I couldn't give it a star.

I liked the things the book explored, but I couldn't look at it as a work of literature for some reason.

It definitely offers an erotic experience that was revolutionary for the time it was written, meant to open minds and maybe even cause a bit of confusion.

I read it in the context of general culture, and it still remains in that category for me.

Perhaps it lacks the finesse and depth that one might expect from a true literary masterpiece.

However, it does have its own charm and value in terms of pushing boundaries and challenging conventional ideas.

Overall, while I couldn't rate it highly as a work of literature, I can still appreciate its significance in the broader context of cultural history.

Hej och hå!

Here it's about allowing oneself to be led down into the cup of pleasure and blocking oneself from thoughts of the patriarchy. The latter is quite a lot to ask of (me) the reader, but the book is long and I actually manage.

After the interesting preface, it starts with incest and right there I almost got scared off. But then I thought about what the wise "everyday racism" had written; That it was when she saw a soft porn film that she learned that it's wrong for adults to have sex with children.

This is a collection of short stories that oozes of sex-positivism. I really don't hold an uncritical attitude towards views of that type, towards views (that refuse to see the woman as a victim), but in these short stories it really works well. In the last short story, I interpret it as the author wants to reach out to us readers with the message enjoy while there's time, it's just silly not to dare to be clear about what one likes, life is too short for inhibitions and stop creating mystery around women's lust and sex.

I like Nin's style, it's unusually a bit goofy for being erotica.

After I get into it, it becomes strangely liberating to read about women with agency. No matter how violent and power-crazy the male characters are, they can't subdue the female characters. Example: the woman who gets excited and answers a male streaker in the same coin and starts stimulating herself in front of him.

From a historical context, it was probably innovative, permissive and with many different representations. Here there is multiculturalism, a wide spectrum of different bodies, for example one with wooden legs and a trans person. There are both light and dark, thin and firm and those who wobble, with and without hair. And the very best, what makes it hold up for reading even today, I think, are the descriptions of the vagina in a realistic and fair way. It is often compared to a mouth, which is active, which sometimes smells, which opens, which orgasms when the clitoris is stimulated and so on.

If the forbidden thought about how this relates to reality still pops up, then I think one can think that reality is also constantly being created by what is written and read. This is, however, short stories, written by a woman over 50 - 90 years ago, and none of the characters in the book has come to harm. I think you should take a well-deserved mental break from the patriarchy with its violence and porn culture and read this. Have a great time!

I had to read this book twice to fully appreciate it.

It is really just a collection of erotic short stories. This is one of only two books that Anais Nin had published. And even so, only after many years in print, few have acknowledged its soaring ambition.

One only wishes Nin had applied herself to writing about Paris with the same passion she wrote about affairs of the heart.

Not recommended for children [obviously], this book fills a necessary gap in erotica written by a woman.

It offers a unique perspective on female sexuality and desire, which is often overlooked or misrepresented in mainstream literature.

The stories are vivid and sensual, exploring the depths of human passion and longing.

However, some may find the content too explicit or controversial.

Overall, it is a thought-provoking and engaging read for those interested in exploring the boundaries of erotica.

I truly had no idea what to anticipate, yet I was deeply impressed by her descriptions and her captivating stories.

I hold such a high esteem for her as a sexual, female libertine during that era.

I didn't perceive any of the stories in Delta to be perverse in the slightest. They were all about sexually charged individuals indulging in their pleasures. She didn't explore the realm of any fetishes or anything overly kinky, thus making it mainstream. She expresses things so eloquently without being overly verbose. Her language is simply perfect for eroticism.

What I adored was the way she phrased things. As a woman, I have witnessed the standard porns that are, of course, made for men. Watching a blow job where the guy typically just shoves his dick into the chick's mouth, seeing him get excited and her fake boobs bouncing, is quite frankly not very stimulating. In her book, she describes fellatio as "he offered his penis to my mouth" and then proceeds to describe how scorching it is.

Her descriptions are definitely more tailored for women. But they are also more realistic of real life sex and the real fantasies of sexually charged people.

Another excellent example is the woman and her lover having sex by the window as people walk by. This is the kind of thing that a couple would actually do and attempt to get away with. I liked it because to me it was somewhat realistic, which made it extremely hot. Anticipate being aroused throughout by Anais's vivid fantasies!