A review by bludgeoned_by_hail
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

4.5

Deeply disturbing and hauntingly beautiful. I don't remember ever being so uncomfortable reading a book, and yet, I was completely captivated by it.
It's a chilling and disgustingly real-feeling portrayal of pedophilic attraction and grooming tactics that feels very relevant and current despite its age. I was a bit wary as I had heard a lot of discourse on whether the book romanticizes the subject or not, but having now read it, I genuinely don't know how anyone could take the story as an indictment of HH's actions or even mildly sympathetic to him. 
It's not an easy read by any means: even beyond the subject matter or the infuriatingly unreliable narrator, the language is very ornate and dense, often making the pace slow and the sequence of events confusing, (especially by the end, when HH's viewpoint starts to blur into paranoia). Still, at it's best, the prose is still so masterful and evocative that it makes it all worth it imo.
What more can I really say. Damn. It's one of those you don't easily forget.
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