Title: Lolita
Author(s): Vladimir Nabokov
No. of pages: 361
Genre: Modern Classic, Literature
Publication date: 1955
Date read: July 24th 2018
Summary
Humbert Humbert – scholar, aesthete and romantic – has fallen completely and utterly in love with Lolita Haze, his landlady’s gum-snapping, silky skinned twelve-year-old daughter. Reluctantly agreeing to marry Mrs Haze just to be close to Lolita, Humbert suffers greatly in the pursuit of romance; but when Lo herself starts looking for attention elsewhere, he will carry her off on a desperate cross-country misadventure, all in the name of Love. Hilarious, flamboyant, heart-breaking and full of ingenious word play, Lolita is an immaculate, unforgettable masterpiece of obsession, delusion and lust.
(Goodreads)
Review
This was my fourth time reading this work of art. At least, in my opinion it really is a piece of art: the way it shocks people, but it still so, so very beautifully written, makes it art in my view. Yes, the topic is absolutely awful and horrible to read about, but because of Nabokov’s writing you often forget what exactly you’re reading about.
I’ve studied this novel a lot during my time in uni and I’ve written tons of essays and papers on it. I could still come up with totally new research topics and questions every time I read it. In almost every sentence, references are hidden. References to Nabokov’s own life, to other pieces of literature and just references that make you think, and then think twice. Although this was my fourth time reading this novel, I still noticed that I had moments of “oh this is what this sentence says!”. And most times those double meanings leave me disgusted, because after all, this is a novel about a paedophile and you get to know his every thought. Nevertheless, this book is still my favourite novel and I will be rereading it for a fifth time for sure!
* Trigger warning: childabuse, rape, manipulation *
Romi Reads 
I have heard a lot about this book/novella, but you might have just convinced me to just give it a go 🤔
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Hope you’ll like it! Let me know what you think, when you get to it!
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I love Lolita, I keep meaning to re-read it
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Hope you do so – and love it even more after! 🙂
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I’ve been meaning to borrow Lolita from the library because I’ve been so curious about this book sinc I know you love it so much. I hope three weeks will be enough for me to read this because classic lit usually takes longer for me. But we’ll see!
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Take all the time you need with Lolita! Not only is it really wordy, but of course also quite heavy on your emotions, because of the topic 🙈 Hope you’ll like it when you get to it!
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I confess I haven’t yet read “Lolita” but recently reread “Invitation to a Beheading,” and just wondered if you’ve read both? I’m not easily offended, and plan to read “Lolita” but don’t know if it’s similar in style to “Invitation.” Thanks for the review.
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I haven’t read that one! Hope you enjoy Lolita when you get to it 🙌🏼
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Thanks! Have a great Saturday.
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I just finished Lolita and loved it. I can only echo what you said about Nabokov’s prose, it’s like heroin.. Once it sucks you in, it’ll never let you go. It was a really thrilling read, especially since I read it in public, made me feel slightly uncomfortable 😀
Definitely applaud you for reading it a whopping four times, I’d love to have your kind of dedication. Best wishes
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I know what you mean about feeling uncomfortable while reading it in public, I did too 🙈 Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
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