Laughter in the Dark - Vladimir Nabokov

Invitation to a Beheading - Vladimir Nabokov

Despite trying to ensure that I read more outside of my favourite genre, crime fiction, I find it hard to ignore a book that has murder or execution or beheading in the title and so, although this book is not strictly crime fiction, I ended up being drawn to it. I was vaguely aware that Nabokov was the author of Lolita, but having only seen the film, I didn’t have much of an idea of the type of writing I could expect. I don’t think anything could have prepared me for what I found. This is a highly original book, written in a very intriguing way. The story Cincinnatus is in prison facing a death sentence, although he is not quite sure why he is in prison or when he can ...

Invitation to a Beheading - Vladimir Nabokov

Despite trying to ensure that I read more outside of my favourite genre, crime fiction, I find it hard to ignore a book that has murder or execution or beheading in the title and so, although this book is not strictly crime fiction, I ended up being drawn to it. I was vaguely aware that Nabokov was the author of Lolita, but having only seen the film, I didn’t have much of an idea of the type of writing I could expect. I don’t think anything could have prepared me for what I found. This is a highly original book, written in a very intriguing way. The story Cincinnatus is in prison facing a death sentence, although he is not quite sure why he is in prison or when he can ...

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

Ok, so most of you probably the plot of this one even if you've never read it. A fifty year old man has unnatural desires for pre-teen 'nympets' - so he marries his landlady so that he can get closer to the real object of his desires, her 12 year old daughter. The most shocking thing about this book is not the scenes of incest committed with a juvenile - considering all the controversy which has surrounded this book the sexual encounters described in this novel are few - but the fact that it's actually a black comedy. A subject which ought to appal and disgust is frequently laugh out loud funny: a clear sign of Nabokov's talent. The novel is ...

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

Ok, so most of you probably the plot of this one even if you've never read it. A fifty year old man has unnatural desires for pre-teen 'nympets' - so he marries his landlady so that he can get closer to the real object of his desires, her 12 year old daughter. The most shocking thing about this book is not the scenes of incest committed with a juvenile - considering all the controversy which has surrounded this book the sexual encounters described in this novel are few - but the fact that it's actually a black comedy. A subject which ought to appal and disgust is frequently laugh out loud funny: a clear sign of Nabokov's talent. The novel is ...

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

The story of a Humbert Humbert. He begins with his life as a young boy growing up in the countryside of France. He tells of his first love,of his first sexual experience. Throughout his adult life Humbert had tried relationships with other grown woman, but he had always been drawn to the young, unmatured body of preadolesenced girls. He struggles with his feelings, and his younger lost love. I felt bad in a way for Humbert Humbert. Even though it was obivous that this man had mental problems, (because no grown man should be attracted to young girls) he still loved and cared for his "Lolita" in ways that a grown woman could only dream of being loved like. When he first moved to the ...

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

The story of a Humbert Humbert. He begins with his life as a young boy growing up in the countryside of France. He tells of his first love,of his first sexual experience. Throughout his adult life Humbert had tried relationships with other grown woman, but he had always been drawn to the young, unmatured body of preadolesenced girls. He struggles with his feelings, and his younger lost love. I felt bad in a way for Humbert Humbert. Even though it was obivous that this man had mental problems, (because no grown man should be attracted to young girls) he still loved and cared for his "Lolita" in ways that a grown woman could only dream of being loved like. When he first moved to the ...