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Title: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov ISBN: 0-679-72316-1 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 13 March, 1989 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.53 (373 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Readers Under 16, Find a New Book
Comment: Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita is a thought-provoking novel about a deranged, middle-aged man who desires pre-adolescent girls, namely a twelve year-old girl who he calls, "Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul"(9). This book is not meant for a conservative, young reader. The ideas dealt with are mature, shocking, and somewhat perverse. Despite some graphic content, the novel provokes questions about society's beliefs on relationships and life-choices. Nabokov uses an elegant writing style with an overall interesting plot to make Lolita a recommended read.
Lolita is not outwardly pornographic like one may think at first glance. Humbert tells the reader about the unconventional love story between he and Lolita in a diary-like format. Humbert is a lonely man who is unsuccessful in marriage and frequently hires young prostitutes to satisfy his lust for juvenile "nymphets." He meets Lolita by chance and decides to marry her mother, Charlotte, in an attempt to be closer to his young, forbidden fruit. When Charlotte dies, Humbert assumes illegal custody of Lolita and they travel aimlessly across the United States with nowhere to go except away from the police. Lolita serves as his unwilling sex slave throughout the journey, but secretly plots her escape. Eventually their sexual escapades come to an end, "...how long did I think we were going to live in the stuffy cabins, doing filthy things together and never behaving like ordinary people?"(158). The end of their love affair leads to the compelling climax of the novel.
Nabokov set out to write a book that challenges our views of sexual predators and he does this well. He portrays the protagonist as an obviously mentally ill man who is aware of society's disapproving view of his actions. Humbert does not care what others think about his illicit love and follows his heart rather than society's morals. All of us want to be individuals that follow our own beliefs, so the reader can almost relate to this madman's struggle-not a feeling one would suspect to have toward an admitted child molester. Nabokov gives Humbert an elevated writing style that makes the twisted desires seem more reasonable. To think that such an eloquent narrator would commit such crimes seems unrealistic because we as a society tend to trust the educated and knowledgeable. The only aspect that the book lacks is Lolita's perspective on her kidnapping and rape, which would entertain the reader, but destroy all empathetic feelings for Humbert. By design, Lolita proves to be a clever read about a desperate man seeking an unattainable love.
This novel deals with complex issues from a new perspective, giving the reader a clearer insight to his or her own beliefs, especially on the topics of rape, fate, and women's role in society. Despite the overt sexual references and somewhat disturbing storyline, I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a unique, contemplative read.
Rating: 5
Summary: Lolita, light of my library.......
Comment: One of the most beautifully-constructed novels of the Twentieth Century, it is also one of the most misunderstood. When published in the 1950s, bluenoses criticized "Lolita" for its allegedly frank sexuality. Today, people look at it askance because of our increased sensitivity to child abuse and molestation. In addition, it was written by a Dead White European Male (not to be confused with White Widowed Male). Unfortunately, conservative and liberal critics scrutinizing the surface of "Lolita," as well as those panting maniacs looking for titillating stuff, demonstrate and appalling ignorance of Vladimir Nabokov's "intentions" (almost as shaky a term in his world as "reality").
We may read "Lolita" through the perspective of nymphet-obsessed Professor Humbert, but Nabokov himself described Humbert as a "vain and cruel wretch who manages to appear 'touching.'" (See "Strong Opinions," Page 94, Vintage International Edition.) Furthermore, anyone familiar with Nabokov's other works knows of his penchant for unreliable narrators, such as Charles Kinbote in "Pale Fire." We can label Humbert as yet another member of that pesky legion. Of course, Humbert commits the crime of pedophilia, but the legal transgression is not the worst thing he does to Dolores Haze, the titular "Lolita." At least initially, there seems a mutual attraction between Humbert and Dolores. (But then, perhaps Dolores simply wanted to find someone to side with her against her mother. And look who's telling the story.) Unfortunately, Humbert carries the relationship too far, robbing Dolores of her freedom and humanity by turning her into a simple, two dimensional sex toy he has labelled "Lolita." Of course, Humbert also abuses Dolores physically, smacking her when she doesn't "behave" and forcing himself sexually on her. Looking at all this, I'm a little surprised that a feminist writer hasn't started work on "Dolores' Diaries......"
Pedophilia and solipsism aren't the only themes covered in "Lolita." Since Nabokov portarays the erotic scenes and sensual images with a modesty based on artistic sensibility (rather than prudery), your standard pedophile seeking simple stimulation would probably end up bored by Nabokov's writing. Unless, of course, there happen to exist pedophiles also titillated by mythical and literary allusions; puns and anagrams that transcend linguistic boundaries; catalogues of quotidian life; parodies of Freudian psychology, popular culture, etc.; arcane and esoteric trivia; the melting pot of "high" and "low" culture; the bizarre coincidences that supplant the standard symbolism of most literature at that time; and so on.
Of course, "Lolita" is very funny, despite its narrator's moral deficiencies. Humbert's comments on certain subjects (such as Freudian psychology, pseudo-intellectual pretentions, pointless scientific studies, etc.) and his sardonic asides are absolutely hysterical. And the final showdown between Humbert and perverted playwright Clare Quilty is a great study in dark humor, almost reminiscent of the cartoon confrontations between Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny.
Nabokov has given us one of the greatest literary works of the century. In "Lolita," he took American colloquial English and manipulated in far more creative ways than many writers actually born in the United States. And after finishing the book, don't miss Nabokov's own commentary on "Lolita," where one finds the best-argued and most unique (not to mention funniest) argument against pornography.
It was many years ago when Nabokov died. (I was a child.) I wish that Nabokov has lived at least as long as Van Veen in "Ada," commenting on the culture and writing more books on the same par as those from hs late American period. A man who was "hip" while maintaining a bemused detachment from trendiness, what would he have made of shopping malls? Political correctness? Cable television? Alternative music? The Internet? Jerry Springer? Millenialist jitters? Or some of this decades greatest scandals, near-Nabokovian events in themselves, like Joey Buttafuoco (of course), Lorena Bobbitt, O.J. Simpson, Bill and Monica? Wherever he is (Heaven, Hell, Nirvana, Anti-Terra), I would like to thank Nabokov for providing us with a compelling and unique model of how to read, write, and perceive life.
Rating: 4
Summary: Brilliant, Seamless, Seductive
Comment: I owe my sudden interest in Nabokov to the autobiography, Reading Lolita in Tehran, a five star book that I've just recently finished. It's author, Nafisi, has a great deal of respect and admiration for the works of Nabokov. Her enthusiasm made me feel that I must be missing out on something good, and I decided to cure that posthaste. Lolita, being his best-known, seemed the logical starting point.
From the first paragraph I was smitten with Nabokov. He writes seamlessly, brilliantly, seductively. The depth of my admiration of Nabokov's literary skills continue to grow as I continued to read. This despite, or perhaps actually because of, the subject matter.
I'll take a small aside here to say that I do not feel that novels should be held morally responsible. I read death and violence and many of the other Seven Deadly Sins as much as anyone else--after all, I love a good mystery. Notwithstanding that view, I was still uncomfortable with Humburt's flagrant disregard of what is to me an unquestionable wrong--the violation of a child.
As I said, I love a good mystery, and yet I don't like to read from the point of view of the villain himself. I find it unsettling. I felt the same way being inside the mind of Humbert: disturbed, disgusted, perhaps even tainted. Such strong emotions conjured up solely by the power of Nabokov's persuasive writing. What higher compliment can I pay him?
So troubled was I by Humbert's treatment of Lolita, by the sway he held over me the reader, that I stopped half-way through the novel, saying I just couldn't finish it. But I had to. Despite my revulsion of Humbert, I HAD to continue reading. Nabokov had me so firmly in his grip that I was genuinely concerned for Lolita. I had to know what happened to this child robbed of her childhood. I had to know if she, who Humbert so causally dismissed as seducer instead of seduced, would be free of his tyranny. I had to know if Lolita, only seen through Humbert's eyes, would find a voice of her own.
I can't say that I "liked" this book--how could I enjoy reading about such merciless victimization?--but I can certainly say that Nabokov has won another fan.
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Title: Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi ISBN: 081297106X Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks Pub. Date: 30 December, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov ISBN: 0679725318 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 19 September, 1989 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title:Lolita ASIN: B00001IVFG Publisher: Vidmark/Trimark Pub. Date: 05 February, 2002 List Price(USD): $9.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $9.98 |
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Title: Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov ISBN: 0679723420 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 23 April, 1989 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald ISBN: 0684801523 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 01 June, 1995 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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