Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

602 reviews

challenging dark informative sad 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

I think everyone should read this book, particularly everyone who has a child. It lays out, with unflinching accuracy, all the warning signs that your child may be the target of pedophilia and sexual abuse. It’s unbelievably chilling and hard to get through, but necessary. I will defend this book to its last, and not just because Nabokov is a fantastic writer. (Though not without any fault — the middle section of this book did drag considerably.)

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dark emotional sad tense 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

Very graphic and emotional hard book to read. Some of the best prose I have ever read, but very unsettling. The beautiful flower-y words contrasting with the horrific events occurring give you that feeling of manipulation that Dolores is being put though. It felt like no one was in her corner, but you can't trust H.H. words. He is the epitome of an unreliable narrator.
I can't say I enjoyed reading this book, but your not supposed to. As a SA survivor myself in away it feels cathartic.
Anyone who calls this a love story is sick and need to have their hard drive checked. This a great litmus test for media literacy. To give any less than 5 stars to me is a disservice to the work and though the author put into it, even if you can (and probably shouldn't) enjoy the story.
Naboka really hate Freudian psychoanalysis and you can tell in his writing and you know what me too.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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malauread's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 68%

J’étais pas prête à lire ça 🥲

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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ashschultheiss's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 60%

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dark sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A book that feels weird as the plot gets. We see a guy's obssession with a girl and the extent of how this sickness can be perpetuated.

This is an uncomfortable reading and if you don't end up questioning why some people may find this normal, you may have to give it a re-read


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challenging dark funny slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

what an incredible book. saying this feels both obvious and controversial. 
i went into it somewhat apprehensively, wondering if i was going to be reading 300 pages of disgusting sexual fantasy. but that’s not what lolita is at all and i doubt that anyone who thinks it is, actually read the novel. 

the book is written in an autobiographical style which gives main character humbert humbert ample opportunity to paint himself as pathetic, help- and powerless; a tragic hero and poetical romantic of sorts. however, he never actually succeeds in making the reader believe in this version of him. as a reader i was — as is to be expected — utterly disgusted by him; his attempts to victimise himself (by villainising dolores as a cunning and evil “nymphet”) are thoroughly transparent and only further intensified my revulsion. 

while “lolita” obviously deals with very heavy subject matter, it is also quite funny at times and nabokov uses language in very subversive and surprising ways, utilising unexpected turns of phrase and incorporating french, german and latin at multiple points. additionally, the novel contains an abundance of literary and cultural references that give the text a very layered feel and make the reading experience all the more interesting. 

 nabokov’s author’s note “on a book entitled lolita” provides context, that further heightened my appreciation of the book, specifically the short passage on the “rules” of pornographic literature (and on why “lolita” isn’t a “lewd”/pornographic novel). 

overall, it’s obvious why this is considered a modern classic and i can’t wait to indulge in more of nabokov’s works.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings