Speak, Memory in Around the World in 80 Books

Jan 22, 2014 Rachel rated it liked it · review of another edition

I feel like I learned a lot more about what it was like to be an ordinary citizen during the war, which wasn't exact what he was trying to do per se, than a few others that I've read in the past that purported to do exactly that.

The last two essays are directed to you, whom I am assuming is his wife. Who I want to know a lot more about now.

Oh and Nabokov is such an excellent writer I have to read every single one of them, which is sadly something I don't always feel compelled to do. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 28, 2012 Kent Winward rated it liked it

After all the hype on this book as an amazing autobiography, I was actually quite disappointed. The writing is beautiful, but maybe it is that aristocratic arrogance that I rebelled against. Even in the exile and tragedy of the Russian Revolution, I felt half glad the little arrogant Russian got booted.

Nabokov was best when describing his brother and father, I thought. Mostly I just got the feeling that this wasn't a person I would really like. Possibly some clash of personality that came throu ...more

Like · see review

Jan 28, 2013 Erin (NY) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, books-i-own, russian, classics, translation, read-in-2013

I liked this book primarily for Nabokov's voice. He speaks mainly about his childhood in St. Petersburg. I very much appreciated his sense of humor. It was also interesting to see how various characters from his childhood influenced his later works. His story also is an important illustration of how Intelligencia class in Russia was affected by the Communist regime. ...more

Like · see review