Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

87 reviews

lavendercookie's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Lolita is completely misinterpreted in pop culture (which I knew going into the book) as many people romanticize it; so I want to make it very clear that this book is about child abuse. Dolores Haze’s story takes place in the late 40’s and early 50’s but it is still very relevant today as child abuse is not talked about enough. It is truly heartbreaking that the book got twisted so much by adaptations and misinterpretations but I can appreciate that Nabokov was attempting to shed light on an under discussed problem in a time where these matters were not discussed in public. The writing is done in such an intentional way that caused me to feel extreme disgust while at the same time finding the poetic quality of the prose beautiful. I personally liked Lolita but anyone interested in reading it must check the list of trigger warnings. Read with caution. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment

spritebabie's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment

hamzamazzine's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol

ronan_lesh's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark funny tense slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder

Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Death of parent

Minor: Mental illness, Racism

cami_y's review against another edition

4.5

dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Gun violence

alisakbr's review against another edition

3.5

challenging 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent

Minor: Fatphobia

devin_raquel's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

---

In all honesty, I was let down by this novel, especially since this a book that is considered a classic in the literary community. I’m going to assume that somethings got lost in translation, since Nobokov’s orginial manuscript was in Russian. I was expecting to read something revolutionary, but instead, it seemed to me the ramblings of a depressed, self-conscious, pedophile. 
There are a few sections in this novel where I caught myself thinking that Humbert Humbert and Lolita’s romance would be a coveted one if the age gap wasn’t so vast. 
The drolling paragraphs, that went on and on, made for a difficult read and a confusing narrative; I found myself confused more than once within these pages. If you’re looking for a forbidden romance, or even for a book that will make your skin crawl, I would suggest picking up something else.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment

Minor: Gun violence, Death of parent, Murder

josierosser's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

mikala's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark tense 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

---

took me forever to finish due to the complexity of the language and also indigestible story themes but the more i read and the more revealed about humbert humberts psyche the more i was able to enjoy the book. the dichotomy between the ugly contents of the book vs the glamorous style of writing made it interesting to read and analyse. i particularly enjoyed nabokovs thoughts on the book at the end. though romantically written the book is not a romance in the slightest but rather a view into the mind of the twisted and decrepit. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death of parent

persikan_05's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol