A review by kiyara
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-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

5.0

This was a re-read for me. Lolita is still one of the best books I have ever read. However, I feel it is deeply misunderstood. Nabokov is not romanticising the relationship between a 12-year-old girl and a 37-year-old man, nor is he trying to justify it. In contrast, Nabokov uses irony and references to well-known cultural, literary, and aesthetic discourses to ridicule the predator. He fills the character of Humbert Humbert with parodied self-justification. This poses a challenge for the reader, who must make a continuous effort to see through Humbert's self-perceived worldview. If you manage to do so, this book is a real adventure! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment