Under a Glass Bell

Anyone familiar with Nin knows she is one of THE most narcissistic authors of all time. Throughout each and every story, we get a feel each and every story HAS to relate to Nin in some way...its almost a book of staccato self-realization stories rather than pure fiction. It is almost silly at some times, all stories have the small heroine envying the larger-than-life male figure(s) and having a feeling of displacement. I recommend this book only if you are a Nin-lover and ready for some stories that could come from nowhere but her own pen (or typewriter).

Anais Nin did not adhere to the traditions of story-telling. Formulaic plots, character arcs, and realistic descriptions didn't interest her. She was a master of character analysis and description -- instead of watching her characters move through the story, you, as the reader, move through the characters. This was because Nin was experimenting with a new artistic movement called surrealism and she ended up being one of its brightest stars.Because of Edmund Wilson's favorable review (and he was, of course, the king of critics) this was the collection of stories that finally brought Nin's work to the attention of public. Her writing style is simply stunning. Imagine distilling a story, as one distills a liquid, down to the final crystals. Or creating a beautiful and poetic ritual out of something mundane (such as the Geisha's tea ceremony). I think my personal favorites in this collection are "Ragtime," an amazing description of the poverty-stricken rag-picking community in 1930s Paris, "The Mouse," about Nin's fearful maid, and "Birth," the now notorious story about Nin's abortion. Seem like ugly topics? You'd be amazed at how beautiful Nin can render them.It takes a sensitive reader to understand Anais Nin's writing, but if you are that, I think you will find value in these stories.

In this intoxicating collection of short stories, Anais Nin delves into the lush imagery of dreams. Her stories touch on issues we carry deep within our unconscious - ideas of ephemerality, sexual identity, experiences of childhood and many others.Her passion for "transmutation" is evident, as she blends a dream-like hyper-reality into incisive observations of the human experience. Whether exploring human suffering, the fields of memory or the awakenings of artisitc awareness, Nin's writing uncovers new layers of meaning. Her stories seem to glow with a sublime light.This is a slim book, but it begs several re-readings. It will draw you back, both for its excellent example of one woman's contribution to the modernist literary movement, and for its pure lyricism. Nin's imagery will haunt you long after you've turned the last page.