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A review by modestothemouse
Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov
4.0
Despite the intense name, this is a pretty whimsical book. It had a magical realist feeling to it with some vague post-apocalyptic vibes.
There is a paradox presented in the 60s by some academics that deals with a prisoner sentenced to death. The judge tells the prisoner that the day of the execution will be a complete surprise to the prisoner, and the prisoner uses some interesting logic to come to the conclusion that they will not, in fact be executed (look up ‘unexpected hanging paradox’ for the full description). Nabokov‘ ebook feels like a fictionalization of that paradox. With all of the strangeness kept intact.
I will day one thing, I hate the way Nabokov writes women characters in general. On the whole I enjoyed this book, though.
There is a paradox presented in the 60s by some academics that deals with a prisoner sentenced to death. The judge tells the prisoner that the day of the execution will be a complete surprise to the prisoner, and the prisoner uses some interesting logic to come to the conclusion that they will not, in fact be executed (look up ‘unexpected hanging paradox’ for the full description). Nabokov‘ ebook feels like a fictionalization of that paradox. With all of the strangeness kept intact.
I will day one thing, I hate the way Nabokov writes women characters in general. On the whole I enjoyed this book, though.