Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Henry and June: From A Journal of Love -The Unexpurgated Diary of Anais Nin by Anaïs Nin

4 reviews

maidinnah's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

2.5

My first foray into Anais Nin’s writing and I’m blown away by her beautiful prose that seems to just spill out on the page. I wish I was half as coherent in my narrative writing as she is in her diary entries. There were also some profound thoughts about gender, relationships, sexuality, and intimacy that challenge established societal expectations (even by today’s standards). 

Ultimately though, this book wasn’t for me. Although I know that Henry and June is meant to be unexpurgated diary entries, I think I would have enjoyed this book had it been much shorter. Note that I do feel weird about rating someone’s private thoughts — especially the lengthy, raw, and irrational ones. Sometimes those are the most valuable, because they encourage you to look deeply at your own. 
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jedore's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

2.5

“It isn’t strong women who make men weak, but weak men who make women over strong.”

I waited a couple of days to write this review just to make sure I wasn’t being rash in my conclusions.

Two days later, they remain exactly the same—this is one of the most annoying books I’ve ever read.

To be fair, connecting with a book is wholly dependent upon timing. I added this memoir to my reading list at a time when I was reclaiming my sexuality (that had been stolen from me by a conservative family and repressive society). Anaïs Nin, author of feminist literature and classic erotica, piqued my interest. If I would have read it then, there’s a very good chance I wouldn’t have gotten so annoyed and would have rated it much higher. I remember wholeheartedly believing in some of the same justifications she espouses in the book. But, I read it at 56, when my brief polygamist phase is but a distant memory, I have evolved significantly, and I can recognize exactly what I am reading.

From beginning to end, the pages of this diary were covered with the emotionally indulgent blathering of a young woman absolutely overwhelmed by her daddy issues. She takes self-absorbency to epic proportions and is absolutely clueless as to her complete misunderstanding of the true meaning and experience of love. Her primary paramour (of many), the author Henry Miller, was no better.

To make matters worse, practically the entire book builds up to a certain event and said event is barely discussed before the book bluntly ends. Annoying.

I seriously considered adding this to my DNF list after just a couple of chapters, but it’s literary significance made me stay the course. Glad that’s over and done with!
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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

2.0

 Henry and June has been complied from Anais Nin’s diaries and centres on her relationship with the novelist Henry Miller and his wife June, as well as her relationship with her husband. It was not for me. It read like the diary of self-absorbed teenager but with a lot more explicit sex. I’m all for consenting adults doing whatever they please (so long as they are not hurting anyone else) and am definitely in favour of women fulfilling their sexual desires. I just don’t enjoy reading about it. 
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geesammy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

Beautiful, seductive, alluring prose. Sensual, erotic, a bit disturbing.  An exploration of what it means to be a woman and the various facets of love
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