Reviews

Despair by Vladimir Nabokov

josh_paul's review against another edition

3.0

A fine little book about an altogether despicable idiot.

cowardlyoldworld's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.75

theconstantreader's review against another edition

5.0

Despair is excellent and nothing like what I was expecting - honestly I have no idea what I was expecting - but this wasn't it and surprisingly so.

The whole set up is impeccable. The narration is funny and witty while all the time Hermann is so perfectly unaware of himself. It was brilliant - the writing was so clever.

Every step in the second half of the book surprised me which brought me endless entertainment. While I didn't find this book an easy read, it didn't matter and was kind of all the better for it.

Funnily enough, when I went to search the book, I was still so in it that I typed: Despair Hermann instead of Despair Vladimir. Extremely well done, definitely a fun one to check out if you're after something literarily unique.

matildelusa's review against another edition

Sono arrivata quasi alla fine, ma non ho capito nulla. Sarà per un’altra volta, Nabokov :)

kdavisreich's review against another edition

3.0

I finally finished it! My library copy is *so* overdue! I had a pretty disjointed experience with this book for about the first two-thirds of it, and then I became more engaged at the end. I think there was a lot going on that I just totally missed (not having read any Dostoevsky probably doesn't help), but it's hard not to appreciate some black humor and a totally despicable, untrustworthy narrator.

readbycandlelit's review against another edition

DNF at 48%

This was a library book and I was given about a month to read it. Despair is not my first Nabokov and it won't be my last because the man's pretentious prose never fails to amuse me. Regardless, it takes a lot out of my time. It's not the kind of book that makes you want to turn the page. So far, this short little novel was giving absolute three stars but those stars are vaguely outlined so I won't be checking it out again.

mileva_lit's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• 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

1.0

nunuseli's review against another edition

4.0

Una pequeña joya de Nabokov. Una variación original del tema del doble. Un cuento moral con una ironía despiadada. Divertido y cruel. Una obra entendida como un enigma que el lector tiene que descifrar.

leviathandreamer's review against another edition

funny 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

its_naya's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0