Hmmm how to begin... Well, I'll start by saying I have truly relished the discreet nature of it. My copy does not have 'EROTICA' boldly plastered on the cover. Interestingly, no one seems to be familiar with who Anaïs Nin is. And although there is a tastefully depicted naked woman on the cover, it doesn't seem to draw much attention. All that being said, I have been openly reading the most explicit smut I've ever encountered in very public spaces, and not a single person noticed.

To read erotic short stories from over a hundred years ago is highly interesting for a plethora of reasons. The first and foremost being that I'm not entirely convinced that the modern experience of sex and sexuality has necessarily improved since these stories were penned. It's incredibly easy to fall into the belief that our current paradigm is the absolute best one; that we know so much more than our predecessors and have learned valuable lessons from the mistakes of the past. However, this simply isn't the case. The elements of culture are in a constant state of flux, becoming more rigid in certain aspects and more loose in others.

Despite having lived more than a hundred years ago, during a period which is commonly regarded as not being particularly great for female sexuality, Anaïs Nin has a far more comprehensive understanding of sexuality than most people do today. It was truly captivating to observe how I reacted to the stories. Some of them definitely made me feel uncomfortable in a sense of assault or coercion, yet often those same stories touched upon something that is simultaneously desirable. Something that might be far too risky for real life, but is highly interesting when presented in ink and paper.

It is especially fascinating that this collection is primarily an exploration of female sexuality. While some of the protagonists are male, the true focus of the stories is undoubtedly on the women; what they desire and how they feel. I don't feel the need to delve into the problematic nature of contemporary pornography, so I will deliberately skip that aspect. However, it's important to note that there is plenty of smut that BookTok has brought to the forefront, much of which is of very good quality. But no one writes quite like Anaïs Nin. She fearlessly pushes the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in order to explore our most hidden desires. There are a few men who might come across as lecherous, but you quickly realize that it is the women who hold complete control, and they are fully conscious of what they are engaging in. It is their desire and pleasure that take center stage. The men have their pleasure too, but it never overshadows that of the women.

In summary, this is a truly fascinating, explicitly sexual, and, for me personally, an intellectually stimulating read. I thoroughly liked it, and I fully intend to read it again someday. However, I'm a bit unsure about what kind of person I would recommend it to.

So… I completely pilfered my very first copy of this book from my mother.

I gleaned far more knowledge about sex, sensuality, and pleasure from Anais Nin than from any other source I had encountered on the subject until much later in my life. And for that, I am truly grateful to her.

Putting aside the strange confession, this is a magnificently written anthology of short stories. It delves not only into heterosexual intercourse but also into all sorts of other fascinating sexual adventures, some of which are quite out of the ordinary. Bear in mind, though, that this was a very different era, with distinct standards and taboos. For those who are concerned about such matters, there is no violence in these short stories, although some do slightly blur the line of consent. It is also refreshing to observe a wide variety of pleasures for both the male and female characters in these tales. We are light-years away from cheap American porn here, ladies and gentlemen!

I simply cannot fathom why people would choose to read “50 Shades of Grey” when there is such exquisite erotic prose as Nin’s. However, to each their own! Her other collection, “Delta of Venus”, which technically comes before this one, is also highly recommended and well worth the read.

I have always been in a state of confusion when it comes to Nin.

On one hand, I am truly in awe of her remarkable mind. Her thoughts seem to flow like a river, deep and profound, capable of exploring the most complex and hidden corners of the human psyche.

She has this unique ability to see things from perspectives that others often overlook, and her insights are truly enlightening.

On the other hand, there is a part of me that is concerned. I wonder if her intense focus on the inner world might sometimes lead her to neglect the practical aspects of life.

Does she get so lost in her thoughts that she forgets to take care of herself physically or socially?

These are questions that linger in my mind, and I find myself constantly vacillating between admiration and worry when it comes to Nin.

Ok. That was a slap with a white glove. Just when I was complaining about Nin's ideas of erotism, she comes with a story that completely disarms me and makes me understand that before speaking, I have to wait.

The truth is that I really enjoyed this book: don't misunderstand me. It is exactly what I expected from an erotic short story book. That sensation in the hands and on the skin of not being able to control it. The recreation of certain scenes. Although yes, as in everything, you must have the "correct" mood to be able to read and understand it completely.

Yes, definitely one of my favorites. And yes, definitely I will read more of Nin.

Little Birds is far more than just a work of erotica. It delves deep into the very essence of life itself. It explores the desires of women, which are as real, palpable, and insatiable as those of men. Nin shattered the myth that men experience greater desire long before our generation even began to truly dissect and understand it. In this remarkable piece, Nin examines desire in all its forms. She seamlessly glides in and out of taboo subjects, allowing her exploration to seep into the realm of sex beyond mere physicality and sexuality. Nin's writing is truly masterful. Her words are like beautiful poetry, captivating the reader and drawing them into a world where desire is explored with unwavering honesty and depth.

Well, this book truly seems to have it all!

One aspect that I really adored about it is that regardless of what your particular preference or kink might be (and if you're not sure, then it's high time to discover!), Anais Nin has a short story that will surely appeal to you.

Whether it's about little girls, strangers, sisters, women, men, threesomes, voyeurs - it's all encompassed within these pages!

“María’s own controlled sensuality flared up, free for the first time. When she took off her clothes, she revealed a María new to him, a María illumined with passion, abandoned as in the paintings, offering her body shamelessly, without hesitation to all his embraces, striving to efface the paintings from his emotions, to surpass them.”

I did appreciate the unrestricted exploration of sensuality. I liked how Anais was so open-minded towards everything and everyone, and I have to admit that it was undeniably sexy!

“Each motion of this mouth had the power to awaken the same motion, the same undulation in the sex of a man, as if transmitted by contagion, directly, immediately. As it undulated, like a wave about to curl and engulf one, it ordained the undulation of the penis, the undulation of the blood. As it grew moist, it drew out my erotic secretion.”

However, what I didn't like was the way many of the stories seemed to be quite demeaning to women. There was a significant amount of objectification, with women being talked about as whores and a lot of that "she was asking for it" kind of attitude.

That really bothered me a little. I don't have an issue with a bit of fun, hard play, and dominance. In fact, I consider myself to be a rather open and accepting person.

But there was just so much of this demeaning portrayal that it started to feel a bit tiresome.

“The women who are unabashedly sexual, with the womb written all over their faces, who arouse in a man the desire to fling his penis at them immediately; the women for whom clothes are only a means of making certain fragments of the body more prominent, like the women who wore bustles to exaggerate their asses, and the women who wore corsets that thrust their breasts out of their clothes; the women who throw their sex out at us, from the hair, the eyes, the noses, the mouth, the whole body—these are the women I love.”

A woman friend of mine who was followed and annoyed by a man complained to the policeman at the corner. He laughed and said, “You’ll be sorrier the day no man wants to annoy you, won’t you? After all, you should be thankful instead of getting angry.” And he would not help her.

“I like a whore best of all because I feel she will never cling to me, never get entangled with me. It makes me feel free. I do not have to make love to her.”

Despite these drawbacks, I'm definitely willing to give Anais another chance. In fact, I already have her book “A Spy in the House of Love” that I'm looking forward to reading. So don't completely discount this one! I just hope for a little less of the harsh treatment towards women. (And I'm the least feminist woman in the world, so that really says a lot!)

Anaïs Nin was an incredibly captivating woman who led an extraordinary lifestyle. She was the kind of writer who had the power to pique one's curiosity. I had a strong desire to read one of her books, yet I didn't feel entirely at ease choosing one of her diaries. With that in mind, Little Birds seemed like a logical option for me.

I had heard a great deal about this book. I was aware that Nin wrote it simply out of necessity, as she was hungry. It was during World War II, and she was living a typical bohemian life, unable to secure a decent job as a writer. So, she made the decision to pen erotic stories in order to earn enough money to have one warm meal a day. What an interesting environment in which to write sensual tales!

I had high expectations, and perhaps that was the issue. The numerous glowing reviews on Goodreads might have clouded my judgment. I did indeed appreciate Nin's vivid imagination, but the structure of her stories left much to be desired. On one hand, there were clever and inventive shorter stories. On the other hand, Nin also wrote longer stories that were needlessly drawn out. There were even stories within stories that made no sense whatsoever. Their only purpose seemed to be to lengthen the original story.

To sum it all up, I remain a fan of Anaïs Nin. She was a wild and progressive woman who was beyond anyone's control. I may not be fond of her writing style, but I do respect it. She was a unique and influential figure, and her work will always have a place in the literary world.

This book really disappoints me.

It feels like the fucked up fantasies of some old creepy man. The content ranges from misogyny, which shows a deep-rooted hatred and disrespect for women, to rape, a heinous and violent act that should never be glorified or even described in such a way. Then there is incest, a taboo topic that makes one's skin crawl, and pedophila, which is simply unacceptable and immoral.

I thought I would get some tasteful stories written by a woman, but to my dismay, every single chapter made me feel at best icky and at worst frankly disgusted. It's really not worth the read. I would not recommend this book to anyone, as it contains content that is not only disturbing but also potentially harmful.

A book intrigued me in the library, so I picked it up. At that time, I was lying on the couch and didn't raise my hand to read. Finally, I got ready. It was somewhat interesting, somewhat strange, and unusual. Maybe after all, it wasn't for me. I might read it for the second time. The most interesting thing was the facts about the author's life and creation written at the end of the book.

The book seemed to have a certain charm that attracted my attention. As I held it in my hands, I felt a sense of anticipation. Although I initially just lay there without immediately delving into it, the thought of what might be inside kept lingering in my mind. When I finally decided to give it a try, I found that it had a unique flavor. Some parts were truly captivating, while others were a bit odd. It was different from what I was used to reading, but that's what made it interesting. The details about the author's life and the background of the creation added an extra layer of depth to the book, making it even more engaging.

In 2024, the concept of "being a pervert" remains a complex and controversial topic.

A pervert is often someone whose behavior, thoughts, or desires deviate from what is considered socially acceptable and normal. This can include actions such as inappropriate sexual advances, voyeurism, or exhibitionism.

The label of "pervert" can have a significant impact on a person's life. It can lead to social ostracism, legal consequences, and damage to one's reputation. However, it is important to note that not all behaviors that may seem strange or unusual are necessarily perverse.

Understanding the root causes of such behavior is crucial. It could be due to various factors such as psychological issues, upbringing, or environmental influences. By addressing these underlying issues, there may be a possibility of rehabilitation and a chance for the individual to lead a more normal and fulfilling life.

In conclusion, while "being a pervert" is a term that carries a negative connotation, it is essential to approach the topic with empathy and understanding. We should strive to create a society that is both accepting and able to deal with such complex issues in a just and compassionate manner.

Don't judge this book by its cover.

She always had an air about her that made people assume certain things.

“She always looked as if she had just come from lying in bed with a lover, or as if she were just about to lie down with one.”

This description might lead some to make hasty judgments about her character and lifestyle.

However, appearances can be deceiving.

There could be many reasons for her looking the way she did.

Perhaps she was simply tired or had a certain style that gave off that impression.

We should not be so quick to jump to conclusions based on how someone looks.

It is important to get to know a person on a deeper level before making assumptions.

Maybe there is more to her than meets the eye.

We should reserve our judgment and give her a chance to show us who she really is.

Anaïs Nin is indeed one of my favorite authors, and it's no surprise. I happened to discover her several years ago when I read her short story collection, 'Delta of Venus'. Although I didn't love the collection as much as I had expected, her unique style truly opened my mind and kindled a spark of curiosity within me. This curiosity compelled me to explore more of this remarkable writer's works.

It was 'Henry and June' that truly captured my heart. In this book, Nin managed to depict the beauty of sexual intimacy without resorting to vulgarity. I could sense the emotions oozing out from the pages. While this particular collection wasn't as aesthetically pleasing as some others, it still contained some exquisitely written sex scenes, which was precisely what I was looking for.

I really enjoyed how Nin described the build-up to sex in each story. She delved into what drives these wild desires and what makes people trust one another at such a level of intimacy. I firmly believe that if the stories were merely snippets of sex without any background, they wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable. For me, it's all about that magnificently tantalizing build-up.

However, Nin does venture into some areas that make me feel slightly uncomfortable, such as dealing with themes like incest. Fortunately, this was only present in one story and wasn't sufficient to spoil my overall enjoyment of the collection.

Anaïs Nin was a master at writing boldly about sex in all its glory. Through her writing, she has taught countless women that sexual intimacy is something meant for them to relish, not just endure passively.