Lolita | Vladimir Nabokov | Words to play with

Lolita | Vladimir Nabokov | Most probably the best English language novel ever written.

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Lolita

	Lolita Vladimir Nabokov Vintage, 1989 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 450 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Words to play with

Early in the book, Humbert Humbert, the narrator of this story of sexual obsession, writes: "Oh, my Lolita, I have only words to play with!" And again, towards the end, "I see nothing for the treatment of my misery but the melancholy and very local palliative of articulate art." Passion recreated in words; passion that can only be assuaged by more words. Words -- but there is nothing that Nabokov cannot do with them.

When I first read this book 50 years ago, buying a banned copy in Paris, it was frankly for titillation; its pornography was oblique, to be sure, but to an adolescent with no experience whatever, it seemed to open a whole world. And the fact that Lolita was so very young was scarcely shocking to a reader not that much older. Now 50 years on, I have a daughter of my own, and Humbert Humbert's nympholepsy appears as the horror that it is. But LOLITA is more titillating than ever -- only verbally, not sexually. Solely by the use of words, Nabokov keeps you reading, through the horror, through the dread, drawing you in, stirring your sympathies, moving irresitably towards a conclusion that is clear from the beginning, even though reached by an upredictable path. Despite everything Nabokov does to reveal his hand (even writing a preface explaining what will happen to the characters after the story ends), this is more suspenseful than any suspense story. Despite having a psychopath for a hero, it says much about normal human psychology. It is a perfect time-capsule of postwar America, satirical but gently so. It is a virtuoso feat of linguistic juggling, a witty paean to the English language. It is nothing short of a masterpiece.

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Most probably the best English language novel ever written.

Nabakov is a sorcerer with the English language more than any native speaker of English that I have ever read.
The story of self-deception as well as the critique of America vanity and excess.

I recommend it to anyone who wants to know what Great writing is.

For Lovers of Language

`Lolita', published in Paris in 1955 is a subjective story about an urbane European emigre who seduces a 12-year-old American girl. However, it was soon banned for its controversial content.

Nabokov's novel chronicles the life of its narrator and protagonist, Humbert Humbert, focusing on his disastrous love affair with a young girl. In this dark, comic novel, Nabokov paints a complex portrait of obsession that reveals Humbert to be both a middle-aged monster and a wild romantic who fails to attain his ideal.

Many critics condemned `Lolita' as pornography, citing its prurient descriptions of a paedophile's sexual activities. Others applauded the work's originality and wit. The novel has now, however, gained almost universal approval as a brilliant `tour de force.'

What makes `Lolita' something more than either a case study of sexual perversion or pornographic titillation is the truly shocking fact that Humbert Humbert is a genius that, through the power of his artistry, actually persuades the reader that his memoir is a love story. `This is, of course, part of Humbert's strategy: he wants to win us over.' Nabokov's technical brilliance and beautiful, evocative language help bring this tragic character to life.

The book's difficulty lies in the many allusions and puns from other languages. To get around this you can buy the annotated edition, which is very good. Nabokov's power over language, and his sheer verve and vivacity of his words make reading Lolita a rewarding aesthetic experience.

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Excellent

An amazing read, the story about Humbert Humbert a full grown man who forms a relationship with a woman to get to her twelve year old daughter Lolita.
The capacity of Humbert's deception to others and to himself is amazing, the impact of the relationship devastating to both himself and Lolita.
The narrative in this novel is increadable, and the story very readable. Excellent.

A Heart-Romper

Vladimir Nabokov has an infectiously amusing voice over this book. For "Lolita" written way back in 1955, he does understand that this book will be read my many readers over the first years of the 2000 A.D. It is remarkable how the central character [HH] doesn't feel any apology over his doings, he doesn't even justify them, there is also no obvious conviction but more so there's a desire for conquering beauty and the decision. There is no bad or no good in Humbert's world. There is one lolita (and nymphets) and then, the rest are "Deodarised city girls" which displeases the author immensely. The writing is witty, limitless in it's humor and talks of incest with much amusing guile. They say, a comedian doesn't insult but a comedian helps you insult yourself. Vladimir does neither. Yet he leaves his imprint of fanatic assiduity within the confounds of my heart and mind.

:Lolita: is the author's ode to the world of nymphets, especially one. There is no impish unintelligence or lack of wisdom on display here. Moreover, I felt there is this ironic pseudoscience. Vladimir Nabokov (author) is so set upon presenting his point that he often engages in sentences lasting over 10 Lines/200 words. He uses words I've never heard of and may never hear again. It is maybe because of this particular feat and another that you RESPECT him more. Being a man, I realise how he often divulges and buries himself admist beauty of a girl child. It is not that we find this queer but I find it beyond the horizon of our morality and tenacity and fortitude to actually indulge in such pleasures.

I have become a Humble Humbert Humbert after reading this book. Other favourite characters include an old man strumming keys on a piano, the author's ex wife, other naive "easy to impress" characters, etc. Do not be fooled by the 295 pages tag. This book will take you way longer to read than it sounds. DO READ.

"Jurors! If happiness could have talked, it would have filled the genteel hotel with a deafening roar; I foreglimpsed her. She then said, "Sometimes you are quite revoltingly dumb."

I now wait to read his other books for I have become a Nabokov fanboy. Undying respect for redolent remnants of a time far drawn from ours.

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