From the Bookshelf of The Roundtable…

Pnin

Vladimir Nabokov

Start date: April 1, 2016

Finish date: April 30, 2016

Discussion: Genre

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Genre - December 2016 - Ancillary Justice
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last updated Jan 13, 2017 11:18AM

Genre - February 2016 - Whatever Science Fiction Books You Want to Pick Up
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last updated Dec 17, 2016 04:13PM

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What Members Thought

Apr 10, 2016 El rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: library-borrow, 1001-books-list, 20th-centurylit-late, russia

Unpopular opinion time!

I didn't love this book. I thought Lolita was a beautifully constructed novel, as creepy and fucked up as it is, and I expected this slim volume to have some of the same. There are similar moments of beauty, but otherwise I was underwhelmed.

The story itself could have been fine - Timofey Pnin is a Russian professor living in America and teaching at a fictional college, Waindell College. He teaches, of course, Russian, and is rather an absentminded professor-sort, which sho Unpopular opinion time!

I didn't love this book. I thought Lolita was a beautifully constructed novel, as creepy and fucked up as it is, and I expected this slim volume to have some of the same. There are similar moments of beauty, but otherwise I was underwhelmed.

The story itself could have been fine - Timofey Pnin is a Russian professor living in America and teaching at a fictional college, Waindell College. He teaches, of course, Russian, and is rather an absentminded professor-sort, which should have been (and I am told actually was) hilarious.

Yes, if you've been following my reviews for a while now, you'll know that I really suck at interpreting humor in literature. Somehow it doesn't quite work for me, even if I do recognize it (which admittedly I do not always). It often comes across as... sad. And this was no exception. Similar to the way I felt about Lucky Jim which is actually pretty similar in that they both feature the academic world and the professors detailed are sort of ridiculous and things happen to them that are supposed to be really funny, and I'm over here all "Wah-waaaaaaah."

Sorry, it's just me.

I do appreciate a good novel about the academic world, though I'm not sure why they always have to be this stories about professors too old or feeble-minded or goofy to be accepted by their peers. It's either that, or they're the Robin Williams a la Dead Poet's Society where they make SUCH AN IMPRESSION that students' lives will never be the same again. It's like they can't just be a regular person. They're so often either a clown or a saint.

Anyway, it's fine, you should read it, I'm sure you'll like it. Again, it was underwhelming to me, but I can appreciate the quality of Nabokov's writing. And it's a short book (somewhere around 150 pages), so you can read it pretty quickly, if it holds your interest. Personally I felt Nabokov phoned it in with this one, but it doesn't prevent me from wanting to read other books by him. (I'll still read Pale Fire, and yes, I am aware that Pnin makes an appearance there.) ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2013 Elise rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, read-in-2016, 1950s

Gentle, meandering, sometimes goofy but mostly sad. The descriptions of art and nature are the best part. People should read this instead of Stoner.

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May 06, 2024 Pamela rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: boxall-1001-read, guardian-1000-read

Charming if rather downbeat character study of the hapless Russian emigré professor, battling his way through life at a second rate American college. Timofey Pnin is mocked and belittled by his colleagues, exploited by his ex-wife, and thwarted by every aspect of everyday life.

This is poignant, darkly funny, and brilliantly written in Nabokov’s recognisable literary style. Pnin is full of contradictions - for example, his colleagues find his accent and use of English eccentric and often bafflin ...more

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Mar 31, 2016 Sera rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, 1001-books, library, literary-fiction

Although this book has its comic moments, I found it to be an overall sad story. I also kept thinking as I read the book whether it was somewhat autobiographical in nature. Pnin's living in many countries throughout this life mirrors to some extent the experience of Nabokov. Pnin's inability to settle down in one area leads to him feeling disconnected and like an outsider looking in. However, Pnin has been working at the university for 9 years and is ready to put his roots into the local communi ...more

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