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savaging's review against another edition
4.0
The plot of Pnin doesn't gallop along like it does in Lolita, and is too tied into the petty drama of academics. But then, unlike Lolita, you can enjoy this book without worrying that you're a terrible person for snorting with laughter while you're reading about the sexual abuse of a minor. So there's that.
The book opens like a lark of word-play and joke but by the end of chapter 2 when Pnin's sobbing "I haf nofing left, nofing, nofing!" I was inconsolable. In fact all of Chapter 2 was maybe perfect. Pnin's a failure -- the best kind. Pnin's what Dostoevsky's Prince Myshkin should have been before he was marred by too much perfection.
"Pnin slowly walked under the solemn pines. The sky was dying. He did not believe in an autocratic God. He did believe, dimly, in a democracy of ghosts. The souls of the dead, perhaps, formed committees, and these, in continuous session, attended to the destinies of the quick."
The book opens like a lark of word-play and joke but by the end of chapter 2 when Pnin's sobbing "I haf nofing left, nofing, nofing!" I was inconsolable. In fact all of Chapter 2 was maybe perfect. Pnin's a failure -- the best kind. Pnin's what Dostoevsky's Prince Myshkin should have been before he was marred by too much perfection.
"Pnin slowly walked under the solemn pines. The sky was dying. He did not believe in an autocratic God. He did believe, dimly, in a democracy of ghosts. The souls of the dead, perhaps, formed committees, and these, in continuous session, attended to the destinies of the quick."
alexandre_rl's review against another edition
4.0
Roman à saveur légèrement autobiographique et premier succès de Nabokov aux États-Unis. Plein d’humour, de compassion et d’intelligence. Une écriture agréable, un style direct et une construction romanesque assez traditionnelle et facile d’accès. Très bon.
saturnsmoons's review against another edition
3.75
pnin is such a mind-fuck of a character; at times you pity him, while you resent him at others. he causes such feelings of confusion, but it's what makes the entire charm of the novel. nabokov always knows how to get his audience: his writing is phenomenal, emotional, and truly witty. i didn't realize how much i missed his writing style until i read this book.
joelpriestley's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
benwormald's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
strrygo's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
heyimaghost's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gabe_reads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
I was quite sad that the first chapter was my favourite. The rest of the book was good, but didn't capture that whimsy that I loved in the first. I liked Pnin, such a funny little guy. With his weird quirks and strange group of people (I'm not sure I can really call them friends?) who he hangs out with.
Something I loved throughout was Nabokov's writing. Incredibly fun and creative throughout, it really boosted my enjoyment of the book. Occasionally it got slightly too complex and elaborate for me, I will admit. I also liked how he played with the unreliable narrator.
There were also some interesting parallels with Straight Man, in terms of the mundane academic life and relationships with acquaintances who may or may not even like each other. I wonder if it was written with Pnin in mind at all.
Something I loved throughout was Nabokov's writing. Incredibly fun and creative throughout, it really boosted my enjoyment of the book. Occasionally it got slightly too complex and elaborate for me, I will admit. I also liked how he played with the unreliable narrator.
There were also some interesting parallels with Straight Man, in terms of the mundane academic life and relationships with acquaintances who may or may not even like each other. I wonder if it was written with Pnin in mind at all.
coltyn's review against another edition
4.0
A book about hundreds of near-misses. Really funny, easy read that makes me want to reread immediately. I feel like there’s so much going on here, sorry that’s stupid to say, but I feel like one read wasn’t enough for me to make sense of what the book is saying about/doing with language and translation and identity. This is such a bad review.
story_admin's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75