Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

74 reviews

taelights's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.0

I was honestly a bit worried going into this book because I have seen people in the past have bad takes on this book saying it's a love story or that it romanticizes pedophilia or that it's suppose to make you sympathize with a pedophile. But this is also a book that I've always been morbidly curious about and wanted to form my own opinion of so I decided to give it a try. 

Now I honestly think anyone who believes this book romanticizes pedophilia is either 1) fucked up, 2) has not read the book and is making assumptions, or 3) doesn't have an ounce of critical thinking skills and no ability to analyze a book. You can tell that Nabokov doesn't agree with Humbert's character or actions. 

Honestly this book was lowkey kind of a masterpiece. Vladimir Nabokov's writing style is beautiful and this is such a good genius example of an unreliable narrator story. The subject matter was of course disgusting and so many lines made me feel nauseated but it was such an interesting read. I kind of want to read it through again in the future to better analyze the book now that I have a picture of the whole story arch. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual content, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

joannacruz's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Rape

greenrequiem's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexism, Abandonment, and Sexual violence

stutee's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Stalking, Domestic abuse, Murder, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Gun violence

lavendercookie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

zakcebulski's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Review to come. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Rape, Slavery, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Gaslighting

jjaidyn's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

it was written in such an uncomfortable manner that regardless of liking the plot, it still took me around 7 months to finish. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, and Rape

spritebabie's review against another edition

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

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

fallandfox's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lolita é uma leitura difícil pelo seus temas e podemos observar dois tipos de leitores que completam essa leitura, os que enxergam a loucura do personagem e respeitam a Dolores a tratando como a sobrevivente que foi no livro e os que sexualizam a personagem em conjunto com o Humbert e a tratam como uma “ninfeta sedutora”, esses segundo tipo de leitores me causam nojo e asco.

Esse é um livro controverso por seu conteúdo erótico pedofilico e ser narrado exatamente pelo pedofilo e assassino em questão enquanto ele narra um “romance” que ele teve com sua enteada antes dela fugir dele em busca de liberdade. 

Eu considero esse um dos meus livros favoritos em razão dele me fazer sentir nojo pelo Humbert e conseguir ler entre as linhas a verdadeira Dolores.
Como eu disse a escrita desse livro é uma das coisas que me fez me apaixonar por ele, o Vladimir fez um excelente trabalho com a escrita e com o ritmo da leitura.

Humbert Humbert é um personagem mentiroso que passa o livro todo tentando justificar seus atos pedofilicos e o desejo que ele sentia e o planejamento frio que ele fez para abusar de sua enteada, mesmo com sua escrita rebuscada é possível sentir a sua insanidade.

Dolores Haze é uma criança que foi abusada e sequestrada logo após descobrir pelo seu padrasto a morte de sua mãe, não sabemos quase nada dela exceto os pequenos momentos em que ele deixa escapar a sua verdadeira personalidade e não a personificação do seu desejo que ele chama de Lolita.

O livro possui descrições da viagem de carro que eles fazem por 1 ano com as paradas e os acontecimentos infelizes que acontecem do a Dolores no caminho, o fato de que o autor decidiu fazer um caminho com a sua esposa de carro para se inspirar para a escrita e bastante perceptível no livro pela riqueza que você sente na litura.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Incest, Rape, Pedophilia, Violence, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Car accident

josierosser's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

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

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