This book is the very first erotica book I've read.

I discovered it within a box of children's books that a friend had given to me for my 2-year-old son.

I read it from cover to cover, and I couldn't help but wonder what sort of person would pen such content.

Subsequently, I began to reflect on the events in my life that might have been equally strange and erotic.

That was many years ago.

The other day, I was in B and N, and I came across one of her books.

It instantly jogged my memory of that time in my apartment long ago.

Thank you, Anaïs Nin!!!!!

This experience with the erotica book was truly a memorable one. It made me question not only the author's motives but also my own perception of the strange and erotic in life.

The encounter in B and N brought back those long-forgotten memories, and I was filled with a sense of gratitude towards Anaïs Nin for creating such works that could have such a lasting impact on me.

Even though it was an unexpected discovery, it has become a part of my personal journey and a source of inspiration for my own thoughts and reflections.

This is how I learned about sex.

Thanks mom and dad for owning it! Also, I stole it from you.

You see, growing up, I was always curious about the world around me. And as I got older, that curiosity extended to the topic of sex.

I remember one day, I was rummaging through my parents' bookshelf when I came across a book that seemed to hold the answers to all my questions.

Without hesitation, I snatched it up and began reading.

It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least.

From that moment on, I was hooked.

I continued to explore the topic, learning as much as I could.

And now, looking back, I'm grateful to my parents for unknowingly providing me with the means to satisfy my curiosity.

Thanks, mom and dad!

Somehow I had expected more details and passion(!).

While I understand that these short stories were written some time ago, and perhaps what was considered exciting then might seem 'boring' today. Presumably, the challenges and interests of the time were different. However, the writing also seemed rather plain.

I craved for that steamy and sweaty feeling, that intense and passionate connection that good writing can evoke. Instead, what I got was unstimulating and dry, like a puppy mindlessly humping my leg. It left me feeling disappointed and longing for something more engaging and vibrant.

Maybe it's a matter of personal taste, but I couldn't help but wish for a bit more fire and life in the words.

This is a very masterfully written erotica. It is truly remarkable how Nin embodies and deposits the female point of view in her writing. One can really appreciate the unique perspective she offers. However, there are some不足之处. Some of the stories seem to have an unfinished feeling. It's as if there was more that could have been said, and a transition was needed to fully explain a change of opinion. This leaves the reader with a sense of incompleteness. Also, in this collection, there are some stories that explain female sexuality in a way that feels a little backwards when considering typical gender roles. Maybe this is a result of the period in which Nin was writing. But still, it is disappointing. It would have been nice to see a more progressive and contemporary exploration of female sexuality. Overall, while the writing is excellent, these aspects prevent the collection from being truly outstanding.

The cover of this thing quite literally proclaims "erotica."

And yet, when I saw it, I was still there thinking, "Wait a minute. What the heck? Why is it so freakkyyyyy?"

I mean, it's not like I wasn't expecting something a bit risqué with that label on the cover. But this just seemed to take it to a whole other level.

It made me wonder what kind of wild and crazy content was actually inside.

Was it going to be filled with steamy scenes that would make my heart race and my face flush?

Or was it going to be something even more outlandish and unexpected?

I couldn't help but be intrigued, despite my initial shock and confusion.

Maybe I should just take the plunge and find out for myself.

After all, curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back, right?

Anais, you are completely crazy for this one.

Your actions and decisions seem to be driven by an unwavering passion that is both intense and captivating.

I find myself drawn to you in a way that I can't quite explain.

Maybe it's your fearlessness, or perhaps it's the way you throw caution to the wind and follow your heart.

Whatever it is, I love you for it.

I love the way you embrace life with such enthusiasm and how you are not afraid to take risks.

You are like a wildfire, burning bright and hot, and I can't help but be consumed by your flames.

Anais, you are one of a kind, and I am so lucky to have you in my life.

Your craziness is what makes you who you are, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

This little book of short stories stands as some of the finest erotica ever penned. Nin, a true virtuoso in the realm of love, lust, and the body's betrayal of our deepest desires, writes with a simplicity and elegance that is truly captivating.

She never overdoes the imagery, providing just enough for us to feel the essence of the work without a crude and microscopic examination. Nin delves deep into the psyches of her characters, offering us more than just an up-close and personal peek into their inner turmoil as they strive to break free from their self-imposed sexual limitations. Her characters come alive, blooming like flowers bathed in the morning dew, and filling the pages with their intoxicating fragrance before our very eyes.

Nin is not merely writing about sex or sexual taboos in these stories; she is penning essays on humanity's perpetual struggle to reconcile our inner longings and emotional conflicts regarding sex and death. She pushes the boundaries, but does so with such nuance, poetry, and innocence that the often-disturbing subject matter feels tempered, allowing us to achieve a greater understanding of the themes presented.

This book serves as a wonderful introduction to Nin's work. I highly recommend that all authors, especially those interested in exploring sexuality in their own material, read her work. Her approach is genuine: voyeuristic without being intrusive. Those already familiar with the great erotic enchantress know this all too well. This book is an absolute must-have for any collection. It is a book that one can return to with a blush and a smile, time and time again. However, if you are seeking graphic depictions of sex, you will not find them here, for this is true erotica, taking a deeply subliminal approach rather than a plot-laden poke and jab.

To me, there is a vast difference between erotica and pornography. Erotica doesn't necessarily have to be about sex, and as a reader and a writer, I don't require it to be. I find that erotica has the power to titillate at a deeper, more emotional level, and ambiguity can be employed to great effect. Well-written erotica affects the reader beyond the physical, and often the impact is so powerful that the physical aspect can be entirely omitted. As for my own work, I do write a fair amount of sex scenes, and it's never an easy task, no matter how many times I do it. Each scene feels as awkward and fumbling as the first time, and it can be downright unpoetic. But just like the rest of the story, sex scenes evolve during the rewriting process. Sex for your characters can be a source of self-discovery, and if executed well, they can enhance the reader's experience and move the story beyond the plotline. Sexual motivation is deeply ingrained, and exploring your character's Id can be both fulfilling and a bit frightening. Just be careful with your language, as erotica can quickly turn into cheap porn with just a few juvenile words. It doesn't take much, and not every story needs sexual exploration. You are the author; you know the story and the characters. You will know if the story calls for it or not, depending on your overall thesis. The trial and error lies in determining how deeply to explore. Don't try to justify the need; make sure it's worthwhile for your characters to venture there; otherwise, it will just read like a clumsy segue.

Of course, I am referring to literary erotica here. If you are writing erotica solely for sexual titillation, meaning you are writing pornography with the express purpose of arousing the reader, then go for it. But you'd better make it good. Clichés only give me a headache and make me long for an aspirin. Please spare me the twenty-inch manhood and the weeping multi-orgasmic vulvas.

I couldn't manage to complete this task.

The work was well-written, but unfortunately, it just wasn't to my taste.

Perhaps if the subject matter had been more in line with my interests or the style had been different, I would have been more engaged.

As it stands, I found myself struggling to get through it.

However, I can still appreciate the effort and skill that went into writing it.

It's important to remember that everyone has different preferences when it comes to reading and writing.

Just because something doesn't work for one person doesn't mean it's not good.

In the end, I'll have to look for something else that better suits my needs and interests.

He carefully drew back the sheets that gently covered her.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, he began to lift up her delicate silk nightgown.

To his surprise, he was able to raise it above her breasts without her giving any indication of awakening.

Now, her whole body lay exposed before him, and he could gaze upon it as long as his heart desired.

Her arms were flung outwards, as if in a gesture of abandon.

Her breasts, soft and inviting, lay under his eyes like a precious offering.

Aroused with a burning desire for her, he still did not dare to touch her.

Instead, he reached for his drawing paper and pencils.

Sitting at her side, he began to sketch her with a meticulous hand.

As he worked, he had the distinct feeling that he was caressing each and every perfect line in her body.

This excerpt from the story "The Maja" by Anaïs Nin showcases her unique writing style.

Sometimes it is subtle and erotic, while at other times it is more incisive and penetrating.

I found it interesting how the author weaves various types of fantasies and paraphilias into her stories.

Nevertheless, even though I recognize a relative interest in reading this work, nothing can equal the intense erotic and sensual charge of Anaïs Nin's diaries.

Those, indeed, are unrivaled and highly recommended for getting to know the author.

I discovered this book a long time after coming across "Delta of Venus" as a boy on someone's bookshelf.

As an adult, I read "Little Birds", and I firmly believe that it should be read in conjunction with the former rather than separately.

What I can assert is that due to my encounter with Anais Nin as a boy, I grew up perceiving sexuality and sexual attraction as something that predominantly occurs in the mind. It is the tension she so vividly describes, between desire and fear/exhilaration, and the surrender that her characters frequently experience, that has cultivated a very healthy sense of the sexual in my life. This, I observe, stands in stark contrast to most of my other male friends who view sexuality solely through the somewhat crude lens of pornography. I would love to recommend Nin's books to them, but I am almost certain they would detest them.

So, Nin has had a profoundly positive impact on my life and has contributed significantly to my understanding of the way the female mind views sexuality. I cannot fathom a higher compliment to bestow upon her.

I would also like to add that it is healthy for the mind to sometimes entertain thoughts that one might not morally approve of. This is the very essence of the illicit and the reason why we are initially attracted to it.

This is truly bad erotica. In the collection of 13 stories, only one actually focuses on two people having sex because they like it. I endured reading the whole thing, and here are the details of the stories (with plenty of spoilers):

1. It starts off with the disturbing theme of pedophilia.

2. There's a magic mystery sex encounter with a stranger who romantically recalls being raped in a crowd while watching a hanging.

3. The main character Lina supposedly just needs a bit of rape to develop an interest in sex.

4. There are adorable tales of boys molesting their little sisters, which then leads to a vigorous incestuous sex life.

5. This one is not only boring but also racist. A woman finally gets back at her cheating husband by - shockingly! - sleeping with another man.

6. The hot prude's husband begins to secretly paint his naked wife against her will. Then she catches him having sex with the paintings. So, she tears off her clothes and becomes even sexier.

7. A virgin naif is introduced to sex by Scoundrel Artists. There are also bizarre stories of raping jungle women and a minor lesbian tryst due to a horseback injury.

8. This one I simply described as "Whores, amirite?"

9. It's about how to shame a woman into submission and make her grateful.

10. There are fantasies of bestiality that are rewarded by rape.

11. It's about how to get your husband to stop having sex with "colored women" - just smell like one and it will "break the spell"!

12. Two women enjoy a bit of sex and anal play, along with a little lesbian fondling. This is the best story, yet it's still rather dull.

13. Two men take in a runaway girl and keep her for sex.

The stories all seem to reinforce the idea that sex is vile, only enjoyed by delinquent women, and requires trickery. The writing is extremely dry, which is a big drawback for what's supposed to be hot sex. The whole thing reads like a tame French translation of 50 Shades.

This is the second book of erotica that I have ever delved into, yet I was truly not overly impressed.

The themes and situations presented within it seemed to be rather repetitive. It felt as if I was reading the same scenarios over and over again.

The erotic scenes themselves were quite mild, lacking the intensity and passion that one might expect from such a genre.

Moreover, I firmly believe that underage girls should never be considered erotic in any context. Instead, it is deeply disturbing. And unfortunately, almost all of the girls that Nin wrote about were 16 years old.

A few of the other stories were downright disgusting and completely inappropriate. For instance, in "Little Birds," Manuel exposes himself to very young schoolgirls, which is both perverse and unacceptable.

In "Two Sisters," the father sexually abuses his daughters, and then they engage in inappropriate behavior with their brothers.

Overall, I had the distinct impression that the storylines were sacrificed in the pursuit of shock value. Nin seemed to rush through everything, not taking the time to develop the characters or the plots in a more meaningful way.

It left me with a sense of dissatisfaction and a feeling that there was so much more that could have been done with this collection of stories.