Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

134 reviews

opheliacomplex_'s review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Pretentiousness and subject matter aside, the writing was lovely. And while I don't believe the author wrote this to innocently fulfill a perverted fantasy, I understand why someone else would. It's not for the light-hearted. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

Moderate: Death of parent and Misogyny

devin_raquel's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

3.0

In all honesty, I was let down by this novel, especially since this a book that is considered a classic in the literary community. I’m going to assume that somethings got lost in translation, since Nobokov’s orginial manuscript was in Russian. I was expecting to read something revolutionary, but instead, it seemed to me the ramblings of a depressed, self-conscious, pedophile. 
There are a few sections in this novel where I caught myself thinking that Humbert Humbert and Lolita’s romance would be a coveted one if the age gap wasn’t so vast. 
The drolling paragraphs, that went on and on, made for a difficult read and a confusing narrative; I found myself confused more than once within these pages. If you’re looking for a forbidden romance, or even for a book that will make your skin crawl, I would suggest picking up something else.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Incest, and Kidnapping

Minor: Death of parent, Gun violence, and Murder

ppp's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

---

Content Warnings

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

josierosser's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Misogyny

Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Alcohol, Medical content, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

sticky_soul_sticky_soles's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Car accident, Death, Murder, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Gun violence, Incest, and Emotional abuse

mikala's review against another edition

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

4.5

took me forever to finish due to the complexity of the language and also indigestible story themes but the more i read and the more revealed about humbert humberts psyche the more i was able to enjoy the book. the dichotomy between the ugly contents of the book vs the glamorous style of writing made it interesting to read and analyse. i particularly enjoyed nabokovs thoughts on the book at the end. though romantically written the book is not a romance in the slightest but rather a view into the mind of the twisted and decrepit. 

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

persikan_05's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Incest, Medical content, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, and Gun violence

bellamp's review against another edition

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Trafficking, Incest, Rape, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, and Misogyny

rayne_1906's review against another edition

dark slow-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

4.25

5 hours 9 minutes - I normally find classic books incredibly hard to read, but oddly I didn't have much trouble in that regard with this book. It is artfully written in such a way that you are disgusted with the actions and thoughts of Humbert Humbert, and yet driven to continue reading darkly fascinated by the twisted way his mind works and his calm justifications for his desires, and the way he spirals into paranoia and panic. It is definitely one of those books that you hate the content but love the execution. A difficult, challenging read but one I'm glad I did.

---

Content Warnings

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

niyahneal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Incest, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship