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A review by quinn24
Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
funny
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
everytime I read Nabokov it’s unlike anything i’ve ever read before, this was such an interesting format and it was genuinely funny at several points.
The novel consists of a foreword from the character Charles Kinbote, a poem made up of 4 cantos by the character John Shade and a lengthy commentary by Charles Kinbote. Shade has been murdered and Kinbote is in charge of editing and publishing his poem.
Kinbote is clearly delusional and his commentary is rarely genuinely relevant to the context of the poem. He is an incredibly unreliable narrator and it’s hard to tell what actually happened.
It was a bit hard to get into and went a bit slow but overall I did enjoy it.
The novel consists of a foreword from the character Charles Kinbote, a poem made up of 4 cantos by the character John Shade and a lengthy commentary by Charles Kinbote. Shade has been murdered and Kinbote is in charge of editing and publishing his poem.
Kinbote is clearly delusional and his commentary is rarely genuinely relevant to the context of the poem. He is an incredibly unreliable narrator and it’s hard to tell what actually happened.
It was a bit hard to get into and went a bit slow but overall I did enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs, War, Racism, Suicide, Child death, Gun violence, Death, and Mental illness