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alulushi's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jupen's review
challenging
funny
lighthearted
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
irenegoddess's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jamjunrb's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was such a unique and delicious novel! Nabokov builds a charming yet bumbling character and a mysterious periphery narrator, peeking through sprinkled “I” statements. From the captivating, clever diction and the narrative weaving, this read was a joy to encounter. The academic setting made this read all the more fun to engage and align with Pnin (though not so comedically tragic). The silly yet sad events Pnin navigates kept me on my toes. It’s a tactful and precarious balance between devastating delight, droll, and distressing. There’s so much to love and laugh through in this book; it is well worth a re-read when feeling down. :)
snailhotel's review
3.0
described this book to my friend as being about an old man who's so sweet that it makes you cry
kitrey's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
raulbime's review
5.0
This was fun, just plain delightful reading. Pnin is a Russian émigré living in the U.S. and teaching in a school called Waindell. Poor blundering, stumbling, clumsy and unlucky Pnin. All the bad luck and miseries he faces and still remains dignified and maintaining a certain level of innocence amidst failure and mockery, as well as retaining his sense of individuality and eccentrity.
Nabokov, of course, writes with great brilliance. For example: "It surprised him to realize how fond he had been of his teeth. His tongue, a fat sleek seal, used to flop and slide happily among the familiar rocks, checking the contours of a battered but still secure kingdom, plunging from cave to cove, climbing this jag, nuzzling that notch, finding a shred of sweetened seaweed in the same old cleft; but now not a landmark remained, and all there existed was a great dark wound, a terra incognita of gums which dreadband disgust forbade one to investigate."
I'll certainly miss Pnin and will think of him every now and then.
Nabokov, of course, writes with great brilliance. For example: "It surprised him to realize how fond he had been of his teeth. His tongue, a fat sleek seal, used to flop and slide happily among the familiar rocks, checking the contours of a battered but still secure kingdom, plunging from cave to cove, climbing this jag, nuzzling that notch, finding a shred of sweetened seaweed in the same old cleft; but now not a landmark remained, and all there existed was a great dark wound, a terra incognita of gums which dreadband disgust forbade one to investigate."
I'll certainly miss Pnin and will think of him every now and then.