Lolita in Our Shared Shelf

Jul 21, 2009 Alana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, 2009_07_july

"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.
"She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always Lolita."

Oh, Lolita. Is there anyone these days who doesn't know the general story? Middle-aged Humbert Humbert becomes obsesse

"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.
"She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always Lolita."

Oh, Lolita. Is there anyone these days who doesn't know the general story? Middle-aged Humbert Humbert becomes obsessed with twelve-year-old Dolores Haze. Thankfully, few literate people disagree with the statement that Lolita is a brilliant work of twentieth-century fiction. I find myself at a loss for words in reviewing this book, if only because I feel like so much has already been said. The language is beautiful and the story is riveting. The repulsion one feels for Humbert's taste is complicated by his deviously charming writing and Lolita's self-awareness. One might find an untrustworthy narrator to be a chore at times, but here, it is nothing short of fascinating.

Above all, what struck me with this reading of Lolita is just how masterful Nabokov's command of the English language really is... I found myself savoring every sentence and looking up the definitions of words of which I knew the meanings... not because I thought I was wrong or that he would be more precise, but that there were certain nuances to be gained. I spent time reflecting on certain details that would crop up (for instance, Humbert's obsessive cataloging of Lolita's height and weight) or various academic interpretations (the question of this book representing the corruption of young America by old Europe or old Europe's downfall brought about by young America), but really, it's the language that I kept coming back to again and again. Here is a wordsmith, here is a man who knows how to turn a phrase. Breath-taking at every turn.

If you haven't read it yet, I shall not pressure you. There will come a time in your life when you finally feel compelled to pick this up and you'll understand the awesome power of Nabokov's language in painting such an fascinating story. ...more

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Jul 31, 2007 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio, 1001_before_i_die

I listened to this book, and swooned over the reader, actor Jeremy Irons (who also stars in one of the movie versions). I first wanted to read this book when I was a kid because of the Police lyrics "just like that book by Nabokov" from "Don't Stand So Close to Me." It's sexy, well written, and well read by this actor. ...more

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Aug 16, 2007 Lis rated it liked it

Shelves: book-club, 2007-reads

i am still trying to figure out what i think of this since my book club (ahem) has not had a chance to discuss it yet. i felt the narrator, and by extension the author, was a bit too pretentious for my taste, though that may just be a style thing. i did like the flowery language, just not the "i am so smart" crap.

the subject of course is disturbing, but the author still managed to make this in the end a love story. a very unhealthy, mental illness induced, criminal love story, but a love story ...more

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Nov 04, 2017 Esra Tasdelen rated it really liked it

For me, great literature is when I am allowed a peek into the depths of the human soul, with all its good and evil. And Nabokov definitely accomplishes this. I have taken away a star for a lack of readability though. He really does use some very obscure words (most of which are not even in the dictionary).

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