Lolita

Rating:
Summary: Lolita
Review: I have never before been so utterly amazed with the power of words and a persons ability to manipulate them even if this person happends to be a child-molesting (by society's terms)pedophile. Vladmir Nabokov has style like none other in literature history and I am in complete awe of the fact his first language is Russian and he wrote this book in a foreign language (English). The depth of Humbert Humbert's (the main character and some believe his name suggest the book was meant to be funny) adoration for the "nymphet" (Vladmir studied butterfly's which explains his choice of a word to call young children - is it possible Nabokov is living through Humbert?) Lolita is fascinating yet deeply disturbing because society teaches us not to have sympathy for men in their 30's who have a strong affinity for young children. Some of the language that Nabokov uses to convey Humbert's obsession for Lolita is almost hilariouse because this love struck man is battling with innate (or perhaps is it because of his prior experience with Annabell?) emotions that are considered plain disgusting by our civilized world. This book is full of description and poetry which is beautiful at the very least. I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't give this book five stars and will probably be surprised to know I was close to giving it only three instead of four. Let's look beyond Vladmir's way of sculpting words like the finest potters sculpt clay - let's look at this from little Lo's (Humbert's nick-name for Lolita) perspective. Lolita loses her mother who isn't much of a care-giver to begin with. She's left with this strange man (Humbert) who only marries her mother to get to Lolita in the first place. The two go on a road trip where he sleep with this 12 yr. old child (Humbert claims Lolita seduced him and she was not a virgin to begin with - which eats on his credibablity as a narrator considering this is a first ppv novel). One warning to some of you who might be reading this - Naokov preserves the purness of Humberts love for Lo by never going into scenes where Humbert sleeps with Lolita or any vulgarness of that sort (One redeeming factor for Nabokov) this has often been the basis for calling "Lolita" a classic. Anyway, I feel so terrible for Lolita and I began to despise this disgusting and terrible man the more I thought about poor Lo. This book is the marvelously written yet I can't condone Humbert. Read it for the experience but don't let Humbert put you so deeply under his spell that you can't see the reality of his actions. ~15 yrs. (10th grade)

Rating:
Summary: RE-ISSUING OF A REVIEW FOR A FRIEND
Review: My father and I had gotten into a deep discussion on film, since we both consider ourselves moviegoers or rather open-minded critics to all film genres, and the name Stanley Kubrick had popped up. I was familiar with Kubrick's work- Dr. Strangelove, Clockwork Orange, of course, Full Metal Jacket, and The Shining. More of his recent work. Well, Dad's an English and Lit. major and he told me about one of Kubrick's earlier films entitled Lolita. He said it was about a middle aged man who's pathetically infatuated with a young 12 year old girl. Pedaphilia. Very Kubrick, I had thought. But what had interested me most was that the novel upon which the movie was based on, written by Vladimir Nabokov had ranked so high among the top 100 novels of the 20th Century. That was what engaged me into interest with the book. It's written so poetically, with such fervor that you tend to believe that Mr. Nabokov does in fact have Humbert's tendencies and mannerisms. The novel is quite funny, too. The scenes where Humbert Humbert contemplates a way to get Clarlotte Haze out of the picture are brilliant. The sex in the novel is unrestricted and even shocking if you (and you won't be able to help doing it) really visualize it. The dialogue between Humbert and Lolita is brilliant as are the moments when the shadowed Clare Quilty presents himself.

So it's smut, huh? Well, I wouldn't call it smut. Not at all. Believe it or not, this novel is a 100 percent love story. The old saying: "True love never dies", which I never really acknowledge. Humbert Humbert's desire for her was a result of the permanent damage caused from losing someone he had cherished in the past. Losing her, her youthful beauty, plummeted him into such a state of grief that he could only find escape with another "nymphet", as young as she may be, who could capture the image, that subconscious or maybe strongly conscious image that he adored. And though most can't relate to Humbert Humbert's odd infatuation, many can relate to his ability to feel passion for somebody. He is your average Romeo, ready to die or kill for his love. And though Humbert's actions are condemnable to society, we're witness to the fact that even society, that even strict regulations, can't diminish love if it's strong enough.

Rating:
Summary: The Book With Baggage
Review: I hope no one refuses to read this book based on its subject matter. It is very funny, very real, and very well written. Forget about the mediocre film version of three years ago and just give this a chance. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Rating:
Summary: LOLITA
Review: I have just finished reading Lolita for the second time. Its prose is poetic. Its word play is perfect. Its narrator is infuriating, hilarious, and tragic. I highly recommend this masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful, Ingenius Novel
Review: This controversial story is about rape and kidnapping and definitely is not a love story because Humbert Humbert never loves Lolita and she never loves him. It's about a middle-aged college professor, Humbert Humbert chasing after Lolita (honey-skinned, pubescent), a 12 year old "nymphet". Vladimir Nabokov, the writer, explores the dark realms of obsession and longing.

This book isn't a pornography. If you're looking for a porn, that's not a book for you. The sexual contents only shows Humbert loved Lolita so purely, completely, absolutely and unconditionally.

I was simultaneously repelled by the narrator, Humbert Humbert's actions and sympathetic to his yearning. Any yet, I was utterly charmed by his wit, intelligence and verbal acrobatics, sometimes to the point where we lost sight of what he's doing to his object of desire, Lolita.

You've to pay attention when his reporting is at odds with his interpretations of them. Just like when Humbert tells you that he was seduced by Lolita, giving you the impression that she was sexually mature and a willing partner. Contrast that with his throwaway mentioning of her "performing" for him in exchange for treats, and watching television as he took his pleasure in her. Besides, don't ignore Lolita sobbing each night, as she seems to do.

I can't say it's a masterpiece but it certainly is a great piece of work. The book is beautiful, witty, joyful, sensuous and insightful. The ending is satisfactory. Nabokov uses the most glorious ways and delights of the English language to tell his tale of self-deception. I appreciate him because English isn't his mother tongue (English isn't my mother tongue too). The French used in this book isn't a problem to me. I trully hope one day I can write as good as him and I think our society do need people creative as him and have open minds like him.

Rating:
Summary: A powerful and complex love story.
Review: This was an excellent piece of literature. I became aware of the novel after all of the controversy over the movie, so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I only 16 and found it easy to read and hard to put down. This is an excellent novel and reveals a complex that painfull love story.

Rating:
Summary: BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN BY A pedophile maniac
Review: Vladimir Nabokov is synonymouse with "genius." He has written a masterpiece in a foreign language which no American born author comes in the near vicinity of his beautiful use of poetry. However this book is disturbing because it tends to make you want to symphatize with "Humbert Humbert" who has an affinity for "nymphets" especially Lolita. This is an exasperating feeling which contridicts everything "decent" society tells us to follow. I can't condone Humbert Humbert for taking advantage of Lolita (a 12 yr. old he claims to have seduced him) or give him much credibility since this is his narrative (first-person). Nabokov writes the book in the most amazing and intriguing manner - it is the subject of the book which tends to provoke contempt. Perhaps the books "story-line" is repulsive to me considering I read this is sixth grade (I'm now in 10th) but I distinctly remember the fascinating way Nabokov manipulates words and this made the book worth-while.

Rating:
Summary: Haunting,Emotional, painful, BRILLIANT!
Review: I had to read "Lolita" for a college class in Feminist Literary Theory class, and I was swept away with the author's incredible prose style. I admit that I found the subject matter to be painful, but I give kudos to the author for his brilliant portrayal of "Humbert" as the tourtured nymphomaniac pediophile. This book lets the reader into the mind of a sad, but dangerously clever character who maskes his evil intents cleverly.

Rating:
Summary: My all-time favorite book.
Review: Forget the subject matter--if you can, it was Nabokov's prose that thrilled me. Simply amazing, "Lolita" shows that Nabokov has a mastery of English greater than many authors claiming it as their native language. By the by, I tried his "King, Queen, and Knave" (i might have the order mixed) and found it rather ordinary compared to "Lolita."

Rating:
Summary: A Love Story
Review: I often feel sadness when I finish a book, but the last page of this book, the last "Lolita" caused an actual, physical ache.