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cateyeschloe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Between the age limits of nine and fourteen there occur maidens who, to certain bewitched travelers, twice or many times older than they, reveal their true nature which is not human, but nymphic (that is demoniac); and these chosen creatures I propose to designate as ‘nymphets’.”
“… there must be a gap of several years, never less than ten I should say, generally thirty or forty, and as many as ninety in a few known cases, between maiden and man to enable the latter to come under a nymphet’s spell.”
“… the majority of sex offenders that hanker for some throbbing… physical but not necessarily coital, relation with a girl-child, are innocuous, inadequate, passive, timid strangers who merely ask the community to allow them to pursue their practically harmless, so-called aberrant behavior… We are not sex fiends! We do not rape… We are unhappy, mild, dog-eyed gentlemen, sufficiently well integrated to control urge in the presence of adults, but ready to give years and years… for one chance to touch a nymphet.”
“There are few physiques I loathe more than the heavy low-slung pelvis, thick claves, and deplorable complexion of the average coed (in whom I see… the coffin of coarse female flesh within which my nymphets are buried alive)…”
“… it would take hours of blandishments, threats, and promises to make her lend me for a few seconds her brown limbs in the seclusion of the five-dollar room before undertaking anything she might prefer to my joy.”
“I have but followed nature. I am nature’s faithful hound.”
This book was extremely difficult to consume, and it took me quite a while to read it because I kept wanting to take breaks and step away from what I was reading. It’s a hard read. Well written and a topic that should be addressed and discussed, but definitely one that should be broached with the content and trigger warnings in mind.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Racism
Minor: Pregnancy, Body shaming, and Grief
daisywilkes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story of a serial predator who grooms a young girl, abducts her, takes her on a cross country road trip, prevents her escape and abuses her at every turn.
This book is great in its intentionality - nothing here is an accident. The intention of Humbert Humbert is unfortunately not uncommon nor unusual and Nabokov uses Lolita to hold up a mirror to our society and what it ignores. It's terrible and unthinkable and appealing and it happens all the time.
"The book is ultimately not a portrait of a monster, but a portrait of a girl's annihilation." - Claire Dederer
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse
taelights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Now I honestly think anyone who believes this book romanticizes pedophilia is either 1) fucked up, 2) has not read the book and is making assumptions, or 3) doesn't have an ounce of critical thinking skills and no ability to analyze a book. You can tell that Nabokov doesn't agree with Humbert's character or actions.
Honestly this book was lowkey kind of a masterpiece. Vladimir Nabokov's writing style is beautiful and this is such a good genius example of an unreliable narrator story. The subject matter was of course disgusting and so many lines made me feel nauseated but it was such an interesting read. I kind of want to read it through again in the future to better analyze the book now that I have a picture of the whole story arch.
Graphic: Car accident, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual content, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
margaritium's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Stalking, Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic relationship
another_dahlia's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident
lavendercookie's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Incest
a1exander's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy, Classism, Alcohol, and Murder
msg123211's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
hexa's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Incest
big_paul's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Rape, Racial slurs, Violence, and Misogyny