Beautiful, sensual, and lyrical prose - these are the hallmarks of a writer like Nin. Her works are a captivating blend of emotions and experiences, crafted with a finesse that is truly remarkable. The intense sense of sexuality that pervades her writing is like a palpable pulse, throbbing with life and passion. At times, I found myself almost overcome by the power of her words, having to take breaks between stories to catch my breath. However, this overwhelming quality only added to the overall allure of the collection. Each story is a journey into the depths of human desire and longing, a exploration of the most intimate aspects of our lives. Despite the challenges of reading such intense material, I was completely immersed in Nin's world, unable to tear myself away.

This is between 3 and 4 stars for me.

Definitely worth reading because she hits upon some really great passages. The author has a way of crafting sentences and scenes that are truly captivating and make you want to keep turning the page.

But that also means there are some very repetitive parts that become tedious. It seems as if she repeats certain ideas or descriptions a bit too often, which can make the reading experience a bit less enjoyable.

I think "Children of the Albatross" and "Seduction of the Minotaur" were my favorites of the five stories. These two tales had unique plots and interesting characters that really drew me in. The author's想象力 in these stories was on full display, and I found myself completely immersed in the worlds she created.

Overall, this is a decent collection of stories that has its highs and lows. While the repetitive parts can be a bit of a turn-off, the great passages and engaging stories make it worth a read.

Nik's prose is exquisitely beautiful.

She has an amazing ability to evoke a plethora of emotions through her metaphors.

I truly relished her characters, as I felt they were all highly developed.

In fact, I had the suspicion that they were all modeled after real individuals.

Regrettably, halfway through, her heady prose began to wear on me.

I yearned for there to be more substance to her story rather than just style.

It would have been wonderful if she could have balanced the two elements more effectively.

Nonetheless, her writing still holds a certain allure, and I look forward to seeing how she evolves as a writer in the future.

Perhaps in her next work, she will find that perfect combination of engaging characters and a captivating storyline.

Until then, I will continue to appreciate the beauty of her prose and hope for more depth in her narratives.

Reading Cities of the Interior was truly an uncanny experience.

As I delved into the pages, I was astonished to find phrases and thought patterns that I had carried within me throughout my life, and yet had never shared with anyone, repeatedly surfacing in Nin's writing.

It was a phenomenal exploration of emotions and the psyche.

Being someone diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, I found a deep connection with this text. It made me feel less alone in my struggles.

I have an absolute adoration for Nin's writing style.

Her words have the power to touch the deepest recesses of the soul and bring to light the most hidden emotions and thoughts.

It is as if she has a special ability to understand the human condition in all its complexity and express it in a way that is both profound and relatable.

Reading her work is like embarking on a journey of self-discovery and healing.

I am truly grateful to have come across Cities of the Interior and to have been able to experience the magic of Nin's writing.

I want just the joy of illumination, the joy of what I see in the world. Just to receive vibrations. Susceptibility to all life. Acceptance. Taking it all in. Just BE.

I initially began this book in January and was reading it simultaneously with other books. However, last week I made the decision to give it my full concentration and complete it. It was by no means an easy task. I believe Anais Nin writes beautifully, but the formatting of the book and the use of older vocabulary often caused my mind to wander a great deal.

I did enjoy certain parts of it here and there. There was some truly magnificent prose and writing throughout. But I do have a concern that often things are regarded as sacred, and people refrain from speaking out against them for fear of shame or appearing intellectually deficient. I have no such shame, and I know that I am intelligent. In my opinion, this book was just okay.

Overall, while there were aspects that I liked, it didn't completely captivate me. The struggle with the formatting and vocabulary sometimes detracted from the overall reading experience. Nevertheless, I'm glad I gave it a chance and was able to explore Nin's unique style of writing.

Perhaps upon a second reading, with a better understanding of the context and language, I might have a different perspective. But for now, this is my honest assessment of the book.

I read Anais Nin in 9th grade. The title of her work intrigued me, and to my pleasant surprise, I discovered that her writing was highly sexualized.

However, I firmly believe that she is often unjustly characterized by a single label, namely "erotica." This one-dimensional classification fails to do justice to the true complexity of her writing and its profound socio-historical significance.

During the summer before 10th grade, when I was taking a college-level Writing course at Truman State University, an interesting incident occurred. During a visit by an administrator to our class, I analyzed Nin's works and applied her techniques to my own writing. This action made the professor extremely uncomfortable.

It seems that Nin's bold and unapologetic exploration of sexuality in her writing can be quite confronting, even in an academic setting. But perhaps it is precisely this aspect of her work that makes it so valuable and worthy of further study and appreciation.

Anais Nin's writing style is truly remarkable.

Every single line she pens is like a piece of poetry, beautifully crafted and filled with truth.

She has an uncanny ability to observe and bring to light the innermost voices within us that we are often too afraid to admit.

Yet, when we read her words on the page, we instantly recognize those hidden parts of ourselves.

Her characters are not just one-dimensional; they are spiraling entities that encompass a vast range of emotions and traits.

With a lyrical ease, she conjures up entire worlds and moods that draw the reader in and make it difficult to escape.

Once you fall into Nin's world, all your senses are heightened, and pleasure flows through you.

Even the doubts and fears are expressed in silky thoughts that dance across the page.

She describes passions, relationships, and places with a rippling beauty that is simply enchanting.

Indulging in a trip to these cities of the interior through her writing is an absolute pleasure.

It is a journey that takes you deep within yourself and allows you to explore the hidden corners of your own psyche.

This is the second or third time I've delved into this book.

The first encounter was truly mind-blowing. Nin's remarkable ability to draw one into a character, revealing the inner workings of people through stark metaphors, completely captivated me.

This time around, I can clearly observe how she showcases the fluid nature of people. Our expectations, feelings, and emotions intertwine in unforeseen ways, blurring the boundaries between our inner and outer selves.

However, her writing doesn't have the same profound impact on me as it once did. It now seems less sophisticated. Nevertheless, her ideas and methods remain intriguing.

I suppose my increased life experience, as an adult navigating adult relationships, has tempered my initial perception. What once appeared romantic and intimate now feels different.

Nonetheless, this book still holds value and offers insights into the complex nature of human existence.

This book has touched me in a way that Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1984) only skimmed the surface.

It is an integral work consisting of five novellas that "anachronize" the lives of Lilian, Djuana, and Sabina - a pianist, a dancer, and a man-eater. In the face of the artifice of forced smiles and the urban attire that crushes thoughts, the characters waver between the unbearable and the light. Subjected to the world of appearances, they suffer from a nostalgia for the mud of their childhood, that fleeting time which one will never know if it was lived or dreamed.

Continue reading: https://fabulogie.wordpress.com/2016/...

DNF (Did Not Finish).

Maybe if I had been more patient, I might have been able to enjoy this. However, the writing style simply didn't suit me.

Ultimately, it was so excruciatingly boring that I had no choice but to stop.

I also truly don't believe that people like those described in it actually exist. I promise you, no one thinks in such a way.

It's as if the author was trying to create characters and situations that were completely脱离现实.

The story lacked any real depth or authenticity, and it failed to engage me on any level.

Perhaps others might find something to like in it, but for me, it was a complete disappointment.

I guess it just goes to show that everyone has different tastes when it comes to literature.

I was truly relishing this book.

At the outset, the stream-of-consciousness writing style presented a challenge for me to fully engage with.

Anais Nin's characters possess an air of remarkable power, yet they are also profoundly human, with their own flaws and delicacies.

Regrettably, I currently lack the time to complete this book and have had to return it to the library.

I hold the hope that one day, I will be able to come back to it and continue exploring the rich world Nin has created.

The allure of her writing and the depth of her characters continue to linger in my mind, making me eager for the opportunity to pick up where I left off.

Perhaps in the future, when my schedule allows, I will once again immerse myself in the captivating pages of this book.

Until then, I will carry the memory of its beauty and complexity with me.

I have always been an extremely huge fan of Nin. She appeared to be a significant crossroad of numerous aspects. And I don't simply mean her diaries. I'm referring to the multiple internal dialogues that she skillfully interweaves.

Moreover, it's not just about how these internal dialogues are affected by each other, but also how they impact each individual's internal perception of themselves and their environment. Although this might seem rather convoluted at first glance, the writing and images are actually quite spare and yet highly illuminating.

Her writing doesn't really follow a typical, generic plot. Instead, it is propelled forward by a sort of submersion into the dialogue. It operates purely on an emotional level when it comes to the conversations we all have with ourselves and how others perceive and interpret this inner dialogue.

And if that wasn't enough, all of this also occurs in the greatest time period within the greatest city.

*A personal note - I read this massive tome while traveling and living in Brazil, and I couldn't have had a better book. It truly made me understand the concept of internal traveling.

P.S. Get this copy for the incredible drawings that are spread throughout the book.