The Diary of Anaïs Nin #3

The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 3: 1939-1944

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This candid volume from the renowned diarist covers her years of struggle, and eventual triumph, as an author in America during World War II.

348 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1969

About the author

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Writer and diarist, born in Paris to a Catalan father and a Danish mother, Anaïs Nin spent many of her early years with Cuban relatives. Later a naturalized American citizen, she lived and worked in Paris, New York and Los Angeles. Author of avant-garde novels in the French surrealistic style and collections of erotica, she is best known for her life and times in The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Volumes I-VII (1966-1980).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ana%C3%...

Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 75 votes)
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75 reviews All reviews
July 14,2025
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Eh, it's a diary. She repeats herself a lot.

It seems that in this diary, the author has a tendency to go over the same points again and again. Maybe she is really passionate about certain topics or experiences, which leads to her repeating herself.

However, this repetition can also make the diary a bit monotonous. It might be better if she could vary her表达方式 and explore different aspects of the same subject.

On the other hand, the repetition could also be a sign of her deep thinking and reflection. By repeating certain ideas, she is perhaps trying to solidify them in her mind or gain a better understanding.

Overall, while the repetition in the diary is noticeable, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing. It could be a unique feature of the author's writing style or a way for her to express her thoughts and feelings more deeply.
July 14,2025
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The first steps towards freedom are defiant and awkward.

They are like the unsteady gait of a newborn learning to walk. Defiance fuels the determination to break free from the constraints that have held one back. It is the refusal to accept the status quo and the bold decision to chart a new course.

However, these initial steps are often awkward. There is a lack of experience and confidence, and one may stumble and make mistakes along the way. But it is through these awkward moments that growth and learning occur.

Each step, no matter how clumsy, brings one closer to the goal of freedom. It is a journey filled with challenges and uncertainties, but it is also a journey that holds the promise of a brighter future.

So, embrace the defiance and the awkwardness, for they are the building blocks of a life lived in freedom.
July 14,2025
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The story progresses as Anais relocates to New York for the war period.

What I truly cherish in this is her friendships with women. There's the delicate and charming actress Luise Rainier, the courageous individualist bookseller Frances Steloff of the Gotham Book Mart, and the surrealist patrons, the millionairesses Caresse Crosby and Peggy Guggenheim.

I adored witnessing how her disappointment in publishing "Winter of Artifice" with a commercial publisher doesn't lead to her downfall. Instead, it prompts her to buy a printing press. With the help of the handsome and tenacious Gonzalo, she prints the book herself. It sells through the Gotham Book Mart to collectors, providing a practical example for today's concerns regarding the dematerialization of printed works.

Will the book itself revert to being a collector's item, beautifully printed and bound, crafted only for the select few?

I love the abundance of thoughts about men and women, about prose and poetry... It's like a bolt of silk that continuously unfolds, revealing more and more fascinating aspects.
July 14,2025
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Shocking when I first read it.

It was truly a moment that left me in a state of disbelief. The words on the page seemed to jump out at me, hitting me with a force I wasn't expecting.

I couldn't help but reread the passage several times, trying to fully comprehend the magnitude of what I was reading.

The details were so vivid and the implications so profound that it felt as if a bomb had gone off in my mind.

I found myself sitting there, stunned, for what felt like an eternity.

It was a moment that would stay with me, forever etching itself into my memory.

Even now, as I think back on that initial reading, I can still feel the shock coursing through me.

It was a powerful experience that made me realize the impact that words can have.

And it served as a reminder that sometimes, the truth can be more shocking than we ever imagined.

July 14,2025
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Qué envidia me dan todos los que la conocieron.

It makes me so envious of all those who knew her.

I can't help but imagine the wonderful experiences they must have had with her.

Maybe they shared countless laughter and deep conversations.

They might have witnessed her unique charm and kindness.

I wonder what it would have been like to be a part of her life.

To have been there when she smiled, when she cried, when she achieved something great.

The thought of all the memories they have with her makes my heart ache with envy.

But at the same time, it also makes me appreciate the value of those who are in my life now.

I know that I should cherish every moment with them and create my own beautiful memories.

Because in the end, it's the people we know and the experiences we share that truly matter.

July 14,2025
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Lots of thoughts on this one. It seems to be a topic that has really piqued my interest and got my mind racing. There are so many different angles and aspects that I want to explore and discuss. However, at the moment, my head is a bit congested, perhaps due to a lack of sleep or too much going on. But I promise that as soon as I can clear my mind and think more clearly, I will sit down and write out all the details. I'm looking forward to delving deeper into this and sharing my thoughts and ideas with you all. Stay tuned!

July 14,2025
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Her writing is always exquisitely beautiful, brimming with imagination that knows no bounds, and possessing an alluring charm that is, for some mysterious reason, peculiarly personal to me. She is, by a wide margin, my most cherished writer. Her words have the power to resonate directly with the very core of my soul.

This work offered a profound insight into her, presenting a magical concept, a realm that was entirely her own, and I was utterly enamored by it. At certain moments, it did seem to drag on a bit: with ruminations about various individuals, needless thoughts that meandered, and letters that were somewhat challenging to place in context. However, throughout the entire piece, there was a distinct voice, a voice of breathtaking beauty, of unfettered freedom, and of love that had the ability to liberate something deep within me.

I was particularly captivated by the part she dedicated to guilt (pages 259 - 260), and her fear of being abandoned by those she loved in an expression of strength. It was truly beautiful. In fact, every aspect of it was beautiful.

July 14,2025
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Usually, Nin's writing is not my personal favorite. However, in this particular case, it was incredibly interesting and poetic. I read it in Polish, which was the first book I had read in a good few months. This might explain why I found it a little hard to fully get into the book and feel excited by it. The writing was beautiful, but sometimes the floweriness of it made the book drag.


Perhaps if I had read it in my native language, I would have been able to better appreciate the nuances and subtleties of Nin's prose. Nevertheless, there were still many aspects of the book that I found engaging. The story was unique and the characters were well-developed. I also liked the way Nin used language to create a vivid and atmospheric world.


Overall, while I may not have loved this book as much as some others, I still think it was worth reading. It gave me a new perspective on Nin's writing and allowed me to experience a different culture through literature. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in exploring new authors and languages.

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