Jacinda's comments (member since Feb 06, 2008)

Jacinda's comments from the Banned Books group.

I read this book when I was 11, and it bothered me a lot. I think it was because the girl died, and I had never read a book with such a sad ending before.

I thought she was awesome, though - very quirky character.

I just finished the book. I think Nabakov did a good job portraying HH's descent from relative sanity into incoherence at the end.

I didn't find the initial "romance" between HH and Lolita nearly as disturbing as all of his attempts to control her once she wasn't really interested anymore.

I never liked Mrs. Haze - she may have tried to stop HH from getting at Lolita, but it certainly wasn't because she cared about Lolita. She didn't seem to care about anyone but herself, and Lolita was just an inconvenience.

I want to know what happened with Lolita between running away from HH and ending up married. Did she marry for love? Did she want a child? Or did those things just sort of happen to her, like everything else?

I think I'm about to the same place you are.

About the "murderer" thing - HH keeps throwing in tidbits about abusing his first wife. I'm guessing maybe something happened with her? I don't know, I always feel like I must have missed something.

Yeah, I don't really see how "Lolita" is a nickname for "Delores" either.

HH mostly comes across as pompous and self-centered.

It always feels disingenuous when white people complain about the "double standard" wherein black people can use that word and white people can't. It's only "unfair" if you completely ignore all context... And I agree, I may not approve of the language some black people use to refer to each other, but it's really none of my business.

In any case, the language in the book does seem realistic. You can't depict how most people talk by leaving out all the "offensive" words...

So, from those quotes, it sounds like the issues were mostly sex and "bad" language? Possibly references to race as well.

There is a fair bit of discussion of sex in the book, even "weird" sex, but it all has a purpose. It's pretty much all either a demonstration of how screwed up Milkman's parents are, or part of someone (usually Milkman) growing up / maturing. Given that Milkman becoming a mature person is the main storyline... his sexual relationships are hardly gratuitous. His parents are tragically-flawed people who have been affected by awful circumstances, and discovering that his parents are human is part of Milkman's growing up as well.

Thanks for the suggestions; just joined both of them.

I love reading. My favourite genre is science fiction, for its ability to play with ideas and possible futures.

I oppose book banning because access to information and different viewpoints is never a bad thing. I believe strongly in free speech, and in teaching people to think critically rather than shielding them from "bad" information.

Also, as a queer person, I am aware that books with any LGBTQ content are frequently banned.

Just got it from the library last night and started it this morning. I think I might have read this in high school; it seems very familiar.