Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

133 reviews

ketreads's review against another edition

challenging

2.5

Lolita is a perfect example of an author setting out the task of getting an idea, a character, on paper and doing it most effectively.

Nabokov's purpose of writing the book, to capture a pedophiles point of view, was expertly done. Humbert in all ways encapsulates a being able to cause untold damage to an innocent. Humbert is undeniably a horrible, calous, and unrepentant villain. Reading the mental gymnastics this character went through to justify his actions was infuriating and it feels almost so over the top to be comedic. How can a character be so reflective and yet so blind to the irony of his own judgement.

I often found, especially in the 2nd half, the inner dialogue of Humbert very difficult to follow. I'm not sure if this was intentional, to show his mental decline, but I found myself unable to understand what a lot of sentences were saying. The ones I did, were very well written, almost poetic so it feels more intentional by the author than otherwise.

I'm also not sure whether to say I "liked" the book but I do think it achieved what I sought out of the book. Read at your own peril!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

jani_mcgonagall's review against another edition

I was prepared, but still I couldn't finish it... The style was quite difficult (yet very wel written), and the topic was more than difficult... I tried, but I felt awful. I was intrigued by the idea of being inside the head of a psychopath, which still was true.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Incest, and Murder

marageorge's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Gun violence and Murder

Minor: Pregnancy

catjoelle's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual assault

shayh's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Racial slurs, Death, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Incest

Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Gaslighting, and Murder

kindregardstilly's review against another edition

got too much and not a fan of reading about pedophilia tbh. but the writing style was genuinely quite good

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent

beepbuggy's review

dark medium-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

the book is sick and so is the main character but the writing and prose is so amazing it makes the reader think he might be normal but then you think about it and you know he isnt 😭😭 it’s actually so good tho

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Toxic relationship, Incest, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, and Sexual content

mme_carton's review against another edition

dark funny 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Sexual assault, Car accident, Mental illness, Sexual content, Child abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Blood

sarahlord0110's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pedophilia

joanacanada's review against another edition

challenging tense slow-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? It's complicated

2.75

Boa escrita, mas história não me cativou - senti que a narrativa se alongou mais do que necessário, entrando em descrições excessivas e contando trechos em que nada se passava ou acrescentava. Também não ajudou (em termos de motivação para ler) a o tema abordado

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia and Rape

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Adult/minor relationship