The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov
by Vladimir NabokovSign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
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Read in September, 2008
Explanatory Background Statement: You will notice that this book is shelved "unfinished". In between novels and on a short fiction kick, I decided that I should at least dip my toes into a few hallowed literary names before taking on the mantle of my next Big Read. Ellison was one (see also) and Nabokov was the other. I didn't crack the covers on this one expecting to finish it. Especially as...more
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This book started my obsession. Anthony Lane's rapturous review in the New Yorker brought the first mention of Nabokov into my 15-year-old mind. I recently came across a contemporaneous, lukewarm-to-negative notice by Edmund White; glad that review wasn't my first exposure.
There's so much to love here ("The Admiralty Spire" and "Spring in Fialta" are tricky, odd, and totally successful--absolute triumphs of the form), but I'm particularly attached to the impressionistic s...more
There's so much to love here ("The Admiralty Spire" and "Spring in Fialta" are tricky, odd, and totally successful--absolute triumphs of the form), but I'm particularly attached to the impressionistic s...more
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11 comments
Vladimir Nabokov never ceases to restore my faith in the power of prose. As it often happens with favorite writers of mine (Kafka, Hesse, Murakami, Camus...), I find that their short stories stand out as the best reads (to take nothing away from their novels, natch). My copy of the Vintage qpb Stories of V.N., the one with the butterfly on the reflective cover, is a well-loved, well-read volume in my personal library.
My own love of words and the craft of writing informs my Nabokov fandom. ...more
My own love of words and the craft of writing informs my Nabokov fandom. ...more
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Read in September, 2008
If you ever get the chance to read any works by Nabokov,you will not be dissapointed.and for those unfamiliar with his work, this collection is a perfect palce to start. There is something to be said for a writer that can flawlessly portay all walks of life, across the world and time it's self with sheer poetry and grace.
I feel honored to have come across this collection. Each story is a jewel, it's own painting, it's own little universe. While some of these tales are truely terrifying and up...more
I feel honored to have come across this collection. Each story is a jewel, it's own painting, it's own little universe. While some of these tales are truely terrifying and up...more
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Read in November, 2003
recommends it for:
the patient
This book literally took me three or four years to finish because each story is so short, yet substantial. I also filled an entire bookmark with vocabulary words to look up (how can a Russian know so much English???), but I'm afraid I've lost it. Actually, I'm probably more afraid to find it.
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Read in March, 2006
A weighty compendium of his short stories (65 total!), I'm not sure I'll be able to read this all at once - even interspersed with lighter work.
I've avoided Lolita for personal reasons for many years & can't recall having any of his stories as required reading in school; but I'm intrigued and fascinated enough by what I'm reading here to consider branching out to his longer works. I didn't realize he wrote fantasy/magical realism-type stor...more
I've avoided Lolita for personal reasons for many years & can't recall having any of his stories as required reading in school; but I'm intrigued and fascinated enough by what I'm reading here to consider branching out to his longer works. I didn't realize he wrote fantasy/magical realism-type stor...more
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Read in January, 2000
I learned that beauty is not a luxury; it is a necessity. There is great beauty in how Sir Nabokov indulges in dreaming and minute description - he is the stereotypical ESOL student/immigrant because after losing his home country, he decided to make language his country and to hone his skills forever in order to make sure his intelligence is understood and appreciated. Language is my country too
Nabokov info: http://www.randomhouse.com/fea...
Nabokov info: http://www.randomhouse.com/fea...
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Read in January, 2002
recommends it for:
patient sensualists
Nabokov writes prose ecstatically--- someone said that, that's on the blurb of this book, and it's true. Equally true is the slightly confusing, stream-of-consciousness poetry that is his writing style. I had to be extremely patient before I got it, it makes you feel a bit stupid in the beginning, but eventually, Nabokov's world will hold you captive and from that, there is no escape.
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this is the absolute apex of fiction writing. it unnerves me that a man could write such beautiful magical tragedy. i carried this book around with me (although too large for a pocket) for about 3 months before i was able to put it down. i even got in trouble for reading it during a baseball game in college. seems coach would rather have you take some practice swings than watch you reread the aurelian for the 15th time. haha
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This collection has a lot of stories that warm the dark corners of my cold little heart. He is hilariously bleak, so over the top you can't really feel bad.. some of the stories feel like Poe, some a bit Borges-esque, some even (go figure) have the Russian greats feel.. some of his Russian stories felt just like reading passages of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky.. but all definitely genuine Nabokov. Good times. I *heart* short stories!
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Read in May, 2004
Vladimir Nabokov is one of my favorite authors of all time. And I also happen to love short stories. Nabokov + short stories = really awesome book. His style of writing is very poetic...long rambling sentences... and sometimes reading one of his books can be a little bit of work. Which is another reason why I like this collection of short stories - you get the best of his creativity in (relatively) short, delicious bites.
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Read in January, 1998
i read this book while i was living in france and starved for english. even though the stories are translated from the original russian, the language was so elegant and easy, i was compelled to read some of them aloud. to myself. in hushed tones so that i wouldn't wake the babes. nothing brings me back to that time, to that room, like this book.
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I finally tired of Nobokov's petty, small-minded megalomania and felt it bleeding into his writing. Maybe I knew too much about him having read the biography of his wife Vera? I can't stand to read him any longer--but I still have feelings for Pnin and Lolita. So--don't read too much about authors of fiction. Who needs to know?
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Read in January, 1996
This is undoubtedly one of the finest collections of a single author's short writing. Nabokov was a true master of short fiction, and this collection leads the reader from one masterful work to another, covering the full period of the author's writing life.
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Yay, Powells, for taking a giant box of my books so that I could get exactly four new ones in exchange. Including this one. I plan to be reading it all Summer. One or two stories between my other books. I do not like this cover, though. No.
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I read these stories over and over again, and each time I find something new to love: a line, a character.. something that I hadn't noticed the first time. I love writing that seems new and fresh even when you've read it multiple times.
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This book makes me sad that I will never speak Russian fluently. Nabokov's writing in this book is some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read, and he writes in Russian first, and then translates to English, his second language.
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The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is that some of these stories are too cheesy to be great art. It's an exhaustive collection, and nearly everything is a jewel. I'll post a list of top favorites when I'm done...
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Read in August, 2008
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.
AMAZING.
OUTSTANDING.
My favorites:
"Gods"
"A Letter that Never Reached Russia"
"Spring in Fialta"
"A Matter of Chance"
"Beneficience"
"A Guide to Berlin"
NABOKOV IS A GENIUS.
AMAZING.
OUTSTANDING.
My favorites:
"Gods"
"A Letter that Never Reached Russia"
"Spring in Fialta"
"A Matter of Chance"
"Beneficience"
"A Guide to Berlin"
NABOKOV IS A GENIUS.
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still reading this. not a fan of short stories because they tend to be disjointed and non-thematic. this is true of this.... so its the first v. nabokov book that im having a hard time finishing it
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avg rating (all editions): 4.32 (739 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 4.34 (710 ratings) number of reviews: 55
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