It’s been a long while since I’ve read a book and thought, “Damn! I want to read more from this author!”. Lolita, made me want more. I zipped through it. I’m almost unsure of where to start.
First off, strangely enough, I enjoy feeling uncomfortable and uneasy when I’m reading. It’s not easy to make me squirm, and when an author can make me grimace as I turn the pages – all the while keeping me interested and attached – then that author is pretty fantastic in my books. Of course, there’s not a need to ALWAYS make me feel queasy. But of course, Lolita is a novel that deals with a pretty offbeat set of characters. The main character (and narrator) being M. Humbert Humbert. A dirty man, with a fetish for ‘nymphets’. Basically, he likes pretty little girls. And he uses the word prepubescent A LOT. Which was pretty awkward the whole way through. Out of all the pretty little girls, he becomes entranced by Dolores Haze, or as he calls her: Lolita. I really don’t want to say anything more, I don’t want to ruin it. Really you have to swim through it all on your own. It’s probably topped my list of favorite books.
Vladimir Nabokov writes with such intricacy that I can’t even explain it. That’s what shocked me most. The story is great of course, but the piecing together of words is even greater. I haven’t read a single review about this book because I didn’t want to be tainted going in, so I have no idea if this is just me, but I felt like every single sentence, every single spatter of vocabulary was sexually infused. There’s very little explicit and hardcore description, but every word seemed in itself to be seducing me. That sounds so strange, but I have very little ability with which to describe my reading experience of Lolita. Nabokov’s novel is so erotically written, I sometimes forgot that Humbert was a deviant and Lolita a young girl. Even his descriptions of scenery and landscape felt sexually charged.
One very skillful thing that Nabokov has done, is that he created a story in which the characters and very difficult to like. It’s difficult to feel for Humbert, and it’s so very difficult to pity Dolores Haze. I think she was my least favorite character. And yet, despite the sordid cast of characters, I couldn’t put the book down.
Lolita
Author: Vladimir Nabokov
1955, 317 pages.
Rating: 5/5
Je suis Canadienne. And I'm a student majoring in History & English Lit. I work part-time with books. I love reading, but in the last few years, school ate up my life so I wasn't reading as much. This blog is the start to a whole new chapter in my reading life. 
I couldn’t agree with you more. “Lolita” is a fantastic read and the synthesis between the telling of the story and Humbert Humbert is impeccable. Wonderful read. By the way, I haven’t read it yet, but I heard Nabokov’s “Pale Fire” is really good too.
Wellum Hulder
http://thejunkdrawerneedles.wordpress.com/
Well, Steph, this is a great little blog you’ve got going here! I’m adding you to my list.
Also, I guess I’m going to have to try Lolita if it’s as good as all that {{{sigh}}} I’ve always avoided it because of the subject matter, but after this review, I’m no longer scared. Thanks, Steph!
I am so glad you reviewed this book…I saw it on someone else’s list and wondered if it would be a good read!
I’m a going to read it for sure!!! :)
Thanks