A review by ecari
The Original of Laura by Vladimir Nabokov

3.0

It's difficult to rate the novel that is not-quite. I love Nabokov and their is something thrillingly voyeuristic about turning the pages of the heavy, hardback book with its reproduced notecards of the great author's scribbles - a feeling that I would like to think Nabokov would himself appreciate (and, no doubt, represent more eloquently, appropriately, than I ever could). But this is not a novel, not the great, perfection of language and story, illusion and allusion, plot and digression that Nabokov is known for. It is a peek into the process that he used to get there. I have no doubt that other authors will find this book a bit like candied pills they can take to inspire their own creative processes. I, on the other hand, love the finished product, so the dipping into the draft was fleetingly titillating, but ultimately unfulfilling. I admit to some slight, undefined guilt, as well, given Nabokov's expressed desire that the cards be destroyed by his wife upon his death. All that said, the concept of self-deletion or -destruction through mental will alone captured me and scared me a bit. I'm left regretting the death of this great thinker and writer before he could finish his thought(s) and write them all down.

ps-I recommend setting aside a couple of hours to read this in one go. It would also be interesting to take the cards, shuffle them and re-read - a plan for my future.