Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Lolita
Book Review: Astounding Command of the English Language
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an amazing book. As I read it, I realized how powerful language can be, because Nabokov bedazzles you with his story. You feel yourself going along with his main character's opinions/justifications as he ingratiates himself in Delores' mother's life, seduces Delores.... even when you know that what he's doing is wrong/illegal/unethical.
Most people can't write this well in their FIRST language. From what I understand, English is Nabakov's third!
Be prepared to be disturbed by this story, even as you wonder at how well it's told. After reading, I started to understand how people can be led astray by charletons.
Book Review: BETTER THAN THE GREAT MOVIE
Summary: 5 Stars
JEREMY IRONS IS MY FAVORITE ACTOR. THE BOOK WAS SUPERIOR TO THE MOVIE BECAUSE OF NABOKOV'S PROSEBook Review: Essential Reading
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the best books I have ever read. Nabokov writes great prose, and actually twists your mind into thinking what Humbert is doing is not really all that wrong. It makes you sick, but you start to feel for Humbert. It's a fantastic read, even if you think you already know the story, or if you've seen one of the movies. This is am amazing book, one that I would recommend to everyone.Book Review: Essential reading! Must read!
Summary: 5 Stars
Lolita, is a story of the young nymphet, Dolores (Lolita) Haze, and her seducer, Humbert Humbert. There were 2 movie remakes of this masterful novel (both I have not yet had a chance to see). I believe that Nabokov's writing in Lolita is masterful and a must read if you are ready to be bedazzled.
The main character, Humbert Humbert has an obsession with young preteen girls between the age of nine and fourteen, nymphets as he calls them. He ends up marrying Dolores Haze's mother, becoming the girl's sole guardian, traveling across the country with her, losing her. It is a tragic love story between a forty year-old man and pubescent girl.
When I first acknowledge the backbone of this book, I, myself thought it was disturbing, however after reading it Nabokov have artistically humanizes his characters. Even if it was revolting, however, I felt very connected to character, almost feeling sorry for Humbert. Overall, I found this book sad and amusing. Nabokov has masterfully mixed tragedy and comedy in Lolita.
Book Review: Fifty years old, but still a breath of fresh air
Summary: 5 Stars
Lolita is the greatest American novel i have ever read, and it was written by a guy for whom English was a third language. Nabokov masterfully seduces the reader with the florrid tongue of the monstrous Humbert Humbert. The prose is simply remarkable. The author, in his meticulously concieved English Professor persona, lays out one intricate metaphor after another, brilliant wordplay in every line. His choice of wordage is so utterly perfect that i found myself constantly thinking that i had never before heard the English language used in this way. He uses phrases so witty that i would continuously pause my reading to dissect and appreciate the craftsmanship. Perhaps, for Nabokov, imbibing the language at a mature age allowed the adoption of such exquisitely strange writing. Reading Lolita is like hearing Debussy for the first time, or viewing a painting by Picasso after being accustomed only to classical art.
Humbert Humbert is potentially the greatest literary creation of the 20th Century. He is the snake in the garden of good and evil; a vain and enigmatic character with whom you will sympathise, through no choice of your own. The book, written from his first-person perspective, will shock you, not with its own content, but with your own reaction. You will find yourself condoning, even agreeing with, Humbert's hideous actions. He is one of the most repugnant persons in literature, but you will grow to like him. That, perhaps, is the greatest genius of Nabokov's novel: it forces us to look at ourselves, and see just how much of Humbert is within.