A review by claire_fuller_writer
Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov

3.0

This novel had me torn between amusement and boredom. The titular Pnin is an aging Russian emigrée who teaches in a US college in the 1950s. He is hapless, bumbling, forgetful, but also very sweet-natured. It hurt when I was aware of others laughing at him, and I enjoyed the little scenes that didn't go anywhere: Pnin on his holidays with other Russian emigrées, Pnin's ex-wife visiting him, Pnin's ex-wife's son visiting him, and the slight humour. It has an interesting ending, but ultimately none of it was enough to make me love the book (however much I loved the character).