Michael Delizia answers “Does anyone have a preferred order to read...”

Cat asked this question about Pale Fire:

Does anyone have a preferred order to read this in? I plan on reading the sections in order, but I did wonder how the experience would change if you read in the order Kinbote suggests - intro, commentary, and then the poem. Or flipped from poem to commentary as you go. Thoughts?

Michael Delizia I recommend reading it as if it were what it purports to be: a poem by John Shade with introduction, notes and index by Charles Kinbote. Try to keep i…moreI recommend reading it as if it were what it purports to be: a poem by John Shade with introduction, notes and index by Charles Kinbote. Try to keep it all in your head and reassemble it there as it starts to make sense. You'll find yourself playing a challenging game with Nabokov.(less)

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