Lolita in Overdue Podcast

Mar 24, 2014 Jason rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, favorites

Humbly, humming, ho-hum Humbert Humbert, our pedophile protagonist that finds a 'nymphet', the titular 'nymphet', within his grasps and thus we are off into uncomfortable and destructive waters.

Was not sure how I would feel about this book at the onset, but was provoked by it's appearance on all of the all-time must-read lists, as well as some intriguing reviews. One could accurately say that I stumbled forth as a rather tepid reader. I believe my trepidation is understandable when you take a lo ...more

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Oct 25, 2016 Beth rated it liked it

Shelves: classic

What makes this novel interesting to me is the point of view. Novels like this one and (for me) The Catcher in the rye let me feel nostalgic by reflecting on my own youth. These stories I believe when read at different ages (levels of maturity) you see the story in a new way. This in my opinion makes these stories timeless and classic and makes me wish I had read this book in my youth. I believe if I read this as a young lady I would have seen this story differently, but being at the age that I ...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Amanda rated it really liked it

“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.”–Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita

Ah, Lolita. One of the most misunderstood books of the twentieth century. Its title has entered our language as a word to describe a young girl who seduces an older man, but this could not be further from what Nabokov wrote.

The book is narrated by Humbert Humbert, a middle-aged man who is ...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Jeni rated it liked it · review of another edition

It was exactly what I was expecting: well-written and a master class in unreliable narrator. Humbert is a despicable human being, but he dresses up his crimes and desires in such pretty language that at times you do forget and feel sympathy for him.

Until you remember what he wants is to fuck a 13-year-old girl.

He clearly never gave a shit about her, as he doesn't even call her by her name (which isn't Lolita). When he tells her (view spoiler), he does it in a ...more

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Jan 08, 2015 tysephine rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, fiction

Beautifully written, captivating until mid-point, when I lost interest. The second half dragged for me, and it was all I could do to keep reading until the end.

This is one of those novels that are written exceptionally well, but deal with such horrifying concepts that you don't want to like it. I had fun horrifying my coworkers with the basic plotline, I won't lie.

I give this one a 3 since I lost interest halfway. It would have been 4 if not for that. ...more

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