Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

13 reviews

josirlyn's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Mental illness, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Stalking, Kidnapping, and Car accident

laurapeirs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Incest, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Body horror, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia

Minor: Violence and Sexual violence

America, diary, crime, incest, toxic relationship

house_of_hannah's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.0

It's been two days since I finished this book, and I still have no idea how to write a review. I think many write this book off as creepy pedo fodder, but wow is it so much more than it's title indicates. This is a descent into the psyche of a mentally ill man who twists reality to abolish his guilt. 

Our narrator, Humbert Humbert, who we never learn the true name of, twists a tale to try to make himself out as the victim. However, he has moments of clarity where he realizes how terrible what he is doing is, and considers himself a monster. These moments are then erased by his mind twisting the actions of a young girl into something they should never be perceived as. There are also cracks here though, as he notices Dolly (Lolita) crying herself to sleep every night, and how she reacts to a normal father/daughter relationship. 

This book starts off in one direction, but then takes many twists and turns to where we are experiencing the genres of horror, mystery, thriller, and psychology as well. The very beginning of this story starts with Humbert already in custody, so this is a retelling of events. He's quite good at self-analysis, and begins his tale with explaining the event that happened in his childhood that has caused his vile tastes. As someone who is interested in the psychology behind our actions I find this book to be fascinating and frighteningly realistic.

Nabokov has written this book in a way that flows beautifully. So little is outright said, and instead many euphamisms are used to keep the lyrical effect. It constrasts so well with the actual content that I can definitely see why some might call this a masterpiece. Nonetheless, I honestly could not imagine reading this book if I had children of my own. The last sentence of the Foreword really stuck with me through this story (It is also written by a Nabokov character). It is as follows: "Lolita should make all of us - parents, social workers, educators - apply ourselves with still greater vigilance and vision to the task of bringing up a better generation in a safer world."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Incest, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Murder, Medical content, and Gun violence