A review by laurapk
The Laughter by Sonora Jha

3.0

I read and appreciated (cannot really say enjoy) Nabokov's works, exploring unlikable characters such as Lolita or Pale Fire. This novel however did not recapture Nabokov's aptitude to make the vain, self-centered villain worthy of our time and attention. I know people like the MC exist, but he still read like a caricature at times. And I think the "plot twists" at the end made the story read rather cheap for me. I can't say exactly what it's missing, but it's missing something. I ultimately felt the MC described this novel accurately in one short sentence early in the book "The academy was where intellectuals came to hide from their chance of greatness." Perhaps the novel was too self aware, too academic at times, and overshot its potential greatness.