Lolita isn't about murder. Lolita isn't about obsession. Lolita isn't about madness. Lolita isn't even about pedophilia or abuse.

Sure those elements are there, but there's skin on the outside of my body, and I can tell you that my largest organ is not what I am about. The same is true for Lolita.

Lolita is a game. It's a chess match by a Russian master. It's an intellectual exercise by a genius. It's an experiment in reader manipulation that's hypothesis is born out. It's references upon references upon references upon references, and it requires multiple PhDs to fully understand (which I know I don't, but I keep trying).

It is one of the greatest novels in the English language and everyone should read it, but if you let yourself be fooled by any of those things that Lolita is not about, Nabokov will have beaten you without a fight, and you won't be doing the master or his book any justice.

I'm probably going to say what a million readers have already said about this book: "Its language is entrancing and gorgeous."

It's got to be one of the most imminently quotable of all books, but what I think is most notable is its subtle commentary skewering the society we all know. The satire feels entirely unintentional and incidental against Humbert's machinations and obsessions with little girls and his special nymphette.

I was initially thrilled by Nabokov's facility by language and horrified by the subject, and that didn't really change for most of the book, but then something else started happening to my brain. The mutual seduction of a twelve-year old girl had suddenly moved beyond my outrage to a dumbstruck and almost clinical detachment, watching the tumultuous living arrangements of this father and his step-daughter as they traveled around the country and briefly attempted to settle down in a quiet town instead of hopping the border, watching it degenerate as the pressure of a confused and immature girl learns to play all the strings of Humbert's bow, and he lets her because he is ultimately so damn weak and drunk on possessiveness and mindless jealous rages, never once seeing the little girl for who she was or truly acknowledging that she was desperately unhappy despite moments of returned passion littered with her despoiled self-worth.

From Lolita's story, it was more than just the end of innocence. It was the indoctrination of a woman by the sick standards of all men, turning her into nothing but a whore turning tricks in order to survive. Humbert was trapped by his own desires, sure, and blind to anything but his own passions, but he only barely recognized what he was truly doing to her. No matter how many movies or plush hotels they frequented, no matter how many gifts he gave, he never understood that true understanding might have been the real key to her heart. (And I say this, regardless of the sickening subject of child molestation. It is only one side, and a truly sensational one in the horrific sense, but Nabokov's genius lay in telling equally important tales within this singular novel that transcended the hook.)

I truly believe that this story does an excellent job of pointing out exactly how perverse our world is, that we can accept such a mode of thinking as perfectly normal in such lesser doses, that the need to possess something or someone so uniquely and rapturously, can be easily carried to further extremes, such as carrying the rule of law, the continued subjugation of women, or even men by their own stunted ability to think or break free of all the things they understand to be right and just in a society so damn sick in its heart that I just want to cry and cry and cry.

Okay. This was a pretty effective novel on many more levels, but this is what I'm leaving this review on.

This novel is bleak and disturbing. The only way I got through it is because I was listening to Jeremy Irons perform it, and he was amazing as Humbert. Yes, the book is clever and well-written, but the story is so sad I never want to read it again.

Update
I got so depressed reading this book (I was thinking about how damaged the poor girl would be, about what a monster Humbert was, and even the sadness of his acknowledgement that his attraction to the nymphets was so fleeting that he dreaded the girls getting older), and my husband shared with me an article he found on the true case that inspired Nabokov to write Lolita. Reading the article made me appreciate Nabokov more, but I still don't love the novel.

Article: "The Real Lolita"
http://penguinrandomhouse.ca/hazlitt/...

Nope not for me. The verbiage is great. The story is unique. I just couldn't deal with this book, it's a very cringe worthy read.

Nabokov himself said that this novel was his best. I still have to read the others but I agree when critics say that this is one of the best English novels ever. For me, the reason is the irony of having a very sick theme - pedophilia - but told brilliantly that you would fall in love with the book and you don't readily really know why.

From the famous opening statement: "Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta:..." up to his closing statements "I am thinking of aurochs and angels, the secret of durable pigment, prophetic sonnets, the refuge of art. And this is the only immortality you and I may share, my Lolita", Nabokov filled up the 300+ pps of this book with his captivating narrative. His choice of words is precise and never boring. The rhythm and cadence of his sentences are invigorating which I think is distinctively Nabokov. This as opposed to let's say the short and concise yet picturesque narrative of Ernest Hemingway in The Old Man and The Sea. When you read a page of a book by Hemingway or Gabriel Garcia Marquez, even without looking at the book's cover, you would right away know who the author is. This is true for Nabokov, I think.

I am a father of a 14-year old girl and I just could not imagine having a man, especially a middle age one, lusting and going after her when she was still 12 years old. Just that for a plot and it is enough for me to immediately drop the book. According to Wikipedia, at the time of its writing, Nabokov was trying to make a name for himself as a writer in the US. He was born in Russia, stayed and wrote in Germany and France before finally moving to the US. He wrote Lolita very carefully and it took him two years writing and re-writing the book. It is the only one of the few novels that is included almost in all Best Novels Lists: 1001, 501, Time Magazine 100, Newsweek 100, Modern Library 100, etc.

So, I spent the last 4 days reading and appreciating this novel. It is one of the old classics (first published in 1955) that could hardly put me to sleep. It is very stimulating to the brain and engaging: "Gentlemen of the jury..." says Humbert Humbert which is very appropriate since from page 1, you know that you hate him for being a sex maniac and sick, sick pedophile. But along the way, because of Nabokov's eloquence on words, you would understand his point of view: he used to love a young girl who died before they were able to consummate their affair. Thus, though the theme is about a sick-in-the-head man, it is a love story that is told in a brilliant one-of-a-kind prose.

Sana Nabokov brought his PC in heaven and continue writing good novels there!

3 stars

I get why people love this, but lolita genuinely put me into such a depressing mood. I might as well commit suicide now.

I've heard the name "Lolita" since very early childhood, I've watched the movie several times...hell, I've been compared to her as a kid (which is very odd & common here❔)...but the book specifically managed to trigger a mix of feelings I haven't felt before: Revolted sadness. (I watched the movie too young to fully understand the significance and was more shocked than anything.)

I had to read with hefty breaks in between because this actually mentally exhausted me. Now, whether that's just my current mental state or this book's fault is under question, but I guess being inside a poetic pedophile's mind for hours on end weakened my endurance.

I will never understand people who put equal blame on Lo. If I, an average teenager, couldn't fully grasp the meaning of the movie... how could Lo, a 12 year old orphan, responsibly acknowledge the severity of her situation? Neither do I recognise the supposed "charm" of Humbert Humbert certain readers appear to see in him. I was well and truly on the verge of tearing up...or n  cryingn. Former caused by the repugnance of our narrator and latter out of pity and sadness for the child victim whose voice was never heard (although I understand why).

And most of all, this story is not one of "love"...despite even Nabokov insisting on it. Maybe when I am older and decide to reread this book, my mature mind will see all the deeper complexities of Humbert and Lolita's relationship, maybe I'll even glimpse love somewhere in there.

But today I remain with this opinion:

Lolita is a story of grooming, rape, manipulation, obsession and old man's lust for preadolescent "nymphets" veiled under brilliant writing and an unlikely but sickeningly mesmerising perspective. Some might argue that the only place where a love story ever existed is in Humbert's delusional mind, so maybe it is a love story. But then again, whether it really was love is a whole debate on its own.

Everything became even more eye opening after reading an article on "The Real Lolita" aka Sally Horner and Nabokov's apparent inspiration from the case. It's actually very fascinating and only enhanced the cleverness of this book in my eyes.

a link to a short, enlightening video which talks about how the publishing industry failed lolita in several aspects, and I believe encouraged this twisted view of Dolores Haze:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1gOh...

"Él me destrozó el corazón. Tú destrozaste mi vida."

I’ve been wanting to read this book for the longest time because Lana Del Rey, my favorite singer, loves to reference this book in her songs.

This book did not disappoint. I loved the juxtaposition between the beautiful prose and the disturbing subject matter. It’s hard to describe what I think of this book so I’ll just list some adjectives: fascinating, unsettling, crazy, tragic.

Overall, I was utterly captivated by this strange, yet alluring novel.

I first read Lolita twenty-one years ago. It was a serendipitous find. I was in a bookshop looking at books, taking shelter from the rain. I spotted a table with heavily discounted books. I saw Lolita, saw it was written by a Russian, but most importantly, it cost the exact amount of cash I had in my purse, so I bought it. I started reading it and I was instantly mesmerised. Talking to a friend of mine about books, I told him I was reading this most disturbing book that was so well written, I couldn't stop reading. When I mentioned the name, he was surprised I hadn't heard of the book or the author before. It was the first time I read a book that made me feel extremely uncomfortable, where the characters were so utterly vile and despicable. The voice was like nothing I'd read before. It truly blew my mind away. Ah, I forgot to mention it was a translation.

So, I was curious to find out if the novel will be as affecting two decades later, as a less naive woman, with more life experience, and a mother of a twelve-year-old girl. Most importantly, this time it was the original English version. Having Jeremy Irons read it to me was quite the treat.

I won't lie, it took some work to separate myself as a young girl, my own daughter and Humbert Humbert from every male individual. The leering, the lusting, the manipulations, were difficult to absorb without vomiting. As time progressed, I got lured in by Humbert's musings. He's the suavest, the most enthralling wordsmith you'll encounter in literature. And he's pleading his case to you, the reader, and he makes you pay attention. His language is of the highest level, his analogies, metaphors, similes and wonderful wordplays trap you in. You might as well give in and ride along the libidinous, lascivious, sick Humbert Humbert.

Oh, I can only imagine the outrage of the puritanical Americans. How gutsy were Nabokov and the publishers? I need to read more about its history and some interviews with Nabokov (I tried to watch the interviews on YouTube but I couldn't stand Nabokov's voice, so I'd rather read). Of course, I need to read more Nabokov.

Lolita will keep its place on my My favourite books of all time/Masterpieces shelf.

Suddenly, I have a hankering to watch the movie, the Jeremy Irons version.

(review in English below)

Esta leitura foi uma experiência extraordinária, que recomendo a toda a gente, até aos que, como eu, se sentem repugnados pelo facto de o narrador ser um pedófilo assumido, que arranja maneira de ter a sua própria "ninfita" e de consumar a sua perversão sem que a sociedade se aperceba - ou não queira aperceber-se.

A história é contada pelo protagonista, pelo que vamos sabendo dos acontecimentos duma forma subtilmente - e magistralmente - distorcida, sem nunca termos certezas sobre os seus sentimentos (será mesmo amor? ou apenas luxúria? há algum tipo de remorso?) até ao final do livro. Também os sentimentos de Lolita são sempre filtrados pela percepção de Humbert, havendo apenas alguns breves vislumbres, de quando em vez, sobre quais poderão ser.

A escrita é indescritível, de tão excelente. Cheia de recursos narrativos e estilísticos variados e originais, prende-nos e fascina-nos de tal forma que ficamos enredados na magia de Humbert ainda que não queiramos. Nem os abundantes parêntesis, nem as recorrentes interpelações ao leitor (duas das minhas embirrações particulares) conseguiram estragar-me a leitura, e isso é dizer muito.

O ritmo é perfeito. Nunca me aborreci ou me senti tentada a ler nem que fossem algumas linhas em diagonal. Seria um crime (mais um...), já que todo o texto é uma preciosidade contínua (com a possível excepção de alguns parágrafos sobre aspectos técnicos do ténis).

Só tive pena de não ter percebido nem metade das referências introduzidas de forma genial no "discurso" do narrador (e aposto que a tradutora também não, ou teria incluído mais notas de rodapé...)

Um aviso: convém saber francês, pois o protagonista usa esta língua com bastante liberalidade e mesmo o recurso a um tradutor online pode não ajudar (por exemplo, há palavras mal escritas para traduzir uma má pronúncia).

Conclusão: uma verdadeira obra-prima, verdadeiramente imperdível.

This was an extraordinary reading I recommend to everyone, even those who, like me, feel disgusted by the fact that the narrator is a self-recognized pedophile that finds a way of having his own "nymphet" and consummate his perversion without anyone knowing - or wanting to know.

The story is told by the main character, so we're let into what's happening in a subtly - and masterfully - distorted way, never being sure about his feelings (is it really love? or is it only lust? is there some kind of remorse?) until the end of the book. Lolita's feelings are always also filtered by Humbert's perception and we only get a few glimpses, from time to time, on which they might be.

The writing is unutterably excellent. Filled with narrative and stylistic features both diverse and original, it locks you in and fascinates you in such a way that you become hopelessly entangled in Humbert's spell even against your will. Not even the numerous parentheses nor the many times the author addresses the reader (two of my personal pet peeves) were able to ruin this reading, and that's saying a lot.

The pace is perfect. I never got bored ou felt tempted to skim over even a few lines. It would be a crime (one more...), since all the text is a continuous treasure (with the possible exception of a few paragraphs on some technical issues of tennis).

My only regret is that I didn't get half the references brilliantly introduced into the narrator's "speech" (and I bet the translator didn't get them either, or there would've been more footnotes...)

A word of advice: it's convenient to know your French, as the main character uses it quite liberally and even an online translator may not prove useful (there are some misspelled words to convey a poor pronunciation).

Final conclusion: a true masterpiece, truly unmissable.

Dnf at 20%

It is disGUSTING.

Loved It....
Subject Matter Aside...

LOLITA by Vladimir Nabokov

I couldn't imagine this book being as good as it was. Despite its creepy, sleazy story of a middle-aged man sexually abusing a twelve year old girl, there was great depth to it. Humbert was someone you could find replusive yet somewhat innocent and naive. Unlike the movie version, the character Lolita is a victim, not a seducer, and it is easy to sympathize with her lost childhood.

The only reason I rated it 4 instead of 5 stars is because of the many French passages that needed to be translated. Even though looking these phrases up interrupted the story flow, it was well worth the time and effort because sometimes I found treasure hidden there.

I see why it is classic.