Reviews with content warning for Rape - Lolita

Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

473 reviews

bluelilyleest's review against another edition

challenging dark funny slow-paced

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

"[...] so that above and over everything there is — Lolita."

I was finally convinced to read this classic because it turned out it's one of my best friends' favorite book and I wanted to know how in heaven's name she could like a book about a pedophile. It looks like now I'll have to find a way to bring into words why I like a book about a pedophile, too.

I'd briefly learned about Lolita in my literature studies that it was a controversial book because of its theme and the fact that it's told from the perspective of the bad guy. I hadn't wanted to read it, because I didn't want to feel any kind of sympathy for the protagonist. I was afraid his thoughts and morals would be forced upon me through the focalization.

Boy, was I wrong! The distance between the reader and the protagonist couldn't be greater. There are many layers to this book - a story within a diary within publication within a book - that constantly challenge and ridicule Humbert Humbert's perspective. He is a complete pathetic loser and I constantly rooted for everything to curb and frustrate him. As someone who is quite sensitive, I can say that the actual sexual misconducts are kept to a minimum and were not as disturbing to me as to make me stop reading.

If you're interested in character perspective and the levels of narration/irony, this book is for you!

Content Warnings

aceybasey's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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kimipr's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

atticlovebuzz's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

DONE FINALLY!! Thank god. Now I can procrastinate my way through another classic that I will only pick up once a week for months on end. PHEW!! Loved the writing style. Satirical pieces and unreliable narrators will always have my eye. I’ll look into more from Nabokov after this! This was such a difficult book to bring in public. The questions and concerns were part of the reason it took months to finish.

Content Warnings

acogna's review against another edition

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dark reflective slow-paced

4.5

This exhibits a mastery of voice. There's something simultaneously so seductive and horrific about how poetic Humbert's prose is; the language of this book is so incredibly precise and meticulously crafted.

A genuine masterpiece I hope Nabokov will forgive me for never reading again.

Content Warnings

vavocado's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I would be hard pressed to find anyone that enjoys this book, but it's importance is in the logic that the author attempts to impress upon the reader. Noticing the red flags and stumbling causality is important to real-life encounters.

Content Warnings