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bluelilyblue 's review for:
Lolita
by Vladimir Nabokov
challenging
dark
funny
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
"[...] so that above and over everything there is — Lolita."
I was finally convinced to read this classic because it turned out it's one of my best friends' favorite book and I wanted to know how in heaven's name she could like a book about a pedophile. It looks like now I'll have to find a way to bring into words why I like a book about a pedophile, too.
I'd briefly learned about Lolita in my literature studies that it was a controversial book because of its theme and the fact that it's told from the perspective of the bad guy. I hadn't wanted to read it, because I didn't want to feel any kind of sympathy for the protagonist. I was afraid his thoughts and morals would be forced upon me through the focalization.
Boy, was I wrong! The distance between the reader and the protagonist couldn't be greater. There are many layers to this book - a story within a diary within publication within a book - that constantly challenge and ridicule Humbert Humbert's perspective. He is a complete pathetic loser and I constantly rooted for everything to curb and frustrate him. As someone who is quite sensitive, I can say that the actual sexual misconducts are kept to a minimum and were not as disturbing to me as to make me stop reading.
If you're interested in character perspective and the levels of narration/irony, this book is for you!
I was finally convinced to read this classic because it turned out it's one of my best friends' favorite book and I wanted to know how in heaven's name she could like a book about a pedophile. It looks like now I'll have to find a way to bring into words why I like a book about a pedophile, too.
I'd briefly learned about Lolita in my literature studies that it was a controversial book because of its theme and the fact that it's told from the perspective of the bad guy. I hadn't wanted to read it, because I didn't want to feel any kind of sympathy for the protagonist. I was afraid his thoughts and morals would be forced upon me through the focalization.
Boy, was I wrong! The distance between the reader and the protagonist couldn't be greater. There are many layers to this book - a story within a diary within publication within a book - that constantly challenge and ridicule Humbert Humbert's perspective. He is a complete pathetic loser and I constantly rooted for everything to curb and frustrate him. As someone who is quite sensitive, I can say that the actual sexual misconducts are kept to a minimum and were not as disturbing to me as to make me stop reading.
If you're interested in character perspective and the levels of narration/irony, this book is for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment