Anais Nïn lies on a hammock, on the terrace of her room at the Hotel Mirador. The diary is open on her knees, the sunlight is on the diary, and she has no desire to write.

Leaving behind the gray and cold New York, Anais Nïn arrives in Acapulco, determined to reconnect with the land, with the simplicity of the genuine and unassuming gaze of the Mexicans, apparently without superstructures.

That slow and colorful life numbs the mind but unleashes the senses, making the American writer experience a new and sweet vitality, as it is connected to a dream reality, in which modernity and the demands of the city seem completely out of place.

But Nïn's artistic soul cannot be content with just admiring with her eyes that self-contained world that is Mexico: she needs to write, to feed on art, to breathe the admiration of her readers.

"No truce for me, nowhere. No truce from writing, from consciousness, from intuitions, from memories, from fantasies, from analogies, from free associations. Writing becomes imperative for an overloaded head."

Therefore, it becomes necessary to return to New York: the American writer thus finds herself once again immersed in the snobbish and coldly realistic environment of America, which has just emerged from the Second World War and in which there does not seem to be room for her literary project under the sign of the rediscovery of neurosis in the human being, shown to readers in all its original weakness.

The purely symbolic and lyrical style of Nïn's works attracts the harshest reviews on her works, capable of hitting her at the heart: where she seeks warmth, she finds only indifference around her. Her lyricism of the subconscious, in fact, gathers few converts around her, while being openly despised by the masses and critics.

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I started and stopped, picked it up again, wrote two pages and then abandoned it. Then came Christmas, with its jokes and frizz. I would reread and then stop, even finding it boring.

Then on a dark day, due to lice, I picked it up again. For 'cure': books, as we know, can almost always do it.

Anais has so many travels in this Diary. She has to flee from New York. She doesn't feel well and her neuroses start again. I understand her. She needs warmth, colors, sounds, 'violence and innocence, the two natural aspects of man'. The metropolis stops her blood, impoverishes her inner world. She needs new narrations, of magic, of fabulation. To survive, she starts the analysis again. Here. Here is what has kept me away from this book and the others I was reading: the signals of suffering. But this is Anais, her travels, the people she meets, her sadness because her work is not recognized, her strength even in illness.

...and I find her again: a woman, a writer, a Diary. And my question is: how free do we have to be (and how) to write about ourselves in a completely sincere way? Does free mean being, remaining, feeling alone? Anais writes and describes her 'path', the cities she visits, the death of her mother, the experience with LSD, the awareness of not needing external substances to create and recreate worlds with writing, Art as vision and life.

The considerations she makes on the Artist in general are beautiful and I find the reflections on America, on psychoanalysis and sociology, Freud and Marx, reaching the bottom of herself and then rising again, very current. Even now I have the idea that there was a lot of Life and a lot of her intimacy that she didn't want, justifiably, to include in the Diaries, as if I had to only imagine it, reading and thus completing what I know and what I feel for Anais. And now the last Diary.

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This review provides a valuable look into Anais Nin's "Diario Volume Quinto 1947-1955".

It offers insights into the events, thoughts, and emotions that Nin captured during this particular period of her life.

The link provided takes readers directly to the full review, where they can explore in more detail the contents and significance of this volume of her diary.

Whether you are a fan of Anais Nin's work or simply interested in gaining a deeper understanding of her life and experiences, this review and the linked article are well worth a read.

They offer a unique perspective on a remarkable woman and her journey through life.

I spent the whole month dedicated to these books.

And I truly believe that I have become a new woman.

It's like a fragment of the personal and poetic performances of Anais.

These books have opened up a new world for me, filled with inspiration and profound insights.

As I delved deeper into the pages, I felt a transformation taking place within me.

The words seemed to dance off the paper and enter my soul, leaving an indelible mark.

I found myself reflecting on my own life, my dreams, and my desires.

The books became a mirror through which I could see myself more clearly.

They taught me to embrace my individuality, to express myself freely, and to follow my heart.

Now, as I look back on this month, I am grateful for the journey that these books have taken me on.

I know that I will carry the lessons and the inspiration with me always, and continue to grow and evolve as a person.

What a remarkable gift it is to have the opportunity to peer into Nin's mind.

This short book truly captivated me and took me months to complete. The reason being that I studied every single page with great care, savoring each and every word. I read and reread paragraphs, reluctant to let the experience come to an end.

Reading Nin's diary has sparked an abundance of thought, creativity, and a newfound zest for life within me. She has taught me invaluable lessons on how to live a life filled with vivid colors, to embrace passion and enthusiasm wholeheartedly. In doing so, she has reawakened the artist that lies dormant within me.

Although I may not agree with all of her opinions on politics and science, I still thoroughly loved delving into her perspectives and thoughts on these matters. Her words have an addictive quality, they are like pure life force art that enriches and inspires.

Overall, this book has been a profound and transformative experience for me, and I am truly grateful to have had the chance to explore Nin's inner world.

A white world outside. Clarity. Clarity. Recently, I find myself unable to bear the white expanse of my lucidities. While everyone around me descends into chaos, inchoate lethargy, and the fogs of the mind, enjoying temporary releases from lucidity, I am left with no rest, no refuge, no escape, and no pause from awareness. It's as if a diamond is lodged in my head, the unblinking eye of the clairvoyant.

“A white world outside. Clarity. Clarity. Recently I cannot bear the white expanse of my lucidities. Everyone else around me descends into chaos, inchoate lethargy, into fogs of the mind, temporary releases from lucidity. Some links, some bridges sustained and maintained by great effort are slipping from me. No rest, no refuge, no escape, no pause from awareness. A diamond lodged in the head, the unblinking eye of the clairvoyant.”

I've come to realize that the five-star system on this website doesn't quite work for some books. We've left the territory of "Anais is a little bit older than me" and entered an unknown realm. I don't recognize these new halls.

On one hand, this volume of the diary is shockingly mundane. It seems that Anais spent most of this book in one of three ways: either in Mexico, crafting exotic images while being completely blind to her own naïveté; despairing that her writing wasn't getting the recognition it deserved in the States; or out and about with her ever-changing circle of new friends and connections, who started to blur in my mind despite being interesting, I'm sure.

On the other hand, especially towards the end of the volume, following the death of her mother, I felt that a deep peace was settling around her. She says as much herself. She's back in analysis, this time with a female doctor, and believes she has finally left her neurosis behind. She finally returns to Paris and finds it less damaged than she feared. Henry Miller is happily painting watercolors in Big Sur. She has left June, Helba, Gonzalo, and all their endless troubles behind. She has ceased to need their little drama.

This work confounds a star-based rating system. As much as I want to give this book three stars for how boring it got in the middle, I also feel that I will read the next volume of the diary in a decade or two, and it will really mean something to me then. Just as this volume might have been more to me if I had heeded my confusion about Volume 4 and given the diaries a break.

The review is taken from my Instagram account: @descanto

When the composer Joaquín Nin abandoned the family, his little daughter Anaïs had to find a way to cope. She began to write a diary, which later became her precious recollection of the past and a memoir of things she couldn't express otherwise.

The journals of Anaïs Nin offer a real and raw portrayal of her life. They mainly deal with her complex relationships, such as her intense connection with Henry Miller, her infatuation with the flirtatious June Miller, and her strange liaison with Antonin Artaud. She also shares her experiences with famous psychoanalysts René Allendy and Otto Rank, commenting on how psychoanalysis made her more truthful and helped her realize certain feelings and childhood traumas, like her fear of being hurt, unwanted, and unloved.

Overall, the journals of Anaïs Nin are a great collection of writings that allow people to get to know her better. Some people highly praise these collections. Personally, I enjoy reading the first parts of the volumes. However, after reading the same old stories about Henry, Anaïs, and June over and over again, it starts to feel monotonous and boring. I also have the feeling that these journals were mostly censored or edited, which is a pity. When I read such diaries or journals, I expect to get a complete picture of the person.

This book has truly been a remarkable source of inspiration for me. It has opened my eyes to the beauty and wonder of life, and has taught me how to love it unconditionally.

Through its pages, I have learned to appreciate the simple pleasures that often go unnoticed in our busy lives. The author's words have touched my heart and have made me realize that life is a precious gift that should be cherished.

I have also discovered that loving life means being positive in the face of challenges and setbacks. It means having the courage to pursue our dreams and to never give up on ourselves.

This book has become my guide and my companion on this journey of life, and I am truly grateful for the lessons it has taught me. I will continue to apply these teachings in my daily life and will strive to love life to the fullest.

Astounding! What an experience I will never forget!

It was a moment that left me completely in awe. The events that unfolded were like a whirlwind of excitement and wonder.

From the very beginning, I knew this was going to be something special. The anticipation was palpable, and as the moments passed, it only grew stronger.

Every detail was etched in my memory, from the vibrant colors to the electrifying atmosphere. It was a sensory overload in the most wonderful way.

I found myself completely immersed in the experience, unable to tear my eyes away or stop the smile from spreading across my face.

Even now, as I look back on it, I can still feel the rush of emotions. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event that will stay with me forever.

Whether it was the breathtaking scenery, the thrilling activities, or the amazing people I met along the way, every aspect of this experience contributed to its astounding nature.

I am so grateful to have had this opportunity and will cherish the memories for a lifetime.

I discovered this book in the local bookstore. As a result, this became the first volume of her diaries that I perused. (I have also delved into parts of Delta of Venus, which didn't quite captivate me.) I am overjoyed to have unearthed it because it is effortlessly one of the most significant books I have ever encountered.

Aside from the fact that I would essentially do anything to possess her life, I idolize her descriptions and her mindset. She articulates such intricate emotions and ideas with remarkable conciseness, particularly when it pertains to life as an artist in the United States. She encounters so many fascinating individuals, and I have an enormous amount of respect for her (extremely!) romantic/humanistic outlooks. I am actively seeking out her other journals, and my own journal is now brimming with quotes from this very one.

This book has truly had a profound impact on me, and I can't wait to explore more of her writings. It has opened my eyes to a world of art, emotion, and human connection that I never knew existed. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in literature, art, or the human experience.

I have an unwavering love for Anaïs Nin. Her writing is an absolute masterpiece that flawlessly captures the very essence of what I feel deep within my heart.

Whenever I pick up her works, it's as if she has entered my soul and put into words all the emotions, thoughts, and desires that I struggle to express.

Her prose is like a gentle breeze that caresses my mind, taking me on a journey through a world of vivid imagery and profound insights.

She has this remarkable ability to describe the most complex human experiences with such simplicity and elegance that it leaves me in awe.

Anaïs Nin's writing is not just words on a page; it's a form of art that speaks directly to my soul and makes me feel understood and connected.

I will always cherish her works and be inspired by her unique way of seeing and expressing the world.

Reading her works is a pleasure in the broadest sense of the word.

In her words, my dear America and its biodiversity take on more color, flavor, and life. I am amazed by her love for writing and her sensibility towards art: painting, theater, music, etc. make the words in her works have a magical effect, a dreamlike effect.

It is revealing to know that when she read Virginia Woolf's diary, it did not arouse any emotion in her or push her to suicide. Instead, it inspired her to continue writing her own diaries. For me, Virginia Woolf inspired me to keep reading and reading, and perhaps even to write when I read "A Room of One's Own" and "Three Guineas". And she, Anaïs, enhances me as a woman, the most feminine and sensual one, and above all as an artistic individual. One never knows for whom one writes or what effect one can create on those who read one.

"Write, woman, don't stop doing it," said Virginia. "Create art with the heart, be free," said Anaïs. I will keep these words in mind!

I will continue with the diaries.