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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Though very much contested on how much actually happened and how much was imagined, Anais paints such a modern and vibrant look at how the art community worked and played during the early part of the 20th century. Her writings were just raw with the expressions of a woman who wanted to be...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Synopsis: Married woman meets famous writer and falls in love. Then falls in love with writer’s wife. Then falls in love with cousin. Then her psychoanalysis. Then diarises sexual awakening. |
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“Loved it. From Anais Nin's diary from late 1931 to near the end of 1932, Nin meets and falls in love with author Henry Miller and his wife June. Henry and Anais have an intense love affair, and Nin goes through a sexual self-discovery. She enters into psychoanalysis and she and Henry what will happen when June returns to Paris. What I found appealing: Nin's obvious mental health issues, the love story, the sexual awakening, and both Anais' and Henry's deep, passionate love for writing. More tame, but more personal and meaningful than any of Nin's erotica. It also gave me better liking of Henry Miller.”
Jocelyn B wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Good...tried reading her journals at first, consider this a soft landing introduction to those works”
Lolasaysboo wrote this review Tuesday, November 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I cannot wait to read more from Anais Nin.”
eponymous 74 wrote this review Sunday, October 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Synopsis: Married woman meets famous writer and falls in love. Then falls in love with writer’s wife. Then falls in love with cousin. Then her psychoanalysis. Then diarises sexual awakening.
Tim W wrote this review Thursday, September 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
My Take: Yes, I admit have particular preferences when it comes to my reading habits. I read more than my share of modern Asian fiction, Kennedy biographies and blokey Australian literature. However, I do consciously try to read outside of my comfort zone on a fairly regular basis. I figure even if it’s not to my tastes, at least I’m broadening my horizons (and have one more topic that I can bullshit my way through a conversation about).
Enter Anais Nin. I remember shortly after reading Annie Proulx’s “Brokeback Mountain” thinking that I really didn’t read many female writers and that I should make more of an effort to challenge my ignorant and patriarchal biases. So I figured I’d dive into the deep end with some of the chickyist femo-lit around – Anais Nin’s semi-infamous diaries of sexual awakening and literary exploration in 1930s Paris with Henry and June Miller.
I promise that I did come to this with an open mind. I was looking for enrichment and broadening of horizons. Unfortunately, what I found was a bit of a mess. Nin is a poetic and whimsical writer, but even in the edited version I read, the internal monologue got tiring pretty quickly. Nin’s frank writing about her sexual awakening and liberation might have been enough to carry the book in an earlier time, but I wonder about its relevance today. I suppose that I should give Nin a leave pass on this one given that she never intended the diaries to be published, but even disregarding the lack of narrative framing for an external audience, there wasn’t much in the diaries that made me think that I would enjoy Nin’s writing/perspectives/insights in a fictional context.”
“If you feel to need to read everything about Henry Miller and his paramours hen read this one. Actually, there was a pretty good movie made from this book.”
moik wrote this review Thursday, December 11 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Not really my cup of tea. I love the way Anais has with words, but the story was disappointing and annoying. I honestly saw her character as greedy and hypocritical. If you are not comfortable with reading stories about infidelity, stay away from this book.”
Amanda A. wrote this review Tuesday, October 28 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“My first Nin diary and book of the erotica genre. A very passionate book filled with lust, love, confusion, and destruction. It is also very erotic and graphic! Loved it to pieces! I'm looking forward to reading more of her diaries and novels!”
Christine wrote this review Tuesday, October 14 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Soft-core erotica- quite tame by today's standard. Well written journal that flows and is laden with romanticism. A good read for someone with an open mind.”
Jason R. wrote this review Tuesday, May 27 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Though very much contested on how much actually happened and how much was imagined, Anais paints such a modern and vibrant look at how the art community worked and played during the early part of the 20th century. Her writings were just raw with the expressions of a woman who wanted to be someone that the constraints of the time wouldn't allow her to be. I felt sorry for her husband but that never overshadowed how much I felt for Anais' never-ending quest to live outside herself.”
Julie M wrote this review Wednesday, March 12 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
