The Annotated Lolita : Revised and Updated

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Summary: A brilliant but misunderstood book
Review: Lolita is a brilliant book, but not the love story many see it as. The genius of Lolita is that Nabokov is able to capture the mentality of a sick and disgusting man on the pages of this book. It is not a love story. By the end of the book it should be clear to any reader that Nabokov intended the book to be a tragedy. It was not love but obsession that drove Humbert Humbert into his saga with Lolita and his obsession hurts many others throughout the book. There never is genuine love between Lolita and Humbert. She is stuck with him and he is obsessed with her. Ultimately this obsession ruins both his and Lolita's lives demonstrating the tragic feel Nabokov clearly wanted to emerge from the book.

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Summary: How detailed is Appel's research...?
Review: Needless to say that the annotations, along with the critical introduction, are so extensive that they almost achieve the impossible task of exhausting a work of literature. But if you're wondering just how much you should appreciate the efforts of A.A. in researching the literary history of H.H., consider this: LOLITA is the only book to be annotated during an author's life with the author's assistance. Apparently Appel "consulted" Nabokov so relentlessly that the author put a restraining order on his annotator. As H.H. hungered for his Lo, A.A. annoyed this modern-day Poe. So go on and shell out a few bucks more for an edition that adds a another dimension (if inadvertantly) to the themes obsession and literary creation explored by Nabokov.

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Summary: The annotated edition is the way to go
Review: Nabokov makes so much use of word play, puns, popular culture references, etc. that the annotated edition is almost essential to appreciating Lolita. (The notes even include a photo of the bathrobe ad that hangs above Lolita's bed.) It's a little annoying to have to flip back and forth to the footnotes, but you miss a lot without them. Well worth the extra few dollars.

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Summary: Underestimated by any number of stars.
Review: Following an initial reading of "Lolita", I placed it solidly within my favorite five books of all time. I was enchanted with the manner in which love was examined and illuminated, and mezmerized by the Russian's use of our foreign language. However, I picked it up again, and found that my previous opinion had been drastically unjust. Truly, Nabakov is a modern-day Shakespeare, and more. Anyone who studies this amazing work will realize that it takes a special element of genius to compose such a masterpiece. References and puns are sprinkled liberally and humorously throughout "Lolita", and without the help of annotation, much of the books cleverness could be lost. Let every man, woman, and child who walks the earth read this book! It has been proclaimed.

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Summary: Lolita entertains, sickens, and makes you think.
Review: Lolita is one of the most eloquently written books I have ever read. Nabokov's ability to wonderfully portray the story from Humbert Humbert's point of view stirs up sympathy from within the reader, while at the same time brings forth a sense of hatred towards H.H.'s pedophelia. Also remarkable is Nabokov's descriptions of the numerous sexual encounters in this book without ever using profane or graphic language. Instead he relies on complex vocabulary and symbolism. This is a truly remarkable story that was greatly enhanced by the Annotated Notes provided in this version.

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Summary: True love beyond the horror
Review: This book depicts love that few of us will ever know - a passion that eats at his heart. Yes, it is wrong to do what he did, but when one questions why he couldn't stop himself, one sees love beyond imagination. Although the author attempts to justify his actions, they are wrong, and one despises him for that, but, the love he feels for Lo makes fills me with emotion at every page

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Summary: A hysterical yet satirical story!
Review: In addition to Lolita being one of the funniest books I have ever read, I was also impressed with the lack of intelligence many people showed when they read this. Humbert Humbert was a very funny human being. A bit twisted, but indeed a riot. Vladimir Nobokov showed a lot of humor in placing such a ridiculous circumstance into the minds of all readers. Anyone who was offended in the very least by this story was someone who clearly doesn't understand the world of satire, in which showed to society how very much so ignorance indeed is present today. If there ever was a wake up call to all narrow-minded individuals, this book was an obvious telephone ring.

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Summary: Some of the most beautiful English prose ever written.
Review: It would seem strange that a story which deals with pedophilia and murder could actually be described as poignant. But this is most assuredly the case here. One does not find oneself sympathizing with the book's "protagonist", Humbert Humbert, the aging pederast who is seduced by 12-year old Dolores "Lolita" Haze. However, his story is so brilliantly told by Nabokov that so long as one perseveres past the "perversity" of pederasty, one will be rewarded with a complex and enlightening glimpse of the human soul.

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Summary: Pros and cons of annotation.
Review: Lolita is so full of references to other works that it would be hard to see its scope without help. Some are particularily interesting, as Humbert justifies his perversion by references to other great writers who chased children; Poe is used as a defense, but if you're not familar with his life and work you might not know this. The footnotes are also useful in translating all the French expressions. On the other hand, for a first time reader, the notes give away much too much of what's to come, and in some ways spoil the suspense by continually pointing you to the ending.

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Summary: Annotated Lolita the best for first time reader
Review: For anyone whose never read Lolita it is bested to read the Annotated Lolita. You get incredible insight of understanding the play on words plus if anyone has never took french this book will save you from angst and anger over some rather large passeges in french.