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Rating: 
Summary: A respectable effort, marred by odd editorial approach
Review: ANAIS: THE EROTIC LIFE OF ANAIS NIN is a respectable effort. It contains many interesting tidbits that I'd never seen in any other Nin biography. Unfortunately, however, I haven't finished reading ANAIS: THE EROTIC LIFE OF ANAIS NIN, despite the fact that I've had it for seven months now. The author's use of the present tense throughout is nearly infuriating. It robs this work of a true time continuum, which I believe is paramount in a biography of a woman who lived over 70 years, on two continents, with two husbands (at the same time). It gives the impression that author Noel Riley Fitch is trying to be suspenseful. It's quite puzzling why she would want to present her work in such an amateurish manner. Whatever the reason for the strange editorial approach, it just doesn't work. It's annoying. And it's a shame, because there really is a lot of promise here. There are enough interesting pieces of information in this book to make me think that it really could've been a first rate biography (for example, I found out that a former acquaintance, Eugene Monick, author of PHALLOS: SACRED IMAGE OF THE MASCULINE, knew Anais Nin [Monick and I lost touch years ago, unfortunately]). The pervasive present tense use, however, ensures that ANAIS: THE EROTIC LIFE OF ANAIS NIN is best suited only for those heavily interested in Anais Nin. I suspect that only the diehard Anais Nin aficionados would have the patience to deal with this book. I, of course, am one such diehard. And so this book sits on my shelf ... every few weeks I pick it up, find an interesting passage, get frustrated after two paragraphs, and put it back on my shelf. This ritual will probably continue until at some point, a few years down the line, I've finally finished the thing. Andrew Parodi
Rating: 
Summary: a difficult biography of a difficult writer
Review: Granted, Anais Nin, having spent her life veiling and concealing truths, is a most difficult individual to research. This fact, however, offers no excuse for the writing style of this book. The use of the present tense serves to obscure the meaning of references to the present day. In the text, does "today," mean the year being discussed, or the year of writing? In additon, Fitch mercilessly peppers a paragraph with names, only to use an imprecise pronoun in attributing a quotation. Who was it that said that again? Random comparasions to other writers, (i.e. anne Sexton) spring up in one sentence, neither led up to nor substantiated. Bare facts are laid down side by side with purple prose and phrasal flights of fantasy.
In short, the self-consciousness, name-dropping, and obscuring of facts makes this book only slightly less obsfucating than the writing of Nin herself.
Rating:
Summary: a difficult biography of a difficult writer
Review: Granted, Anais Nin, having spent her life veiling and concealing truths, is a most difficult individual to research. This fact, however, offers no excuse for the writing style of this book. The use of the present tense serves to obscure the meaning of references to the present day. In the text, does "today," mean the year being discussed, or the year of writing? In additon, Fitch mercilessly peppers a paragraph with names, only to use an imprecise pronoun in attributing a quotation. Who was it that said that again? Random comparasions to other writers, (i.e. anne Sexton) spring up in one sentence, neither led up to nor substantiated. Bare facts are laid down side by side with purple prose and phrasal flights of fantasy.
In short, the self-consciousness, name-dropping, and obscuring of facts makes this book only slightly less obsfucating than the writing of Nin herself.
Rating: 
Summary: All is True in the Mind
Review: I agree that this is not the best biography of Anais Nin. Yet, we have to realize that she is not the easiest person to write a book about. I admire Noel Riley Fitch for attempting. I love reading about Anais--she was an amazing woman. And I think she knew more about the TRUTH then we think she did. She created atmosphere and breathable relationships. This biography tells of her friends and enemies alike---her success and failures.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly Delicious
Review: This book is a thoroughly delicious read for the Nin fan. Noel Riley Fitch's fine scholarship, deft analysis, and solid writing make vivid what is surely one of the most fascinating lives of the 20th century. As the title indicates, this books focuses on Nin's love/sex life, but it uses all available diaries and fictional works to piece together what can sometimes be a real puzzle. And, unlike the biography by Deirdre Bair, Ms. Fitch has an obvious affection, admiration, and appreciation for Nin which does not compromise the objectivity of her analysis. The one possible problem in Fitch's analysis is that she makes the presumption that Nin was physically violated by her father. There is no doubt whatsoever that Nin was emotionally abused by the man, but Fitch is the first to suggest actual sexual molestation. Though she makes an excellent case for this possibility, her daring thesis caused a bit of an uproar amongst Nin's family and close friends who believe Fitch played fast and loose with the facts. I can understand their concern; it is a serious thing to accuse someone of such a crime. Still, Fitch's argument is so compelling that I don't believe it can be easily overlooked. For anyone interested in understanding Anais Nin, this book posits a provocative theory while also pulling together the facts of her life.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly Delicious
Review: This book is a thoroughly delicious read for the Nin fan. Noel Riley Fitch's fine scholarship, deft analysis, and solid writing make vivid what is surely one of the most fascinating lives of the 20th century. As the title indicates, this books focuses on Nin's love/sex life, but it uses all available diaries and fictional works to piece together what can sometimes be a real puzzle. And, unlike the biography by Deirdre Bair, Ms. Fitch has an obvious affection, admiration, and appreciation for Nin which does not compromise the objectivity of her analysis. The one possible problem in Fitch's analysis is that she makes the presumption that Nin was physically violated by her father. There is no doubt whatsoever that Nin was emotionally abused by the man, but Fitch is the first to suggest actual sexual molestation. Though she makes an excellent case for this possibility, her daring thesis caused a bit of an uproar amongst Nin's family and close friends who believe Fitch played fast and loose with the facts. I can understand their concern; it is a serious thing to accuse someone of such a crime. Still, Fitch's argument is so compelling that I don't believe it can be easily overlooked. For anyone interested in understanding Anais Nin, this book posits a provocative theory while also pulling together the facts of her life.
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