Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

197 reviews

lisvxdro's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I will admit that I had some trouble getting through this not because of the subject matter, but by my lack of focus. Nabokov’s writing is descriptive, delicate, tongue-in-cheek, and funny at some points. One misread and the next few sentence (even words) become confusing. That is to say that you must pay attention, which I had trouble with. Not because of his writing, but of my own focus. I will need to re-read this at a later time with more focus.

This book is considered by many one of the greatest pieces of modern literature. Im failing to understand why or how it’s celebrated. Is it due to the psychological deep dive of Humbert Humbert and his way with words or the portrayal of such a topic that is now obviously incredibly repulsive. I was hesitant to give it 4-stars for my first read but I feel like it’s mainly due to my understanding. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Incest, Pedophilia, and Rape

liathibault's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

completely and absolutely horrifying to read, yet a work of literary genius. if you’re uncomfortable reading this, you should be.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Death of parent

nina_mk's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Sexual assault

jjisntstraight's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Murder, Incest, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

yjd's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Hmmmm.  I was rather surprised to see so many bad reviews calling the book disturbing and describing Humbert as a creep. That is the point?? This book was a challenging foray into the insidious manipulation an abuser can wield. Not just over their victim but themselves too. It was really interesting to see the self-manipulation Humbert engaged in in order to delude himself and justify his abuse. It was equally fascinating to see his desire to present himself as a "tempted," "weak" man to the reader. An absolute masterclass in an unreliable narrator - you could never take anything at face value in the book. The prose was beautiful and created a fascinating juxtaposition against the content.

I feel bad saying the book dragged in parts, but it definitely felt like that at times. For me, the fascinating narrative choice also had its drawbacks. Seeing things from Humbert's perspective was incredibly challenging and made this book what it is. Yet, it left me with a feeling of curiosity regarding Lolita. I really just wanted one glimpse into her psyche that was not coloured by Humbert's garbage perspective. But I suppose that's for a different book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Pedophilia

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Gun violence and Violence

frmeden's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"In the infinite run it does not matter a jot that a North American girl child named Dolores Haze had been deprived of her childhood by a maniac, unless this can be proven."

it is so hard to put into words the way this novel affected me, other than we've done a great disservice to it by peddling it as a 'love story' for all these years. nabokov can say this story has no moral but the authorial intent reads very clear to me! i do almost feel like i could go back and read it again and catch new things because it kind of reads like a very overwritten horror/mystery novel, because HH is lying to you constantly and covering up his crimes with flowery prose. dolores haze you deserved better, who the fuck is "lolita" anyway!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Stalking, Rape, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Gun violence

Minor: Child death

manicaxolotl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Mental illness, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Pregnancy

aisclaradm's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Really incredible. I was in a bit of a reading slump and it took me longer than it should have to get through the book, but I never didn’t enjoy it. Despite how vile the narrator and his actions are, there’s something strangely touching about how pathetic and hateful he is. Right from the very beginning until the very last page, this book was just beautiful, though one feels uncomfortable and disgusting throughout most of it. 

Sometimes a tad slow, but that’s more so an indictment of my attention span and less so of one on the book itself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Car accident

krzem's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Pedophilia, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Pregnancy and Gun violence

_kaylinconn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I did not enjoy a single page of this novel, and yet I am rating it 4 stars. It was beautiful in a macabre way. The actions are indeed disgusting, and I appreciate that the text acknowledges that even in the twisted mind of Humbert Humbert. There is not a better example of obsession than this. And though I wish it wasn’t about such a horrible topic, I see what it was trying to say. It leaves me with a stomach ache and tears in my eyes for the life Delores Hayes could have lived, the vacant look described her in eyes destroys me. I read this for dear Sally Horner, who deserved so much more than this world gave her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Sexual violence, Stalking, Car accident, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder