Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

127 reviews

kmae314's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Would not read again. I’ve seen enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Stalking, Sexism, Gaslighting, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

andrewfischerr19's review

challenging dark 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

Wow. I just went into this book knowing that Kubrick adapted it (haven't watched it yet, but planning to). It was very intriguing seeing how Nabokov wrote in the perspective of an abuser, and I found that my favorite parts where Humbert scoffs and spits in your face for assuming the right thing. the character manipulates you and you often catch yourself saying "wait a second, I know what you're doing." Overall, Lolita is beautifully written and if you can handle the subject matter I heavily recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Death

Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism

ettan's review against another edition

The way the book is written was interesting and at times beautiful. Challenging read both in terms of language and content. I couldn't finish it because of the dark themes, it made me uncomfortable and very sad. "How reliable is the narrator" was one of my main thoughts when reading it. At times the main protagonist could go on about his interpretation of events for multiple pages and just briefly mention something terrible or how the victim reacted "according to him".

I do not wish to continue it, but do not regret giving it a try.

I made a google doc of quotes that made my stomach turn, 2 from over 10 pages worth;

"-adorable pubescent pet..."
"-I often felt we lived in a lighted house of glass, and any moment some thin-lipped parchment face would peer through a carelessly unshaded window to obtain a free glimpse of things that the most jaded voyeur would have paid a small fortune to watch..."

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Stalking

ranflanflana91's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Car accident

ashareads's review against another edition

challenging sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Abandonment, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

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

accidentalfolklore's review against another edition

Couldn’t do it. It’s well written but I couldn’t get past how much detail is gone into the subject. It was also a bit boring and I found myself putting it on in the background just to mindlessly get through it. At about 44% through I gave up on it. 

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Content Warnings

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

fanni_b22's review against another edition

dark sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Rape, Pedophilia, and Sexual harassment

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

_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