Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

Vladimir Nabokov Lolita is the most amazing love story I have ever encountered. Like James Joyce, Vladimir Nabokov demonstrates an acute understanding and precise execution of the English language. A large vocabulary and the talent to develop characters and their characteristics is the main benefactors behind Vladimir Nabokov' literature. Lolita is an extensively complex book, but in retrospect this is an advantage rather than a hindrance as I viewed it at the time. Compact with humour, intelligence and formation, Vladimir Nabokov has attempted to absolve so much into the pages of Lolita. Masterfully, I found myself in awe at the manner in which Vladimir Nabokov has ...  Read the complete review

40 years after its publication the book Lolita is still an object of scandal. Few consider this novel as an encouragement to paedophilia and it was actually refused in its time by the whole lot of American editors. Of course Nabokov knew what he was writing and by telling the love affair between a man of 40 years old and a girl of 12 he was aware he would drag much more than attention but also criticism. Lolita is a cheeky, vulgar and spoiled girl (who considers the sexual act belonging to the furtive world of youth, a world unknown to adults) but her arrogance doesn’t take away her sexual charms to Humbert’s eyes (a middle-aged guy completely ...  Read the complete review

Humbert Humbert, never was there a more pitiful man. You can't help but be revolted by- and feel sorry for the protagonist in this difficult tale of unrequited and indeed quite illegal love. The lead character Humbert Humbert who, after a traumatic childhood consisting of losing his mother and his first love all by the age of 14 develops an unseemly obsession with young girls aged 8-13 (his 'nymphets'). This book is extremely hard to read, especially I imagine if you have children, in one sense you hate Humbert because he is, in the worst sense of the word, a pedophile. However, while hating him, you also pity him, and it's an ...  Read the complete review

Probably the most distressing of all crimes is that commited by the paedophile, right? They are sick, twisted individuals whose actions are beyond all condemnation and help, right? This is my opinion, and even after reading Lolita, those opinions stay the same. The novel, however, is a masterpiece. Seen as high art by the critics, and cheap porn by some, it is a must read novel. I'm sure that all of you know the plot, whether you have read it or not, but the plot alone does not even begin to cover the enormity of this novel. I have sttod on my little soap-box and said how I feel about paedophiles, how they and their actions disgust me and chill me to the bone, ...  Read the complete review

This is a very difficult book both to read and to review, which is not a reflection on the writing (outstanding), but on the subject matter. The main character, Humbert, recounts the story of Lolita from his prison cell. He is a paedophile. It is a shame to give away the story so I will leave the details out! - but he marries a woman to get close to her beautiful (and precocious) 12 year-old daughter Lolita. The wife dies (did she fall or was she pushed?) and Humbert goes on the run with Lolita. They enter into what she naively sees as a kind of 'relationship', and he sees as...well, it's hard to say. His professions of love for her ring ...  Read the complete review