The writing style employed in this piece was indeed somewhat appealing at first glance. However, upon delving deeper into the content of the stories, one quickly realizes that most of them are either disgustingly disturbing or mind-numbingly boring.

In fact, at times, it gave me the distinct impression that it was bordering on glorifying heinous acts such as pedophilia, rape, and incest. I initially picked up this book without any prior knowledge of the author's identity. To my utter shock, when I discovered that it was a woman who had penned these tales, I was truly taken aback. It felt as if it could only have been written by a man with a warped perspective.

I literally had to check this fact multiple times just to be certain. This work is far from being "empowering" or "liberating" as some might claim. On the contrary, it represents the polar opposite, leaving a rather unpleasant and disturbing aftertaste.

It makes one question the intentions and mindset of the author and serves as a reminder that not all literature is worthy of praise or acclaim.

He had never witnessed her body in such a state of abandon, completely oblivious to everything except the intense desire to be claimed and satisfied. Under his gentle caresses, she blossomed like a flower, transforming from a girl into a woman right before his eyes.

  He had never seen her body so abandoned, so unconscious of all but the desire to be taken and satisfied. She bloomed under his caresses, no longer the girl but the woman already being born.

I entered the haven of books that is Savage Mind in Naga City, not quite sure what to expect to bring home. Amidst the randomness and countless piles of books in that literary feast, a vivid pinkish-purplish cover caught my eye. It read Anaïs Nin.


The cover boasted that the book picked up where Delta of Venus left off, giving me a rather inaccurate impression that it was part of a single continuous story. Nevertheless, I dove in without reading the previous one first. As I opened it, I discovered that it consisted of chapters that stood alone, each in its own separate world of sensual thrills, desires, and longings.


I found Nin's preface quite interesting. She described eroticism as being like life itself when it is part of a whole story being told, and said that focusing solely on it is unnatural. Writers, she claimed, add bits of the erotic on the side to satisfy their honesty about life. From a reader's perspective, this makes a story more believable, and I couldn't agree more. She further explained that most erotica was written on empty stomachs, as the writers were driven by the need for money. This really put things into perspective.


Among the many anecdotes, two stuck with me longer than the others. The Maja, one of the shortest pieces, was about a painter who had just married a Spanish woman because she resembled the painting he loved the most. In contrast, The Model, the longest piece, was about an Oriental migrant who arrived in France, found no good use for her inadequate life skills, and unexpectedly became a model for an arts club, posing for artists, painters, and illustrators.


Although I was reading about acts that are usually hidden behind closed doors, and imagining how their sexes grew moist and pulsating, they still felt distant, as if I was only allowed up to the doorstep. The overall feel and the quality of the characters I observed were accurately described by Nin in the preface as well.

  The sexual life is usually enveloped in many layers, for all of us—poets, writers, artists. It is a veiled woman, half-dreamed.\\"

So, this was truly an odd and rather sexy experience, but it was extremely weird indeed.

The short stories presented here had a certain quality that made them somewhat difficult to fully embrace or understand.

It's not that they were bad per se, but there was just something about them that left a strange taste in the mouth, so to speak.

Maybe it was the unexpected twists and turns, or the way the characters were developed.

Whatever it was, it made the reading experience both captivating and a little bit off-putting at the same time.

Overall, it was a strange and somewhat confusing encounter with these short stories, but one that I won't soon forget.

This book, along with its companion book Delta of Venus (they run together in my mind and I am talking about both here),

is a collection of wonderfully evocative erotic stories. They are far from the wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am stuff typically found in porn magazines.

Sometimes magical, sometimes freaky, with a distinct European sensibility, these stories are softly spellbinding.

Whenever I pick up these books, I can't help but get caught up in them. Elena, Pierre, Leila, the Basque and Bijou - what a cool group of characters!

And there are so many more. The sexual encounters in these stories are not just gratuitous; they depend on the development of the characters.

There is more depth and substance to them than you would find in pretty much any other such stories.

Overall, these books are very enjoyable and offer a unique and engaging reading experience.

I highly recommend them to anyone looking for something different in the world of erotic literature.

This book is truly remarkable. It outshines "50 Shades of Grey" to such an extent that it relegates the latter to oblivion. The writing is beautiful, with a grace and elegance that is truly captivating. It is a classic novel that will stand the test of time.

Unlike some other works, it doesn't rely on a tiresome character like Ana who constantly exclaims "holy crap." Instead, it offers a rich and engaging story that draws the reader in and keeps them hooked from beginning to end.

The author, Anaïs Nin, is a talented wordsmith who has crafted a masterpiece in "Little Birds." The book's cover, with its image of a delicate bird, gives a hint of the beauty and charm that lies within.

Overall, this is a book that is well worth reading. It is a must-have for any lover of literature and a testament to the power of great writing.

Little Birds by Anaïs Nin is a rather controversial book.

It is often regarded as a work about sexual liberation, yet it presents a mainly heterosexual perspective where a girl discovers sexual desire and freedom through men.

At the same time, homoerotic (mostly girl to girl) experiences are depicted as childlike curiosity and playfulness.

Interestingly, men in the book seem to prefer weak, childlike women, especially if they are Asian.

The book portrays women as sexual conquests or objects to be perverted, which is quite disturbing.

Moreover, strong women, often described as wild or catlike, are dominated by men to be tamed.

The so-called liberation only seems to come in girl-to-girl interactions.

Many of the vignettes in this anthology involve harm, sexual assault, rape, and family molestation towards women, and the book attempts to justify it by suggesting that the characters were perverts and that a girl finds true sex and freedom only when she meets a man.

Although the book contains some interesting quotes about women being like art, the earth, and animals, it is difficult to find feminist qualities.

Like art, women can be admired and looked at; like the earth, they can be wrecked; and like animals, they can be tamed.

Overall, it is an interesting read, but it fails to arouse any eroticism in me.

Perhaps the point is to dull the reader with sex and show that it is often perverse in nature and should be treated with sanctity.

This book gets a 2 for being a dumb read.

The stories presented here truly amazed me.

I discovered that they were more exquisitely crafted and delved deeper than those in Delta of Venus. They were not only clever and highly entertaining but also, undeniably, sexy.

In my personal view, when it comes to the realm of erotic literature, Nin has set the standard higher than anyone else. This is a form of literary erotica that caters specifically to intellectuals.

Her beautiful writing style, which is so easy to relate to, encompasses a wide range of sexual and sensual indulgences. It also reveals profound insights into the mysteries of women and their sexuality.

Most of these stories are based on her own adventurous experiences as well as those of her friends, exploring diverse cultures and sexual habits.

I firmly believe that her work is far more impactful and meaningful than the rather sleazy offerings of Henry Miller.

It stands out as a unique and valuable contribution to the world of literature.

This book truly had a profound and rather unexpected impact on me.

It completely shattered my once-held innocence.

As I delved into its pages, I was exposed to a world of ideas and concepts that I had never before encountered.

The vivid descriptions and the complex storylines opened my eyes to the harsh realities and the darker side of life.

It made me question many of the beliefs and values that I had taken for granted.

My once-naive perspective was forever changed, and I found myself grappling with a newfound awareness that I could no longer ignore.

This book became a catalyst for my personal growth and transformation, but at the same time, it also marked the end of my innocence.

It was a bittersweet experience, one that I will always remember and cherish for the lessons it taught me.

Nin made no secret of the fact that she wrote those stories for the money. Moreover, they were published posthumously. The sense of rush is palpable as there is very little narrative building. It's almost straight to the act, I would say! There is no doubt that she writes good erotica. However, I am curious about what the stories would have been like if the rest of the narrative had also been stronger. And, like with most short story collections, the book was rather uneven in quality.

It was worth reading, if only for the cultural relevance of her work alone. But I'm not entirely sure if I want to read Delta of Venus. If you're in the mood for something sultry, then by all means, do read it. However, if you're looking for a more well-rounded literary experience with a stronger narrative arc, you might want to look elsewhere.

I'm not a prudish person at all. However, this particular thing just didn't appeal to me.

There were some stories within it that were truly disturbing. They involved little girls and such, which made it seem more deviant than erotic.

It's not that I'm completely closed off to different types of content, but when it crosses the line into something that makes me feel uncomfortable and violates certain moral and ethical boundaries, it's just not something I can enjoy.

I believe there is a fine line between what is considered erotic and what is just plain inappropriate and disturbing. In this case, it seemed to have crossed that line for me.

Maybe others might have a different opinion, but for me, this just didn't do it.

It has been an extremely rare occurrence for me to come across such erotic and fleshly stories. These are the kind of stories that delve deep into the most secluded and hidden corners of human desire.

Perhaps the reason for this is that I have never before encountered a mind that is not censored and is so incredibly daring. Such unrestricted and bold thoughts have the power to bring to light aspects of our nature that we often keep suppressed or hidden.

These stories have the ability to arouse emotions and sensations that we may not even be aware of within ourselves. They push the boundaries of what is considered acceptable and take us on a journey into the unknown territory of our desires.

It is both fascinating and a little disconcerting to explore these uncharted waters, but it also provides an opportunity for self-discovery and a deeper understanding of our own sexuality and the human psyche.

First erotic book on my shelf!

This is truly an exciting discovery. The introduction to this collection of short stories is quite interesting. Some - if not most - of these tales raise questions or even cause discomfort when it comes to ethics. However, there are others that are simply playful and, to be honest, really sexy. It's a strange mix of emotions that this book evokes in me. On one hand, I'm a bit taken aback by the more controversial aspects, but on the other hand, I can't deny the allure and sensuality of some of the stories.

Despite my mixed feelings, I find myself curious to read more from Anaïs Nin. Her writing style seems to have a certain charm that keeps pulling me in. I'm eager to explore more of her work and see what other surprises and provocations she has in store. It's like opening a door to a new and uncharted world of erotic literature, and I'm both excited and a little nervous to take the plunge.