Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

397 reviews

operaghost7's review against another edition

This book was too hard of a read in the sense of the very dark and evil subject it covered. I didn’t enjoy reading it, only made me hate some aspects of humanity more.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

It’s goes heavy into the thoughts of the groomer and his sexual fantasies. Overall extremely uncomfortable to read and makes me angry.

littleneptune's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.5

This is really one of those books I read because I felt like I should read it at least once in my life. I’m glad I did. It is no surprise how hard the premise of this book is and it did make it harder to go through it, but it was soooo worth it. Lolita is a very well written book and kept me hooked for hours, wanting to know how it would all unfold. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

saturn_rage's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

3.0

Jeromy Irons the narrator carries this for me. I hate hate hate hate hate our main character, Humbert Humbert, and while this book is a fantastic example of unreliable narration, he is not redeemable in any ways. Having actually read this book also makes me reevaluate earlier assessments of this story I’ve heard before by others, namely that you will feel bad for Humbert. The opening of Captain Fantastic comes to mind in this regard. And if you share this sentiment, that you are sorry for this monster, then you are telling on yourself. I’m glad I read this, I think it should be read, but I will never touch it again. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexism and Stalking

artemy_se's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Rape, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Child abuse

Moderate: Racial slurs and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death

wesbian's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

a very uncomfortable read. nabakov's 'floral' writing directly contrasts the disgusting thoughts of humber and makes the experience of reading this  ovel confusing. took me roughly 5 months to finish it as i kept having to take many breaks due to how dark the subject of this book is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, and Child abuse

nypho_maniac's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

2.0

I threw up

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Murder, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Incest

plathandthebelljar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, and Mental illness

Minor: Child death

katherineellen's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

4.0

“Life is just one small piece of light between two eternal darknesses.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Murder, and Pedophilia

dr_sol's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Drug use, Addiction, and Drug abuse

Minor: Death of parent

batrick_pateman's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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

Where to start?
This is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read, maybe even the most beautifully written. Nabokov was a master at playing with language, it's amazing that he only started writing in English in the middle of his life and career. I'm in awe of the writing, and the plot makes me feel filthy. Like a stain I can't remove.
In a lesser writer's hands, Humbert Humbert would be a stock character and this book would be worse than worthless - but Nabokov turns it into a dissection of not just a predator's psyche, but the reader's idea of a predator's psyche. At every turn, H. H. is trying to win the reader's sympathy - he never lies, but he obscures, justifies, begs, contrasts himself with

Quilty

, and does everything else he can to hide the fact that he is a monster. Thanks to Nabokov's writing, it almost works - recognizing H. H. as a monster and a predator forces you to reject the popular image of The Pedophile and re-think your idea of what predators are like. Brilliant, disturbing, important, gorgeously written, and a book I'll definitely return to someday.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Gun violence and Murder