sanmeow's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
a novel about a man's memories of his first love, and it's nabokov's first novel. it follows ganin, who learns that mary (his first love) is going to marry his neighbor. since he's still in love with mary, he decides he can't let this happen, all while talking about his memories of how happy he was with mary. he develops a plan to meet mary one more time and have them reunite, but changes his mind last minute. he decides to go to france and move on with his life.
i enjoyed the exploration of love, memory, and desire. i was pleasantly surprised, because i didn't quite enjoy this in lolita, which is why i didn't finish it but i might try again sometime. the prose here was quite poetic and enchanting and it added to the artistic value of the novel. i also liked that it was pretty short because it felt like the appropriate length for such a story. i'm not obsessed with it, but i think it's a good book.
i enjoyed the exploration of love, memory, and desire. i was pleasantly surprised, because i didn't quite enjoy this in lolita, which is why i didn't finish it but i might try again sometime. the prose here was quite poetic and enchanting and it added to the artistic value of the novel. i also liked that it was pretty short because it felt like the appropriate length for such a story. i'm not obsessed with it, but i think it's a good book.
phou's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
phialy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jessbianconi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
3.5
blum_deckler's review against another edition
3.0
“The delightful private event which had occurred last night had caused the entire kaleidoscope of his life to shift and had brought back the past to overwhelm him.”
I don’t know! I can certainly see why people like the book so much, I have nothing but respect for it. But I just didn’t find it particularly enjoyable or touching. I’m more disappointed in myself than the book, though; I feel as though I’ve done some sort of disservice to it by not enjoying it when it’s provided me with everything I’d ever want.
I like the themes of longing and nostalgia and loss. Everything in the past is rose-colored, and Ganin’s vivid reminiscence of his childhood lover and his childhood home are incredibly familiar.
Throughout the whole book I was absolutely dreading his meeting with Mary, as I was sure it would end in some terrible disaster, but the real ending was completely different from what I expected. It lacked all the humiliation and depression I expected (hooray), but it was incredibly unsatisfying to me. It was however, probably the best outcome possible, tying up all the themes of nostalgia in favor of allowing Ganin growth beyond his memories. The past is past, reminisce but never turn back!
I don’t know! I can certainly see why people like the book so much, I have nothing but respect for it. But I just didn’t find it particularly enjoyable or touching. I’m more disappointed in myself than the book, though; I feel as though I’ve done some sort of disservice to it by not enjoying it when it’s provided me with everything I’d ever want.
I like the themes of longing and nostalgia and loss. Everything in the past is rose-colored, and Ganin’s vivid reminiscence of his childhood lover and his childhood home are incredibly familiar.
Throughout the whole book I was absolutely dreading his meeting with Mary, as I was sure it would end in some terrible disaster, but the real ending was completely different from what I expected. It lacked all the humiliation and depression I expected (hooray), but it was incredibly unsatisfying to me. It was however, probably the best outcome possible, tying up all the themes of nostalgia in favor of allowing Ganin growth beyond his memories. The past is past, reminisce but never turn back!
fatamo's review against another edition
4.0
This is definitely not as good as his masterpiece Lolita, but as a first novel it is extraordinary. Also, this one was translated into English, and I am certain that there has been some 'it' thing lost in translation. Could it be that Nabokov simply wrote better in English? I don't think so.
Nevertheless, he is a genius with evoking nostalgia, memory, all things bittersweet. Very Russian indeed, and I adore it.
Nevertheless, he is a genius with evoking nostalgia, memory, all things bittersweet. Very Russian indeed, and I adore it.
chickenphahitas's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
dreuwiley's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5