The first novel Nabokov wrote while living in America and the most overtly political novel he ever wrote, Bend Sinister is a modern classic....
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May 31, 2011
Paquita Maria
rated it: 
Beautiful, then grueling. The first half is stellar, the second half simultaneously disturbingly fascinating and immensely frustrating. Jogging the last lap of the book feels like running with a ferocious wind beating against you, largely due to the otherwise elegant prose getting a but clunky. Despite what is unarguably a beautiful stretch of text, I found myself wanting to slug it down like ice cold water at 4 am after a bender. I felt immense guilt in doing so, as I know from various quo
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May 17, 2011
Chris
rated it:
Yeah, I don't have any idea what to say here. So much beautiful writing that time and again I wanted to freeze the moment and savor against the lengthening shadows the sublime and playful wit that infuses this silky, slinky prose, the arch elegance drawn taut and set to run with the wind. The man had a gift, an effortless, supple skill with the pen that is a pleasure to behold; too pleasurable perhaps—for as another reviewer astutely points out, it is written so beautifully as to be distracting.
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Sep 20, 2010
Manny
rated it: 
It's interesting to compare Bend Sinister with 1984. (Nabokov didn't much like Orwell, and thought he was a hack). Orwell's take on totalitarianism, is, roughly, that it's evil. Nabokov's is more that it's terminally stupid. Even when the rulers of the State would actually prefer to get things right, they've fucked up their minds with nonsensical ideology to the point where they're no longer capable of coherent thought. I wonder whether Nabokov wasn't closer to the truth. In the end, the Soviet
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Apr 18, 2011
AC
rated it: 
I have not finished yet -- and I don't know if I will then actually write a review when I do. After all, what can I say or add or... why should I comment... on works of art? Pieces of crap deserve comment. It's obligatory. Works on objective material -- books on history or sociology or entomology or prosody -- can be commented upon or corrected or endorsed...; but ...?-- well, that's just me, maybe.
Anyway -- this is a truly magnificent book. Don't be mislead by some of the less tha More...
Anyway -- this is a truly magnificent book. Don't be mislead by some of the less tha More...
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Aug 09, 2010
Jenelle
rated it:
what'll happen to love, interior life, and the butterflies in a dystopian world??
I'm always charmed by Nabokov's willingness to bore & lose his reader, and this one, his first American novel, is particularly full of tricks. partly they're there to suggest the confusion & bewilderment felt under an absurd totalitarian rule, but partly Nab's just playing. it's like writing in English is still so novel & thrilling for him! even thicker than normal with poetry, puns & reference, it's much t More...
I'm always charmed by Nabokov's willingness to bore & lose his reader, and this one, his first American novel, is particularly full of tricks. partly they're there to suggest the confusion & bewilderment felt under an absurd totalitarian rule, but partly Nab's just playing. it's like writing in English is still so novel & thrilling for him! even thicker than normal with poetry, puns & reference, it's much t More...
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Aug 27, 2007
Bob
rated it:
The exact edition I got is listed as items 4 and 5 on this page [http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?&isbn=0679727272&nsa=1] - it is a 1964 production by Time-Life Books who I guess had pretensions at the time to be arbiters of high culture before settling down to produce Homer Simpson's Carpenter's Encyclopedia.
The cover is of interest - an illustration faintly reminiscent of de Kooning by Louis Di Valentin who (according to the lack of info on the Web) is a rather forgotten Ame More...
The cover is of interest - an illustration faintly reminiscent of de Kooning by Louis Di Valentin who (according to the lack of info on the Web) is a rather forgotten Ame More...
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Nov 20, 2011
Preston
rated it:
BEND SINISTER stands at the outer limits of dystopian political fantasy.
Though Nabokov has denied that he intended the novel as social commentary, it is a richly nuanced portrayal of a cultured intellectual caught up in the madness of a tyrannical police state.
The story takes place in a fictional central European country, Padukgrad, endowed with both German and Slavic qualities. Its new dictator and ruling Party of the Common Man embrace an ideology that celebrates the mediocr More...
Though Nabokov has denied that he intended the novel as social commentary, it is a richly nuanced portrayal of a cultured intellectual caught up in the madness of a tyrannical police state.
The story takes place in a fictional central European country, Padukgrad, endowed with both German and Slavic qualities. Its new dictator and ruling Party of the Common Man embrace an ideology that celebrates the mediocr More...
Nov 22, 2009
Libbie
rated it:
Shockingly enough, Bend Sinister manages to rival Lolita for the position of my favorite Nabokov novel, and therefore my favorite novel by any author.
As in Lolita, the theme is the helpless and hopeless situation of the characters, and like Lolita, Bend Sinister is mostly darkness leavened with a helping of genuine humor. Throughout all, Nabokov's incredible narrative voice and creative wordplay shine through, as usual.
Bend Sinister is not one of his better-known works. More...
As in Lolita, the theme is the helpless and hopeless situation of the characters, and like Lolita, Bend Sinister is mostly darkness leavened with a helping of genuine humor. Throughout all, Nabokov's incredible narrative voice and creative wordplay shine through, as usual.
Bend Sinister is not one of his better-known works. More...
Jan 14, 2011
K.A.
rated it:
I was actually reading Pale Fire when I decided to switch to Bend Sinister, mostly because I decided I would probably have to buy my own copy of Pale Fire because I was making too many notes and it would be easier to just put them in the book and that wouldn't be good to do with the library's copy.
I learn all my new words from Nabokov.
I had already written down tons of new words from Pale Fire, but I found myself writing quotes from Bend Sinister instead. I alluded in my Ham More...
I learn all my new words from Nabokov.
I had already written down tons of new words from Pale Fire, but I found myself writing quotes from Bend Sinister instead. I alluded in my Ham More...
Sep 29, 2011
Jennifer (JC-S)
rated it:
‘Less books and more common sense – that’s my motto’
In a fictitious European state now known as Padukgrad, lives the world-renowned philosopher Adam Krug. A new philosophy, known as ‘Ekwilism’ has led the takeover of the state which is now being run by Paduk and his ‘Party of the Average Man’. Ekwilism discourages the idea of anyone being different from anyone else, and promotes the state as the prominent good in society. Naturally, equality and happiness for all does not require More...
In a fictitious European state now known as Padukgrad, lives the world-renowned philosopher Adam Krug. A new philosophy, known as ‘Ekwilism’ has led the takeover of the state which is now being run by Paduk and his ‘Party of the Average Man’. Ekwilism discourages the idea of anyone being different from anyone else, and promotes the state as the prominent good in society. Naturally, equality and happiness for all does not require More...
Mar 28, 2011
Gabriel
rated it:
Dear Vladimir,
"Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta." (Lolita, p. 9)
With these words you drew me into a story of passion, obsession, and perversity. You had me at the first sentence. I was yours for the entirety of the book (even the bits towards the end that kind of dragged). You played with language, used it in such More...
"Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta." (Lolita, p. 9)
With these words you drew me into a story of passion, obsession, and perversity. You had me at the first sentence. I was yours for the entirety of the book (even the bits towards the end that kind of dragged). You played with language, used it in such More...
Sep 19, 2010
Adam
rated it:
This read much like a pretentious version of a dystopia, like Orwell if he were trying to please a collegiate, indie rock crowd. But, then again, Nabokov is never afraid to shy away from writing something that would prove exactly how brilliant he was. And he was smart; his capacity for learning and using language is impressive to say the least. He's a brilliant writer, too. There's just this semi-bearable attitude of condescension that works sometimes and really frustrates at others. There are s
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Jan 05, 2012
Shortly after finishing this book, I went for a walk and passed an exhibit of fried eggs: yes, eggs fried there in the window display, on a little skillet, and then hung by clothespins. A concurrent exhibit in China displays photographs of these eggs.
Somehow this was entirely appropriate for the post-novel experience.
"Bend Sinister" is not my favorite Nabokov, but it contains some of my favorite passages. It begins, for instance, with one of the most heart-wrenc More...
Somehow this was entirely appropriate for the post-novel experience.
"Bend Sinister" is not my favorite Nabokov, but it contains some of my favorite passages. It begins, for instance, with one of the most heart-wrenc More...
Nov 17, 2011
Lavender
rated it:
Let me get this out of the way first: I have a lot of respect for 1984. It's a good book. It's a great book, in fact. George Orwell was a master at his craft.
But Bend Sinister is so amazing, so delicious and so emotionally deep that as good as 1984 is, Bend Sinister still manages to feel like "1984 done right."
Nabokov uses the full force of his incredibly nuanced, unique command of language to paint a picture of a totalitarian regime. His images are beaut More...
But Bend Sinister is so amazing, so delicious and so emotionally deep that as good as 1984 is, Bend Sinister still manages to feel like "1984 done right."
Nabokov uses the full force of his incredibly nuanced, unique command of language to paint a picture of a totalitarian regime. His images are beaut More...
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Dec 20, 2011
Matt
rated it:
A very literary book of the Orwellian genre. In fact, Nabokov thinks so too, as he refers to Orwell as a "mediocre english writer" in the introduction! Disregarding the complete absence of humility, Nabokov's ability is truly remarkable considering he was not writing in his first language...
Books like 1984 and Bend Sinister serve as stark reminders to anyone who takes their freedom for granted, or underestimates the willingness of the average citizen to jump on board wh More...
Books like 1984 and Bend Sinister serve as stark reminders to anyone who takes their freedom for granted, or underestimates the willingness of the average citizen to jump on board wh More...
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Dec 22, 2008
lahvyndr
rated it:
I love this man's command of English...
of the written word (there are segments in something slavic though I can't tell if he was making them up or if they're transliterated Russian) really.
The plot is completely bleak...but it's unimportant to the telling, the craft, the music of the words as they fall together on a page. This would be so fun to read aloud, to taste each phrase as the puns make you smile, to discover which voice to use in characterizing the actors, the author, More...
of the written word (there are segments in something slavic though I can't tell if he was making them up or if they're transliterated Russian) really.
The plot is completely bleak...but it's unimportant to the telling, the craft, the music of the words as they fall together on a page. This would be so fun to read aloud, to taste each phrase as the puns make you smile, to discover which voice to use in characterizing the actors, the author, More...
Aug 16, 2009
najla
rated it:
this and lolita i have read and re-read. i hesitate to say "cinematic" as that word is used to describe too many things, and means nothing anymore, and besides, vlad probably wouldn't agree; but maybe theatrical in the sense that this story feels like it plays out in a small black box. the ceilings too low, the walls framing both sides of every scene, and a hyper-reality like the trollies are miniature and pulled on strings through the miniature sets. and then the legs cut out from und
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Jan 25, 2012
Jessica
rated it:
so i'm again just using this book review spot as a placeholder for other book-y things in my life (SEE BELOW), though i went w/ nabokov specifically because he has crawled into my SKULL lately -- could easily have opted for recent reads laughter in the dark, transparent things, the real life of sebastian knight, the eye, or (currently) despair or pale fire, but bend sinister i'm going to go ahead & declare one of the best novels i've ever read.
what, bring it.
on the one hand s More...
what, bring it.
on the one hand s More...
Jan 22, 2010
Tim
rated it:
My edition has a really off-putting foreword, where Nabokov says that he has written the best authoritarian novel ever and that Orwell can cram it, starts explicitly listing the motifs he has worked into his book--it's his first in English, I can understand pride in this, but it should not have been the first damn thing I read. The protagonist is basically just Pnin in a hilariously inept police state, which means this is a book where you can see every blow coming, where the ending is just Nabo
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Mar 28, 2010
Rose
rated it:
Bend Sinister (1947) was the first novel Vladimir Nabokov wrote while living in America. Having never read his most famous novel, Lolita, this was my first Nabokov novel. We meet our protagonist, Krug, at a moment of great personal despair in his life. An influential professor of philosophy (perhaps more used to dealing in the abstract?), Krug is grappling with his wife's recent death in a very concrete way. At the same time, the political climate of his country reflects his emotional turmoil, f
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Mar 21, 2008
q
rated it:
My first Nabokov, chosen because it was the first he wrote after moving to the States and because of the heraldic title.
It deals with the nature of grief and with twentieth-century European totalitarianism.
The setup is improbable but Nabokov needs it in order to take a look at all the things he has in mind. He uses every trick I've ever seen a writer use so that he can examine nineteenth- and twentieth-century philosophy, memory, brutality, bureaucracy, Freud, childhood, analy More...
It deals with the nature of grief and with twentieth-century European totalitarianism.
The setup is improbable but Nabokov needs it in order to take a look at all the things he has in mind. He uses every trick I've ever seen a writer use so that he can examine nineteenth- and twentieth-century philosophy, memory, brutality, bureaucracy, Freud, childhood, analy More...
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Jul 05, 2010
Michael
rated it:
The first Nabokov book I've read, actually. I feel like I read this too quickly, though it's short. I also think this is one of those books that is most beneficial to read for a class or book club where you have reference points and the opinions of others.
Overall it was funnier than I anticipated and also quite sad, when you think about it. There are flashes of brilliance tucked in to larger progressions that caught me by surprise and that provoke a pause in which to work things out.
Overall it was funnier than I anticipated and also quite sad, when you think about it. There are flashes of brilliance tucked in to larger progressions that caught me by surprise and that provoke a pause in which to work things out.
Nov 06, 2009
It took me a second to get into this world,but once I did, I REALLY did. The characters were set up in an interesting way. The main character, Krug, seems to be the only Real person. All others were either ghostly,memory like, somewhat romanticized and others were caricatures.I loved that contrast. It added to the tension and made Krug play almost the straight man role in a comedy, though this is hardly a comed. If I were directing the play, it would head in that direction.;)
Mar 20, 2010
Fatty
rated it:
something Jonathan Swift's "Indecent Proposal" and something Huxley, but finally a darker thing. perhaps the contrast between the professor's inability to grasp his peril to its ultimate manifestation, also his belief in the indisputability of the myriad inequalities between individuals, a belief in the primacy of the intellect, a thing wrecked in the end by all manner of backwardness (sinistre).
Nov 19, 2011
Kristina
rated it:
Nach Lolita und Einladung zur Enthauptung eher schwächer, im Vergleich zu Büchern anderer Autoren jedoch noch immer erfrischender, stilistisch interessanter und ergreifender geschrieben.
Ich denke, ich bin Nabokov-süchtig. Und toll ist hierbei auch, dass man etwas über den Autoren erfährt, weil er auch zeitweise spricht!
Ich denke, ich bin Nabokov-süchtig. Und toll ist hierbei auch, dass man etwas über den Autoren erfährt, weil er auch zeitweise spricht!
Jul 30, 2011
Interesting dystopian novel, a bit over-written perhaps, but kept me turning the pages. More like Huxley than Orwell, and more like Burgess than either of them, but a style and tone of its own. Sufficiently individual and unusual for me to want to read again, but not a great novel in the true sense of the word great.
Feb 22, 2010
Adam
rated it:
As he points out in his introduction, Nabokov fills his book with so many obscure allusions, subtle themes/motifs, and playfully linguistic choices. Most of these must be lost on most readers (myself included!), which is, perhaps, what promoted him to write the explanatory introduction. It was interesting to read because it really gives the reader the sense that Nabokov is upset that his readers aren't brilliant enough to discern everything he has embedded in the novel. He really is a genius.
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Aug 24, 2011
Nabokov, to someone who isn't anywhere close to being a literary scholar, writes in a very interesting way. It takes a bit of getting used to with all of his immensely detailed descriptions, parenthetical bits and numerous dashes to follow. But, seems worth it so far! :)
Dec 11, 2008
mia
rated it:
nobokov has such a way with language. so, even though this wasn't my favorite book in the world, i admired it so. the themes in this story come through again and again; dreams and realities meshed, the way we distinguish them, what they tell us, and the big brother mantra.
Aug 10, 2011
I love Nabokov, but this novel never clicked for me. I just never got it. I think it was supposed to be comic. Christ, I feel stupid. I'm gonna go read some comic books.
