Anais Nin?

[freemonkey]

Believe it or not, I have never read anything she's written. A friend suggested I do. But where to start? In looking for her "Diaries", I find volumes 1, 2, 3 etc., then I see "the Early Diaries", 1, 2 and so on. Then I find "Fire", "Henry & June" (which I bought used today for $4), etc., which have dates that match the other volumes. Are some books taken from different diaries? Or are they, "Henry & June", for instance, edited to cover only their subject matter?

I'm confused, where should I start? Is it OK to start near the middle? (My library has some, but not all of the "Diaries").

P.S. How is her name pronounced?

[viscousmemories]

My first exposure to Anais (ah-nye-ees) was the movie, Henry and June, which was based on the book, which is excerpted from her diaries. Then I read some of her erotica (Delta of Venus and Little Birds) and then a couple volumes of her diaries (I own a couple, anyway... have only skimmed them). Most recently I purchased A Literate Passion, which is a collection of correspondence between her and Henry Miller. A must for any fan of either of them and/or anyone who is passionate about writing. Although I haven't read that whole book either. Actually I find her writing so deep and beautiful and amazing I literally can't handle big bites of it.

Anyway sorry if that's not at all useful, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. :)

[pescifish]

P.S. How is her name pronounced?As vm writes, I've usually heard it as "ah-nye-eese"

I haven't read any of her works since Jr. High through college, but I believe I started with her diaries, then probably In Favor of the Sensitive Man and I have copies of the two erotica works vm mentioned. Since it was so long ago and all I have left is the richness of my overall impressions, I couldn't guess what is the best to start with.

I would say some of her sensual imagery hit and stuck all these years. I can't see or hear of Malibu without thinking of "evil owl".

Also, I think I can credit her (and my immersion in science fiction) during those formative years for never getting sucked into the traditional fairy tale (school, job, engage, marry, house, kids, etc.) concept of lifestyle and romantic/sexual love.

[Petra]

Hey, I just noticed this thread while looking for my "Wha'cha listenin' to" thread. :)

Zoe's middle name is Anais, after Anais Nin. I think her writing is poetry, and so sensuous. In fact, Zoe's dad and I may not have gotten together if it weren't for Anais Nin. We were both sitting at the Happy Bar (our local in Noorwijkerhout, Holland), at the bar, both reading after work while having a pint. We vaguely knew each other through parties and other people, and so the usually shy Richie asked me what I was reading. I was reading Delta of Venus and was almost finished it. He was reading A Spy in the House of Love and was almost finished it. Later in the evening we swapped books. A week or two later, we were shagging; and continued to shag for a couple of years after that. So, I have Anais Nin to thank for giving me Zoe. :D

Is there any particular book I would recommend of hers? Well, I say ALL OF THEM! Although, perhaps save her Journals for last, and start with the above two, plus Little Birds, Journal of a Wife, In Favour of the Sensitive Man, and Henry and June.

Enjoy!