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gingerlarue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
manybees's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Miscarriage, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
There is only one abuse scene that could be considered sexually explicit and it is written in such an abstracted and poetic way that it’s almost kinda hard to tell what’s going on. There is also period-typical racism and racial slurs.schneehutte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Now, let me start by saying that this review of 3 stars is not because, as I am sure many people say, this book is disgusting, with a disgusting main character and theme. Don't get me wrong: I absolutely adore the controversial and taboo exploration. And of course, Lolita has all that: it is famous for that. For those who don't know: the main character, Humbert Humbert, is a pedophile that, after the loss of his childhood lover, seeks in young girls the characteristics of his past lover (girls aged 7 to 12, which he calls "nymphets") - until he meets Lolita, a 12-year-old American girl. And he decides that he would do anything to keep his control over her, and does atrocious things to this child and her mother, to keep Lolita in his cycle of abuse.
Now, after finishing the book, I have seen many critiques and analyses that claim that this book is a perfect example of an unreliable narrator. This is of course true. Humbert claims that Lolita, at one point, seduced him - that is of course not true. Lolita had no way of "seducing" him, as she doesn't truly know what "seduction" really is. But Humbert Humbert never "grew" on me the way that many readers describe he does: he is supposed to be this charming, handsome, intelligent man - but looking at the horrible crimes he commits page by page, it is really hard to look beyond the monster he is. I think Nabokov intended for the audience to (and I emphasize!) GUILTY sympathize with the main character as he shows part of his personality. I didn't feel this way at all and was honestly disturbed by everything he did, even if it is for Lolita's sake (in his vision, at least).
Now, why did I give this book 3 stars? After all, it is a complex book with complex themes, an interesting character, and a reflective piece of literary work - my style. So why?
Well, ironically, it is because of the writing - which I know is people's favorite part of this book. Nabokov can write beautifully. Too beautifully.
I had, every 2 pages, to search for a new word or straight up read a summary of what had just happened because the language was so difficult. The wording is poetic but confusing, the narrative was well-written but slow, and some chapters felt like torture. I will admit, English is not my first language (and neither is Nabokov's!), but one thing this book showed me is that I don't know English at all. The pacing being so slow didn't help either. The story dragged on and on, with descriptive paragraphs occupying pages and pages. It was so hard to concentrate while reading this story, that every time I picked up the book I just felt very unmotivated to finish - and with the pacing the way it was, I knew it might take a while for something impactful to happen in the story. And, as much as I know that it is a part of Humbert's character to write so "prose-ish" and "literary-ish", I just couldn't take it for very long. If anything, it made me even more annoyed at him, as I felt he was stalling the story to hide his atrocious crimes.
I guess the only way of knowing the true amount of stars I would give this book is to read it in Portuguese, my mother tongue. Because otherwise, I don't think I am re-reading this anytime soon, and it left my reading slump worse than ever. Sorry Nabokov, I think you are too good for me!
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
Moderate: Misogyny and Death of parent
kelisabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
cateyeschloe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Between the age limits of nine and fourteen there occur maidens who, to certain bewitched travelers, twice or many times older than they, reveal their true nature which is not human, but nymphic (that is demoniac); and these chosen creatures I propose to designate as ‘nymphets’.”
“… there must be a gap of several years, never less than ten I should say, generally thirty or forty, and as many as ninety in a few known cases, between maiden and man to enable the latter to come under a nymphet’s spell.”
“… the majority of sex offenders that hanker for some throbbing… physical but not necessarily coital, relation with a girl-child, are innocuous, inadequate, passive, timid strangers who merely ask the community to allow them to pursue their practically harmless, so-called aberrant behavior… We are not sex fiends! We do not rape… We are unhappy, mild, dog-eyed gentlemen, sufficiently well integrated to control urge in the presence of adults, but ready to give years and years… for one chance to touch a nymphet.”
“There are few physiques I loathe more than the heavy low-slung pelvis, thick claves, and deplorable complexion of the average coed (in whom I see… the coffin of coarse female flesh within which my nymphets are buried alive)…”
“… it would take hours of blandishments, threats, and promises to make her lend me for a few seconds her brown limbs in the seclusion of the five-dollar room before undertaking anything she might prefer to my joy.”
“I have but followed nature. I am nature’s faithful hound.”
This book was extremely difficult to consume, and it took me quite a while to read it because I kept wanting to take breaks and step away from what I was reading. It’s a hard read. Well written and a topic that should be addressed and discussed, but definitely one that should be broached with the content and trigger warnings in mind.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Grief, and Pregnancy
taelights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Now I honestly think anyone who believes this book romanticizes pedophilia is either 1) fucked up, 2) has not read the book and is making assumptions, or 3) doesn't have an ounce of critical thinking skills and no ability to analyze a book. You can tell that Nabokov doesn't agree with Humbert's character or actions.
Honestly this book was lowkey kind of a masterpiece. Vladimir Nabokov's writing style is beautiful and this is such a good genius example of an unreliable narrator story. The subject matter was of course disgusting and so many lines made me feel nauseated but it was such an interesting read. I kind of want to read it through again in the future to better analyze the book now that I have a picture of the whole story arch.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
joannacruz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Pedophilia
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape
greenrequiem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual violence, and Abandonment
stutee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
lavendercookie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment