed so swiftly over her, and with a wolflike sharpness, his teeth sank into her fleshiest parts. Naked now, he lay his full length over her. She enjoyed his weight on her, enjoyed being crushed under his body. She wanted him soldered to her, from mouth to feet. Shivers passed through her body.Personally I think Delta of Venus is worth reading as an exploration of how to write rather than a good collection of stories.
Or, y'know, porn. That works too.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
erotic short stories — need to re-read for better summary
um I literally DNF'ed it bc there was too much going on. I truly don't know what I was expecting from this book-- I thought it was going to be like a nice erotic read but then boom pedophilia and incest IN THE FIRST STORY and usually, I can handle these topics but jesus christ.....this book......no. and it was written for a MAN??? bye. only got to page 102. read with caution.
phenomenal writing, though.
phenomenal writing, though.
I found it really interesting to read erotica written by a woman during the 40s. I doubt there were many women who were doing so openly and it was interesting to get a woman’s perspective on the genre from back then. And it was definitely erotic! Shockingly so in many ways. There were some stories that I feel like do not age well (there is one story with pedophilia), but for the most part I was pretty pleased! The reading was fascinating as well as unnervingly sexy.
"What a marvelous summer. I think everybody knew it would be the last drop of pleasure."