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ketreads's review against another edition
2.5
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!
Graphic: Racism, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
racheltrow_'s review
- 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
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Incest
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racism, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Murder, Mental illness, Violence, Drug abuse, and Car accident
shayh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
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
lesbegays's review against another edition
- 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
i always have been and always will be drawn to stories about atrocities committed in the name of love, about evil done to loved ones not in spite of that love but because of it, about love that is twisted and selfish and incomplete but still very much love, about people who only know how to give love in ways that won’t feel like love to those who receive it. i think this is essential reading for anyone drawn to those themes in stories who can stomach this particular type of evil.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Incest, Murder, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Drug use, Blood, Death of parent, Vomit, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Trafficking, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Racism
joaura's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Reading this book was not only higly triggering and disturbing, but felt so pointless in trying to analyse it on a higher level.
I read a plot summary for the last third I had left and I'm glad I did that instead of pushing through the remaining pages of this novel.
I understand why it's a classic.
But!
I don't understand how it's described to be dangerously decieving the reader into sympathizing with Humbert.
~
I don't want to add anything to my initial review explaining why I didn't finish this novel, even though I managed to read the remaining pages after cooling down a bit.
This book was a tough read, expecially for me as a survivor myself.
Please be careful reading this piece of work if you've had experiences regarding child sexual abuse yourself.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Death, Fatphobia, Murder, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, Racism, and Cursing
Minor: Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Car accident
xahom's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Incest, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, and Gun violence
Minor: Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Racism
manybees's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Trafficking, and Incest
Moderate: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Confinement, Classism, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Death
Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, and Racial slurs
There is only one abuse scene that could be considered sexually explicit and it is written in such an abstracted and poetic way that it’s almost kinda hard to tell what’s going on. There is also period-typical racism and racial slurs.sorryiateyourbooks's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Rape
Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, and War
kelisabeth'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
2.5
Graphic: Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Car accident, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
cateyeschloe's review
- 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