Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

152 reviews

dr_sol's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Drug use, Addiction, and Drug abuse

Minor: Death of parent

sipblueberrytea's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, and Rape

batrick_pateman's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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

5.0

Where to start?
This is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read, maybe even the most beautifully written. Nabokov was a master at playing with language, it's amazing that he only started writing in English in the middle of his life and career. I'm in awe of the writing, and the plot makes me feel filthy. Like a stain I can't remove.
In a lesser writer's hands, Humbert Humbert would be a stock character and this book would be worse than worthless - but Nabokov turns it into a dissection of not just a predator's psyche, but the reader's idea of a predator's psyche. At every turn, H. H. is trying to win the reader's sympathy - he never lies, but he obscures, justifies, begs, contrasts himself with

Quilty

, and does everything else he can to hide the fact that he is a monster. Thanks to Nabokov's writing, it almost works - recognizing H. H. as a monster and a predator forces you to reject the popular image of The Pedophile and re-think your idea of what predators are like. Brilliant, disturbing, important, gorgeously written, and a book I'll definitely return to someday.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Gun violence and Murder

charlotteturt's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Grief, Incest, Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Misogyny, and Kidnapping

m4rtt4's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-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

3.75

no book has ever made me want to throw up this much

BUT

I can't say that the book was bad. The writing was repulsive yet undeniably compelling, it made me want to bleach my eyes AND hopelessly keep reading as if I could save the little girl by turning pages. I wanted to know, I needed to know — yet still, I now wish I knew nothing at all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent

_jasper_394's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

2.0

I think if you are going to read this book you must be aware that there are certain things described so lyrically so you start picturing the scene then you remember the narrator is speaking about a child and a pang of disgust hits you and you want to violently hit your head against a wall. But if you're okay with that then it's a pretty easy book to get into classics if that's what you're looking for (which is why I read it). Overall, I personally didn't like it but I think that's more of a me issue as I didn't do enough research into its contents before reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Child abuse

rebekkamafia's review against another edition

challenging dark

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Body shaming, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Pregnancy and Car accident

kmae314's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Would not read again. I’ve seen enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Stalking, Sexism, Gaslighting, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

andrewfischerr19's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

5.0

Wow. I just went into this book knowing that Kubrick adapted it (haven't watched it yet, but planning to). It was very intriguing seeing how Nabokov wrote in the perspective of an abuser, and I found that my favorite parts where Humbert scoffs and spits in your face for assuming the right thing. the character manipulates you and you often catch yourself saying "wait a second, I know what you're doing." Overall, Lolita is beautifully written and if you can handle the subject matter I heavily recommend.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism

priscillarobock's review against another edition

Explicit pedophila. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse