Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

65 reviews

freyadunne's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Stalking

davidrb's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

Not giving this one a rating.

One of my favorite books when it comes to technical skill and the clear love and talent Nabokov has for his craft, a marvel of characterization that is almost too strong, and at the same time the worst book to actually read. This is my first time returning to it since I was about Dolly's age, and it's as profoundly upsetting as it gets. Nobody wins.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence

sarahmackenziehs's review against another edition

dark sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Pedophilia, and Trafficking

Moderate: Stalking

katariinatoivanen's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Sexual content, Racial slurs, and Pedophilia

Minor: Death, Gun violence, Murder, and Rape

house_of_hannah's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.0

It's been two days since I finished this book, and I still have no idea how to write a review. I think many write this book off as creepy pedo fodder, but wow is it so much more than it's title indicates. This is a descent into the psyche of a mentally ill man who twists reality to abolish his guilt. 

Our narrator, Humbert Humbert, who we never learn the true name of, twists a tale to try to make himself out as the victim. However, he has moments of clarity where he realizes how terrible what he is doing is, and considers himself a monster. These moments are then erased by his mind twisting the actions of a young girl into something they should never be perceived as. There are also cracks here though, as he notices Dolly (Lolita) crying herself to sleep every night, and how she reacts to a normal father/daughter relationship. 

This book starts off in one direction, but then takes many twists and turns to where we are experiencing the genres of horror, mystery, thriller, and psychology as well. The very beginning of this story starts with Humbert already in custody, so this is a retelling of events. He's quite good at self-analysis, and begins his tale with explaining the event that happened in his childhood that has caused his vile tastes. As someone who is interested in the psychology behind our actions I find this book to be fascinating and frighteningly realistic.

Nabokov has written this book in a way that flows beautifully. So little is outright said, and instead many euphamisms are used to keep the lyrical effect. It constrasts so well with the actual content that I can definitely see why some might call this a masterpiece. Nonetheless, I honestly could not imagine reading this book if I had children of my own. The last sentence of the Foreword really stuck with me through this story (It is also written by a Nabokov character). It is as follows: "Lolita should make all of us - parents, social workers, educators - apply ourselves with still greater vigilance and vision to the task of bringing up a better generation in a safer world."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Incest, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Murder, Medical content, and Gun violence

jmcordero's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Car accident, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Incest, Infidelity, and Physical abuse

Minor: Pregnancy and Stalking

sidmarine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Stalking

Minor: Death and Death of parent

karenaerts's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, and Rape

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Car accident, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, and Stalking

novajhops's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Rape, and Stalking

Minor: Car accident

meaghanelizabook's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.5

This book was a tough one to get through.. it is so... icky. The content is disturbing and Humbert Humbert is the biggest, grossest creep ever to literature.
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That said, the reason this has so many stars is because the prose itself is really lovely. I was determined to finish the book despite the ickiness and the writing helped a lot with that.
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Still... Ick.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Car accident, Kidnapping, Murder, and Pregnancy