Take a photo of a barcode or cover
shauny_32 's review for:
Invitation to a Beheading
by Vladimir Nabokov
Invitation to a Beheading is a story about a man who is condemned to death. He awaits for the inevitable in a cold, dark cell, with only a spider to keep him company. Occasionally, he converses with a guard, the prison warden, and a lawyer.
The protagonist is something of an enigma. In fact, I have a clearer image in my mind of the supporting characters. In a way, I wished Nabokov had rather focused on painting a vivid portrait of the man in question, rather than an abundance of, and albeit, well-realised social observations.
The story is undeniably Kafkaesque. I'm guessing this label annoyed Nabokov as he wasn’t even aware of Kafka’s work at the time. Yet, the comparisons are highly noticable. Just like The Trial and The Castle, the protagonist is impotent as the state takes away his freedom. More so typically of Nabokov is the dry sense of humour that made me chuckle on a number of occasions.
Like all of Nabokov’s works I’ve read so far, it starts off very strongly, but slows down around the halfway point. Despite being well-written throughout, the author occasionally becomes obsessed with the surroundings of the victim rather than the victim himself.
However, just when I thought it would conclude on a minor note, the finale moved me with such effectiveness that all was forgiven (the very same thing happened with Lolita).
Nabokov Read:
Lolita
Transparent Things
The Eye
Pnin
Invitation to a Beheading
Nabokov to Read:
Pale Fire
The protagonist is something of an enigma. In fact, I have a clearer image in my mind of the supporting characters. In a way, I wished Nabokov had rather focused on painting a vivid portrait of the man in question, rather than an abundance of, and albeit, well-realised social observations.
The story is undeniably Kafkaesque. I'm guessing this label annoyed Nabokov as he wasn’t even aware of Kafka’s work at the time. Yet, the comparisons are highly noticable. Just like The Trial and The Castle, the protagonist is impotent as the state takes away his freedom. More so typically of Nabokov is the dry sense of humour that made me chuckle on a number of occasions.
Like all of Nabokov’s works I’ve read so far, it starts off very strongly, but slows down around the halfway point. Despite being well-written throughout, the author occasionally becomes obsessed with the surroundings of the victim rather than the victim himself.
However, just when I thought it would conclude on a minor note, the finale moved me with such effectiveness that all was forgiven (the very same thing happened with Lolita).
Nabokov Read:
Lolita
Transparent Things
The Eye
Pnin
Invitation to a Beheading
Nabokov to Read:
Pale Fire