Reviews - Lolita | The StoryGraph

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I was not prepared. Nabokov plays with the reader. Under his deft pen, the english language is warped to make the normal disgusting, and the disgusting rational. He is a twisted sculptor of words, erecting endless masterpieces to astonish and horrify.

His novel wraps its claws delicately around your mind, pulling you deeper into dark waters until at once you emerge gasping, wondering what the fuck you just read. At one point our pedophile main character was describing his disdain for his conventionally sexy adult wife, and I found myself thinking, “ew gross, boobs, yeah i hate those...wait what!?”

It simply cannot be overstated how masterfully Nabokov's words illustrate his rancid portraits, and I must say that Jeremy Irons' narration did the novel no small justice.

Sadly, I felt the novel rather lagged during its middle sections, and could probably have lost ~100 pages with little ill effect. I'd say it probably deserves 4.5 stars instead of 5.

bookclubxcreativedirector's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional funny medium-paced

This book was terrific and nauseating (maybe I’m a little regretful in retrospect to have chosen this as my vacation beach read) but I remained compelled in turning pages because Nabokov’s passages are veritable waterfalls of passion and emotion!! Quite honestly what is the point of me even trying to write anything after reading something of his. I don’t think I’ll pick this book up again soon, but I’m very glad to have read it!

tinydancer18's review against another edition

I can’t give any stars because this book deserves one as much as five. It was a disgustingly addictive read that I didn’t want and had to continue at the same time. I have no praise and no negative things to say, except that no book, not even this one can make me feel sorry for a pedophile.

andreaskuschwitz's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This took me forever holy
The writing style is gorgeous
People that think Nabokov is a pedo or think the book is dirty somehow piss me off. Lolita is so ridiculously misunderstood, even the official reviews printed on a lot of editions completely miss the point. “You read Lolita sprawling limply in your chair, ravished, overcome, nodding scandalized assent” -Martin Amis
Wth are you talking about?????

Also, Lolita has the best first lines ever, imo

So, Humbert got her pregnant? And I think she died in childbirth or right after because she was heavily pregnant by the end of the book and he says to only publish it once she’s dead, meaning she passed maybe a few months after he saw her last. That’s crazy

ninjennie's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A work of literature like no other. Lolita is the most horrifying book I have ever read. Novokov’s poetry will keep you listening to Humbert Humberts deplorable actions, and teach you the dangers of letting a nice package conceal the poison within. This book is a disgustingly real look at misogyny and pedophila in Europeans and white American culture. Lolita will make you throw up and cry, if you have a moral compass that is.