Reviews tagging 'Car accident'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

89 reviews

gvstyris's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

I need you, the reader, to imagine us, for we don’t really exist if you don’t.

There’s no doubt that Nabokov’s Lolita is a timeless classic, and I finally understand why. Primarily, the prose is gorgeous. I’ve never been so in awe of an author’s writing style and paused repeatedly to jot down quotes or dog-ear pages. Nabokov’s manipulation of narration (and the strength of Humbert Humbert’s personal voice) is similarly masterful, and I was struck by how fundamental the novel’s foreword is to understanding the story. It must also be noted that Humbert Humbert is a well-crafted, terrifying character whose gaze aptly reflects our society’s obsession with young girls, a messaging still of undeniable relevance in the 21st century.

Before reading, I was both fascinated by Lolita’s cultural impact and confused by the purpose of such a novel. It seemed perplexing that an author would want to tell such a viscerally uncomfortable story, and it’s a question I couldn’t properly answer until reading Nabokov’s afterword. He argues that “I am neither a reader nor writer of didactic fiction, and, despite John Ray’s assertion, Lolita has no moral in tow.” Instead, its purpose is realism, a cautionary tale that stands the test of time because of how it is continually misconstrued by paedophiles and victims alike. I’m glad to have finally read it and will be thinking about its cultural relevance for a long time. 

I’ve (pretty superficially) knocked half a star off for the verbose descriptions. Humbert Humbert’s excessive ramblings while traipsing the country with Lo were unnecessary and arguably detrimental to the flow of the narrative. 

Overall a powerful read, and I highly recommend giving it a shot if you’re in the right mental place. Definitely look up the content warnings, though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Rape, Car accident, and Incest

Minor: Racism

river69rat'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Probably one of the hardest books to digest and then rate. Deeply disturbing, but a brilliant portrayal of the deluded mind of a disgusting man. Reading this after reading My Dark Vanessa last year creates an additional layer of almost being able to see Lolita's perspective. The amount of people who lack reading comprehension for this book to be commonly known as a romance is crazy to me also!! Anyway, fantastic book whilst also sitting in a deeply uncomfortable space.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape and Gun violence

halaagmod's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gun violence, and Death

Minor: Xenophobia, Racism, Pregnancy, and Car accident

dakotahreads's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Gun violence, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Death, Sexual content, and Murder

emmablue's review against another edition

dark emotional sad

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Rape, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, and Incest

kleinerdiktator's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Incest, Murder, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Blood, Sexual assault, Violence, Rape, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Car accident, and Death

chaya_v's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

Horrifying content but form is brilliant. When looking at the writing only this is a masterpiece. But the content makes it impossible for me to rate this higher. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Death of parent, Incest, Car accident, Murder, Kidnapping, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

nisha_111's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Incest, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Death, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Murder, Pedophilia, and Stalking

sleepyriv's review against another edition

dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Car accident, Gun violence, Incest, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

jani_mcgonagall's review against another edition

I was prepared, but still I couldn't finish it... The style was quite difficult (yet very wel written), and the topic was more than difficult... I tried, but I felt awful. I was intrigued by the idea of being inside the head of a psychopath, which still was true.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Incest, and Murder