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cbxtherine's review against another edition
3.0
if you weren’t into women before reading this, you will be after you’ve finished it [speaking from experience]
abbyistrying's review against another edition
Eve needed it back and I cba to chase up a new copy.
lorydory's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sallysivan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
2.5
doggerdog's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
“…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.
egomaxima's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
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 and Rape
itsprobable's review against another edition
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: Pedophilia and Child abuse
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
jediprincess's review against another edition
Read the content warnings… too much for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Incest, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Racism, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
mednyaan's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75