A review by mrtvavrana
A Spy in the House of Love by Anaïs Nin

adventurous informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I am not entirely sure how to review this novel. I absolutely adore the way Nin writes, but the story itself was a tad difficult to follow, in my opinion. I think the format also did not help.

I loved the main character, Sabina; I loved her extravagance and her confidence. Despite that and A Spy in The House of Love being labelled as erotica, the main themes that dominate are the shame and guilt Sabina feels for cheating on her husband.

Nin wrote this novel in the 1950s, and I am sure this novel was shocking and controversial at the time, but now it does not seem as such. Even compared to other of Nin's work I have read, this book is quite tame.