Goodreads Review

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A dense book, elegantly and descriptively written.  Humbert is simultaneously evil and hilarious as Lolita's lecherous stepfather. While we cannot condone his behavior, there is a desperate element to his character that is, to my mind, to be ultimately pitied.  In the afterward, Nabokov explains his intentions in writing the novel as essentially 'art for art's sake',as well as an over-indulgence in what he calls his love affair with the English language; his primary language being Russian.  Although the book may be long-winded at times, and at times, over-written, he certainly shows native speakers of English how it's done with a scathing wit, sharp intelligence, and a subtle command of the workings of the maniacal mind.  This book is both delightful and disturbing at the same time.



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