Hilarious!

This short piece is truly a gem. It's probably the best thing I've read by Nabokov so far. The way he crafts his words is simply brilliant. Each sentence is filled with wit and charm, making it impossible to put down.

Nabokov has this unique ability to create a world that is both absurd and yet strangely believable. His characters are vividly drawn, and their actions and dialogues are sure to make you laugh out loud.

Whether you're a die-hard Nabokov fan or just someone looking for a good laugh, this article is definitely worth a read. It's a testament to Nabokov's genius as a writer and will leave you eagerly anticipating his next work.

When we speak of a vivid individual recollection, we are indeed paying a compliment not merely to our own capacity of retention. Instead, it is a tribute to Mnemosyne's mysterious foresight. She has stored up this or that element, which the creative imagination may desire to use when combining it with later recollections and inventions. In this sense, both memory and imagination can be seen as a negation of time. They have the power to transcend the boundaries of the present and bring together different moments and experiences.

Strong Opinions? That's an understatement, Nabokov! I would have given this book a higher rating, but I simply cannot accept any slander directed at Sartre. You can call Freud a Viennese witch doctor all you like, but don't come for La Nausée. Sartre's work is a profound exploration of the human condition, and it deserves to be respected and appreciated. Nabokov's views may be interesting and thought-provoking, but they should not come at the expense of other great thinkers.

An Eclectic Collection Tailored for Sycophants

This unique collection is truly a haven for those who can be described as sycophants. It offers a rather peculiar range of items that are sure to pique the interest of a particular kind of ideal reader. This ideal reader is not your ordinary individual. In fact, they have an almost obsessive desire to capture a certain, perhaps elusive, smell from VN's discarded toiletries and bottled bathwater. It's as if these items hold some sort of mysterious allure for them. The collection seems to be carefully curated to meet the strange and specific needs of this niche group. Whether it's the remnants of a once-used soap or the essence trapped within a bottle of bathwater, each item is part of this eclectic assemblage that caters to the rather unusual tastes of the sycophantic ideal reader.

I really liked the part with the interview. As for the rest, I just skimmed through it with my eyes.

There are really, really a lot of details that will only be understandable and interesting to the connoisseurs of Nabokov, his work and creativity, which I am not. But this did not prevent me from finding many thoughts and ideas for myself that made me stop and think.

The article seems to be a detailed exploration of Nabokov's works and his creative process. The interview part might have provided some unique insights and perspectives. However, for those who are not well-versed in Nabokov's works, some of the details might seem overwhelming or difficult to grasp.

Nevertheless, the article still managed to convey some interesting and thought-provoking ideas that could appeal to a wider audience. It shows that even if one is not an expert in a particular field, there is still value in exploring and learning about it.

Overall, the article offers a mix of in-depth analysis and accessible ideas, making it an interesting read for both Nabokov enthusiasts and those who are simply curious about his works.

DNF (Dungeon & Fighter) is a popular online game. Currently, I have reached about 20 percent in the game. However, for some reasons, I have to stop playing for now.

But I'm sure that I will continue playing it some day in the future. The game has many interesting features and challenges that attract me a lot.

I enjoy exploring different dungeons, fighting against various monsters, and upgrading my character. Although I have to take a break now, I believe that when I come back, I will be able to make more progress and have more fun in the game.

I'm looking forward to that day when I can continue my adventure in DNF.

The Eccentric Creator as… a Jerk.

I have already mentioned on the occasion of reading other works of the eccentric writer the basic points and parameters that exist in his work. This particular book contains the interviews that he gave from time to time, through which he clarifies (;;) his views regarding his work, art in general and perhaps his life as a writer.

As a first encounter, it can serve as an incentive for someone to engage further with his work. Personally, having already read some things, I cannot say that it added much more to what was already known.

And here, let me be allowed a little mischief. The image that someone will get from these interviews cannot be entirely positive. Yes, we are inclined towards the eccentricity of the Creator, but we cannot help but stop here, at the examples of character that become evident through his words.

We start with the memorable feeling, which is not only, let's say, self-centered, that is, it does not only concern the value of himself - Namokov - but is at the same time… outwardly focused, towards other colleagues, who are at the center of his criticism, in a condescending, ironic, sometimes offensive way. For the few writers he admires, he has some positive comments. For the many others, he simply oozes poison or, better yet, he ostentatiously ignores them.

Subsequently, the irony and often the rudeness, especially in questions that his Highness does not consider worthy of his mind, so he either avoids answering or his answers are… circuitous. Specifically, one of his answers impressed me: When he did not feel that the question was obviously about him, he took the opportunity to point out some corrections in the text of one of his works that the publisher had overlooked! Not at all offensive to the questioner… (presumably the latter was prepared).

The fact that you admire the work of a writer, that you are inclined towards his eccentricity, does not mean that you do the same for the person behind the pen. Besides, Namokov himself would never have such a claim and would despise the admiration or the devaluation of others, of the many. In the final analysis, Art remains when the Creator disappears. How much more so when this one is, according to an American journalist… a "jerk".

https://fotiskblog.home.blog/2019/11/...

Snobbish? Perhaps. Outrageous? Maybe. But also self-aware, brilliantly nuanced, and likely painfully boring for those who don't already know and love at least some of Nabokov's fiction.

His unwavering belief in the superiority of good art over bad, of true intellects over what he perceives as mediocrities, and of story-telling over politically based fiction is presented with stinging barbs. These barbs are delightful to dissect, even when one doesn't necessarily agree with them.

For people who find Nabokov's aesthetic, approach, and opinions interesting, and I would mainly include in that group anyone who liked Speak, Memory, this is truly great stuff. It offers a unique perspective on art, literature, and the world of ideas.

Whether you love or hate Nabokov, you can't deny the impact his works have had on the literary landscape. His writing is both challenging and rewarding, inviting readers to engage with his complex ideas and brilliant prose.

So, if you're looking for something that will make you think, something that will push the boundaries of your literary taste, then give Nabokov a try. You might just be surprised at what you discover.

I read it to the end, but I understood much earlier that the person who wrote this was not to my liking. And since the book consists of interviews, letters and articles, it is difficult to separate the impression of the book from the impression of the author, the person.

Nevertheless, there was a lot that was interesting in it.

The various perspectives and stories presented in the interviews and letters provided a unique insight into different aspects of life.

The articles also covered a wide range of topics, some of which were thought-provoking and引发了我的思考.

Despite my initial dislike for the author, I found myself engaged with the content of the book and gained some valuable knowledge and perspectives from it.

In conclusion, while my personal impression of the author may have influenced my overall perception of the book, I cannot deny that it contained many interesting and worthwhile elements.

A valid collection of interviews and testimonials has been gathered to obtain a portrait of the charming character that Nabokov was.

However, given the volume of the text, inevitably some passages have turned out to be repetitive and at times redundant.

Nevertheless, the reading is still appreciable.

It offers valuable insights into Nabokov's life, his thoughts, and his creative process.

Despite the drawbacks of repetition, the overall collection provides a comprehensive view of this remarkable individual.

The interviews and testimonials capture his unique personality and his contributions to the literary world.

Readers can gain a deeper understanding of Nabokov's works and the man behind them through this collection.

Overall, it is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Nabokov or in gaining a better understanding of the literary landscape of his time.

The first half of this conversation record is somewhat interesting, but the repetition rate is relatively high.

The letters to the editor and polemical articles in the second half are basically meaningless to ordinary readers decades later.

"All that I need of Russia has always accompanied me: literature, language, and my own childhood spent in Russia. I will never return home. I will never surrender... My wish is not excessive. The portrait of the head of government should not exceed the size of a postage stamp."

This work seems to have its own unique charm and value in certain aspects, but also has some limitations. It reflects the author's thoughts and feelings at that time, as well as the social and cultural background of that era.

However, for modern readers, some of the content may seem a bit outdated or difficult to understand. Nevertheless, it still has certain historical and cultural significance and can help us better understand the past.

Meh...

Here come the rants of a pompous man. He seems to think that his every word is a gem of wisdom that the world should eagerly lap up. With an air of superiority, he goes on and on about his supposed achievements and how everyone else pales in comparison.

His voice booms through the room, as if he is addressing a crowd of admirers. But in reality, those around him are simply tolerating his self-important tirades. He fails to see the eye rolls and suppressed sighs from those who are forced to listen.

This pompous man is so wrapped up in his own ego that he is blind to the fact that his rants are nothing more than a turn-off. Instead of赢得 respect, he is only alienating those who could have potentially been his allies or friends. It's truly a pity to see someone so full of themselves and yet so unaware of the negative impact they are having on others.

Perhaps one day, this pompous man will realize the error of his ways and learn to be a little more humble. But until then, we can only endure his rants and hope that he eventually sees the light.

I took a quick look at the first sentence of the foreword that Nabokov penned for this volume - "I think like a genius, I write like a distinguished author, and I speak like a child." - and promptly moved the book to the very top of my TBR pile. It was definitely not a wrong decision. Each and every page of this mostly-interview collection was an absolute delight.

Even as I couldn't help but shake my head at Nabokov's renowned arrogance, I was still charmed by his ability to craft such delicious sentences while remaining both hilarious and deeply insightful throughout. His opinions were indeed strong. But Nabokov has truly given me a great deal to ponder about the artist's sensibility and goals.

For example, when it comes to the literary virtues one should strive to attain and how to achieve them, he said, "Mustering the best words, with every available lexical, associative, and rhythmic assistance, to express as closely as possible what one wants to express." And when asked whom he writes for and what audience he has in mind, he replied, "I don't think that an artist should bother about his audience. His best audience is the person he sees in his shaving mirror every morning. I think that the audience an artist imagines, when he imagines that kind of a thing, is a room filled with people wearing his own mask."

When it came to the question of why he wrote LOLITA, he simply said, "It was an interesting thing to do. Why did I write any of my books, after all? For the sake of the pleasure, for the sake of the difficulty. I have no social purpose, no moral message; I've no general ideas to exploit, I just like composing riddles with elegant solutions." He was a smart man and a mesmerizing stylist, and this book was truly fantastic and enjoyable.

NOTE - In my recent Goodreads' review of Nabokov's ADA, I made a mistake. I stated that my brother Dave spilled a Mountain Dew on Nabokov's pants at a lepidopterist conference in Montreux in 1976. In fact, the beverage was actually a Mr. Pibb. I deeply regret this error.