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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Written between Lolita and Pale Fire, two books often found on "Best Novels of the 20th century" lists, and much less ambitious than either, Vladimir Nabokov’s Pnin is nonetheless an entertaining little classic, by turns heartwarming, poignant, and laugh-out-loud funny.
Timofey Pnin is a Russian emigré teaching at the fictional Waindell College in upstate New York in the early 1950s. Although resident in the United States since the outbreak of World War II and naturalized as an American citizen, Pnin has never managed to fit in there. The opening chapter of the book describes his wacky misfortunes in trying to make train and bus connections to give a lecture in another town, his desperate questions put to local people in not-quite-right English. The book seems like it will be the story of an oddity’s clash with his surroundings, like the bumbling Mr. Magoo, or the ethereal Peter Sellers character in the film Being There.
But PNIN is not just a figure of fun. In a remarkable chapter where he visits other Russians who ended up in the United States, Pnin is revealed as a deeply pitiable figure, like many Russian emigrés the victim of a double exile: those who escaped the Bolsheviks for Western Europe found themselves again having to flee from Hitler two decades later. With such upsets behind them, how can one expect them to easily put down roots in their new home? Though fiction, the parallels with Nabokov’s own life are undeniable, and making the book a veritable house of mirrors, the unnamed narrator (one of Pnin's acquaintances) is another fictional version of the author.
This was the first time I had picked up a Nabokov book in over a decade, and I had forgotten how acid his tone could be. Any sentence with multiple clauses is likely to at least end with a biting remark. For example, in this novel with its university setting, that snarkiness at one point manifests itself as a critique against the ivory tower that sounds completely of our time:
I imagine that some readers will be alienated by Nakokov’s inability to ever leave out a dark side from his descriptions, though as a reader whose friends complain that he has the same temperment, this book was right up my alley. Like Lolita, the journey of professor Pnin is also a gripping portrait of American life in the 1950s through the eyes of an outsider who could notice what locals could not.
Yes, the book is slight compared to its illustrious fellows in Nabokov's "American period", and it doesn't promise to be deeply rewarding on re-reading, but Pnin is a fun book that tugs at one's heartstrings, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoyed, say, Lolita and want more from this author.
Timofey Pnin is a Russian emigré teaching at the fictional Waindell College in upstate New York in the early 1950s. Although resident in the United States since the outbreak of World War II and naturalized as an American citizen, Pnin has never managed to fit in there. The opening chapter of the book describes his wacky misfortunes in trying to make train and bus connections to give a lecture in another town, his desperate questions put to local people in not-quite-right English. The book seems like it will be the story of an oddity’s clash with his surroundings, like the bumbling Mr. Magoo, or the ethereal Peter Sellers character in the film Being There.
But PNIN is not just a figure of fun. In a remarkable chapter where he visits other Russians who ended up in the United States, Pnin is revealed as a deeply pitiable figure, like many Russian emigrés the victim of a double exile: those who escaped the Bolsheviks for Western Europe found themselves again having to flee from Hitler two decades later. With such upsets behind them, how can one expect them to easily put down roots in their new home? Though fiction, the parallels with Nabokov’s own life are undeniable, and making the book a veritable house of mirrors, the unnamed narrator (one of Pnin's acquaintances) is another fictional version of the author.
This was the first time I had picked up a Nabokov book in over a decade, and I had forgotten how acid his tone could be. Any sentence with multiple clauses is likely to at least end with a biting remark. For example, in this novel with its university setting, that snarkiness at one point manifests itself as a critique against the ivory tower that sounds completely of our time:
Still the College creaked on ... Literary departments still labored under the impression that Stendhal, Galsworthy, Dreiser, and Mann were great authors. Word plastics like “conflict” and “pattern” were still in vogue. As usual, sterile instructors successfully endeavored to “produce” by reviewing the books of more fertile colleauges, and, as usual, a crop of lucky faculty members were enjoying or about to enjoy various awards received earlier in the year.
I imagine that some readers will be alienated by Nakokov’s inability to ever leave out a dark side from his descriptions, though as a reader whose friends complain that he has the same temperment, this book was right up my alley. Like Lolita, the journey of professor Pnin is also a gripping portrait of American life in the 1950s through the eyes of an outsider who could notice what locals could not.
Yes, the book is slight compared to its illustrious fellows in Nabokov's "American period", and it doesn't promise to be deeply rewarding on re-reading, but Pnin is a fun book that tugs at one's heartstrings, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoyed, say, Lolita and want more from this author.
95% of the book seems to be about Pnin and then you get to the last 5% and realize maybe its about the narrator that you know close to nothing about? It was a cute read and OK story but nothing earth-shattering or too profound. I guess with prose like this you really need to delve into it and pick it apart but there was no part or quote that made me want to do that. It is also a bit dated and hard to connect with
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-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
Nabokov is so good at writing that it is almost disgusting, like watching a machine solve the game you love. All the more impressive for not speaking English as his mother tongue.
The sainted Pnin we meet in the novel is a man trying to set the world right, in his own little way, who of course never quite succeeds. The book is truly lovely, comical, and a joy to read; even despite (perhaps moreso because of) the intrusions of terrible History, which is always and everywhere harassing our poor Pnin.
Its one failing is that by the end the novel tells us more about Nabokov than it ever does Pnin. It becomes difficult not to walk away feeling a little betrayed, a little soured. The book may be finer literature for it, but a worse story.
The sainted Pnin we meet in the novel is a man trying to set the world right, in his own little way, who of course never quite succeeds. The book is truly lovely, comical, and a joy to read; even despite (perhaps moreso because of) the intrusions of terrible History, which is always and everywhere harassing our poor Pnin.
Its one failing is that by the end the novel tells us more about Nabokov than it ever does Pnin. It becomes difficult not to walk away feeling a little betrayed, a little soured. The book may be finer literature for it, but a worse story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicide attempt
i said to somebody already that i love nabkov's writing so extremely but there is no THRUST to this story and that's why it took me close to a month to read, the slim thing. liked it though
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
one of those books where there isn’t really a story to be told as it’s more of a character study. this is wouldn’t be much of an issue if the character himself was more compelling. perhaps i don’t have the cultural context necessary to revel in the jokes and the prose; but nonetheless, i felt it was a chore to read at times. fortunately for nabokov, he has such a beautiful way with words, so i did push through.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was weird. I probably need to read it again to understand it better. I thought it was going to have something happen. Nabokov knows how to write, though. This excerpt was one of my favorite parts:
"From the sideboard and dining-room table Pnin removed to the kitchen sink the used china and silverware. He put away what food remained into the bright Arctic light of the refrigerator. The ham and tongue had all gone, and so had the little sausages; but the viniagrette had not been a success, and enough caviar and meat tarts were left over for a meal or two tomorrow. 'Boom-boom-boom,' said the china closet as he passed by. He surveyed the living room and started to tidy it up. A last drop of Pnin's Punch glistened in its beautiful bowl. Joan had crooked a lipstick-stained cigarette butt in her saucer; Betty had left no trace and had taken all the glasses back to the kitchen. Mrs. Thayer had forgotten a booklet of pretty multicolored matches on her plate, next to a bit of nougat. Mr. Thayer had twisted into all kinds of weird shapes half a dozen paper napkins; Hagen had quenched a messy cigar in an uneaten bunchlet of grapes."
"From the sideboard and dining-room table Pnin removed to the kitchen sink the used china and silverware. He put away what food remained into the bright Arctic light of the refrigerator. The ham and tongue had all gone, and so had the little sausages; but the viniagrette had not been a success, and enough caviar and meat tarts were left over for a meal or two tomorrow. 'Boom-boom-boom,' said the china closet as he passed by. He surveyed the living room and started to tidy it up. A last drop of Pnin's Punch glistened in its beautiful bowl. Joan had crooked a lipstick-stained cigarette butt in her saucer; Betty had left no trace and had taken all the glasses back to the kitchen. Mrs. Thayer had forgotten a booklet of pretty multicolored matches on her plate, next to a bit of nougat. Mr. Thayer had twisted into all kinds of weird shapes half a dozen paper napkins; Hagen had quenched a messy cigar in an uneaten bunchlet of grapes."
funny
lighthearted
sad
Nabokov is a delightful writer. I enjoyed this book because it is silly. A masterfully written little story of a rather foolish man taking a trip on a train to go give a lecture. A little comedy of errors. And, too, full of heart. Pnin, as a man, deserves respect— yet Nabokov allows his reader to forget that. It feels like a careful test of humanity. Remember to respect this man who is so easy to just pity. I appreciated it for what it was.