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ru_th's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
[…] For we die every day; oblivion thrives / Not on dry thighbones but on blood-ripe lives, / And our best yesterdays are now foul piles / Of crumpled names, phone numbers and foxed files. / I’m ready to become a floweret / Or a fat fly, but never, to forget. / […]
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child death, and Death
Minor: Murder, Suicide, Racism, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicidal thoughts
quinn24's review
funny
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
everytime I read Nabokov it’s unlike anything i’ve ever read before, this was such an interesting format and it was genuinely funny at several points.
The novel consists of a foreword from the character Charles Kinbote, a poem made up of 4 cantos by the character John Shade and a lengthy commentary by Charles Kinbote. Shade has been murdered and Kinbote is in charge of editing and publishing his poem.
Kinbote is clearly delusional and his commentary is rarely genuinely relevant to the context of the poem. He is an incredibly unreliable narrator and it’s hard to tell what actually happened.
It was a bit hard to get into and went a bit slow but overall I did enjoy it.
The novel consists of a foreword from the character Charles Kinbote, a poem made up of 4 cantos by the character John Shade and a lengthy commentary by Charles Kinbote. Shade has been murdered and Kinbote is in charge of editing and publishing his poem.
Kinbote is clearly delusional and his commentary is rarely genuinely relevant to the context of the poem. He is an incredibly unreliable narrator and it’s hard to tell what actually happened.
It was a bit hard to get into and went a bit slow but overall I did enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs, War, Racism, Suicide, Child death, Gun violence, Death, and Mental illness
bugcollector's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
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
3.5
♬♩ The blinds wide open so he can see
u in the dark when you sleeping ♫♪
It's funny that nabokov despised Dostoyevsky when they are both overly chatty and indulge in racist and misogynistic comments.
It's likely that he tried to mock this style here, but when the mockery is as annoying as the original then maybe it's just as bad?
Otherwise, it's an entertaining novel. Kinbote's own index about himself was enlightening, he's a true humble king and a loving friend.
I only understood the suicide- Gradus killing Shade on purpose bit at the end after farther reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Racism, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Stalking, Suicide, Alcohol, Grief, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Mental illness
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