Amanda Quraishi reviewed Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
One of the best books I've ever read.
5 stars
This is an absolute masterpiece.
Paperback, 364 pages
Published Jan. 1, 2000 by Iletisim Yayinevi.
This is an absolute masterpiece.
Listen even if you fundamentally disagree with this book, you should probably still read it, even if only not to make a ack-jass out of yourself when you try to explain why it's the worst ever actually. BUT! If you think this book is really cool and romantic actually you should probably still read it even if only to really double check on what Dolores Haze is actually doing/saying and maybe dont listen to everything Humbert Humbert says?? (Talking to you Vanity Fair).
Beautiful, poetic writing but an abhorrent theme and a detestable main character
Who with children lies, in a soaked bed wakes.
Disturbing and gripping. I was surprised to find reference to Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee in Nabokov's banned work. Overall, a unique story on a deranged man and a tragic childhood.
Really underwhelmed by this "classic" there were a few times it got interesting but most of the time it was full of waffle written by an author showing off that he had his own copy of a thesaurus.
I really struggled to get past of all those pointlessly big words, what helped was the boring part in the middle describing in minute detail the journey he takes with Lolita. The last third of the book was really good, it was enjoyable reading everything unravel for HH.
As for the subject matter I was expecting to be uncomfortable having two daughters myself, but it was written in a way that you don't see a child, more a young woman.
This one goes onto the pile "I made it the end and ain't gonna recommend this ever!"
Read this so long ago. I still don't read French, otherwise I might value it more highly.
I just got done reading this book for at least the second time (quite possibly the third, who can remember?) and I'm going to let the 4 star rating stand. This is a very good book, difficult at times, beautiful imagery, poetic, yes funny too, believe it or not but I feel it suffers from a few flaws. Namely, it get's kind of long winded and boring at times. There is no respite from Humbert Humbert, no character development, since it is Humbert's tale, everything is processed through his deluded mind, and that wears thin after a while. Obsessions are like that, rarely as interesting to the outsider no matter how you dress it up. Humbert's sense of superiority then complete self loathing just grates on one's nerves. The language is beautiful yes, but at the end of the day I read for the story and the story gets old …
I just got done reading this book for at least the second time (quite possibly the third, who can remember?) and I'm going to let the 4 star rating stand. This is a very good book, difficult at times, beautiful imagery, poetic, yes funny too, believe it or not but I feel it suffers from a few flaws. Namely, it get's kind of long winded and boring at times. There is no respite from Humbert Humbert, no character development, since it is Humbert's tale, everything is processed through his deluded mind, and that wears thin after a while. Obsessions are like that, rarely as interesting to the outsider no matter how you dress it up. Humbert's sense of superiority then complete self loathing just grates on one's nerves. The language is beautiful yes, but at the end of the day I read for the story and the story gets old and then even somewhat preposterous. The writer takes the ugliest subject one can imagine, uses exceptional skill to make the experience almost enjoyable, makes the reader feel some small shred of compassion for the main character against one's will... that's why I'm giving it 4 stars.