Reviews

Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov

secretsoda's review against another edition

5.0

What a treat to read. I was expecting a light hearted comedy. The book left me feeling profoundly empty and sad. Every sentence was deliciously written, full of rich vocabulary that did not seem out of place or contrived. Nabokov is a literary genius. Somehow I felt like I missed so many important details in such a short book. I could read this over and over while still learning new things. This is the mark of a great book to me.

ahucklesby's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective slow-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

3.75

mikelchartier's review against another edition

5.0

I believe Sheila put it best by saying "on long nights alone I fear that I am him"

madhukari's review against another edition

4.0

As always Nobakov's exquisitely beautiful prose dazzled and enchanted me. Pnin is a novel about a naive and sincere Russian émigré professor stuck in a toxic American workplace. Pnin reminded me of Prince Myshkin from Dostoevsky's The Idiot. The titular character was absolutely adorable. I have a soft spot for pathetic losers. My favorite scene was the one where Pnin identifies himself with the injured bird and breaks down in tears. Even in a world where naivety and sincerity equals idiocy, and is more than often rewarded with cruelty, hope the Pnins always remain tender hearted.

nataliedallaire's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

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

3.0

lilytighe's review against another edition

i’ve missed nabokov’s writing but this one in particular made me feel quite stupid. i feel like i’ll need to reread this to fully take in / appreciate the amount of work but into this short and sweet book! pnin was a lovely little man to read about though.

myelen's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

3.0

mnichols04's review against another edition

funny sad 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

3.75

Pnin, pnin, pnin!!! I'm still on the fence between the legitimacy of the narrator's claims or Pnin's refusal (or rather inability) to recount his past. I'm leaning towards the first. Pnin defender for life. 

normal_cowgirl's review against another edition

4.0

“The mosquitoes were getting bothersome. Time for tea. Time for a game of chess with Chateau. That strange spasm was over, one could breathe again.”

“I am not handsome, I am not interesting, I am not talented. I am not even rich. But, Lise, I offer you everything I have, to the last blood corpuscular, to the last tear, everything… I may not achieve happiness, but I know I shall do everything to make you happy. I want you to write poems.”

Perhaps the most sympathetic protagonist of all time… Oh, Timofey, I care you. (Also— Nabokov is funny??)

tittypete's review against another edition

3.0

What can you say about Pnin that hasn’t been said already? It’s Pnin! Well it’s a sorta story about a charmingly goofy Russian professor who has some trouble making it to a meeting, staying in boarding houses and dealing with women. It’s wonderfully written and basically funny and light. There a quick verve into a sad holocaust memory towards the end and then it’s revealed that the narrator is the guy who is screwing Pnin over at his job. A bit of a highfalutin shrug from me. Like most non-jack reacher works of fiction, it probably went over my head.