kittenscribble's review
3.0
Cousin-sibling prodigies Van and Ada Veen have a tumultuous, incestuous love affair that continues throughout both their lifetimes. Nabokov sprinkles the prose with alliterative wordplay, trilingual punning, and exotic vocabulary, but despite all he can do, the novel drags when the two main characters are apart.
Pages are wasted on ramblings about a sort of alternate universe (called "Terra," or possibly "Antiterra") which does not really seem to add much to the storyline. I love Nabokov's work, but in this book, he really could have used a strict editor.
Pages are wasted on ramblings about a sort of alternate universe (called "Terra," or possibly "Antiterra") which does not really seem to add much to the storyline. I love Nabokov's work, but in this book, he really could have used a strict editor.
alice_horoshev's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Strictly for Nabokov's fans who will admire anything coming from the author; abusive relationships, misogyny, hateful remarks about authors and critics, flexing immense knowledge in world play that will bore you out after several pages.
snowbenton's review
4.0
Another Nabokov book that makes me feel filthy for even reading it. But his PROSE. UGH.
huncamuncamouse's review
5.0
I made several attempts to read Ada or Ardor and kept getting mired in the dense language and wordplay Nabokov employs (in THREE languages!) After finally successfully completing the novel, I am in thrall.
Some might find the dramatic situation to be problematic, but it did not distract or trouble me. Another possible criticism could be of the numerous digressions in the novel, which I thoroughly enjoyed and found moving, funny, and beautiful. In particular, part four, a segment that engages with the nature and "texture" of time, is a startling and stunning aside in the novel, and in light of the novel's ambitions (in a chronological and thematic sense), this mediation was not only fitting but enriched the meaning of the piece as a whole. Ada or Ardor is certainly a demanding read, but if you are willing to devote time to unraveling the work, it will likely be rewarding.
Some might find the dramatic situation to be problematic, but it did not distract or trouble me. Another possible criticism could be of the numerous digressions in the novel, which I thoroughly enjoyed and found moving, funny, and beautiful. In particular, part four, a segment that engages with the nature and "texture" of time, is a startling and stunning aside in the novel, and in light of the novel's ambitions (in a chronological and thematic sense), this mediation was not only fitting but enriched the meaning of the piece as a whole. Ada or Ardor is certainly a demanding read, but if you are willing to devote time to unraveling the work, it will likely be rewarding.
blschuldt's review against another edition
Oh my god I just don’t care lmaooooo I got through part 1 and haven’t picked it up since. Maybe I’ll finish it later but not gonna worry about it.
vctr's review
5.0
Esse livro é sensacional, é um livro de romance, mas com o tabu de ser um romance entre irmãos Van e Ada, algo que nunca tinha visto antes e despertou minha curiosidade. O fato do narrador ser o Van no final da vida faz com que a história não seja de um todo confiável o que deixa espaço para especulações, outra coisa genial da narração é o fato de Ada e Van tecerem comentários enquanto o livro é escrito. A química dos dois é inegável, mas pelo fato de serem irmãos e de não serem fiéis um ao outro faz com que o casal só vá ficar junto no meio da vida. Outro personagem interessante é Lucette, meia irmã do casal e que fica apaixonada por Van, inserindo assim um triângulo amoroso na história que é muito bem vindo. Demorei um pouco pra gostar do livro, mas depois que peguei gosto, foi ótimo até o final e em especial a quarta parte, que já não conta muito a história dos casal, mas é uma análise do tempo de forma bem interessante e que nos faz ficar pensando após terminar o livro, além disso salva de palmas pra minha frase favorita do livro:
"Todas as famílias felizes são mais ou menos diferentes; todas as famílias desgraçadas são mais ou menos iguais"
Vale a pena ler
"Todas as famílias felizes são mais ou menos diferentes; todas as famílias desgraçadas são mais ou menos iguais"
Vale a pena ler
thesentdowngirl's review
challenging
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
2.5
A lot of the prose is good which makes up for the nothing plot. Lots of nasty sex