tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post4391753007169050452..comments2023-10-10T03:58:32.375-07:00Comments on Fingers & Prose: Lolita by Vladamir NabokovMelodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-35954772260168487212011-11-05T12:00:12.212-07:002011-11-05T12:00:12.212-07:00I have no idea how I missed this review of yours. ...I have no idea how I missed this review of yours. I actually think you found more to redeem the book than I did, but I agree with you about the poetry of the book's opening lines. If the rest of the book had been as playful, or if HH hadn't been the narrator, or any number of what-if situations, I could see myself admiring the book, if not ever the subject.As the Crowe Flies and Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-52634345165766945702011-10-09T20:45:42.425-07:002011-10-09T20:45:42.425-07:00Joan, part of my disappointment was just that I wa...Joan, part of my disappointment was just that I wanted the whole book to draw me in like that first paragraph did. Instead of being entranced by his poetic madness I was put off. I can understand why others liked it, but it just didn't affect me the same way.<br /><br />Jay, I can understand the power of an inappropriate infatuation, and perhaps I should have brought that to mind more often while reading this. It may have helped me have some compassion and connection with H.H.'s plight. Ultimately though, I think I kept seeing my 11 year-old daughter in Lo's place and identifying with being in too deep. I suppose that's the risk Nabokov took in telling this story in the way he did. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts (at risk of sounding creepy!) I appreciate the conversation!Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-90440789182799924112011-10-09T18:19:55.839-07:002011-10-09T18:19:55.839-07:00It's been so long since I read this, and I don...It's been so long since I read this, and I don't remember a lot of the details. I do remember liking it in spite of the troubling subject matter.<br /><br />(I'm not sure I can express the following without coming across as a little creepy, but nonetheless...) I think most men have encountered a few Lolitas in their lives - and they may not be necessarily Lolitas of young age, but tempting females who we know are 'wrong' to be involved with for whatever reasons. On that level there is some 'universal' resonance for many (at least male) readers in how HH fails to resist temptation, etc. Maybe this is the "appeal" for many readers.<br /><br />PS I loved your line about cleansing your palate by chasing Lolita with a shot of Flannery O'Connor. Very nice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-22586896936504080922011-10-08T00:01:43.297-07:002011-10-08T00:01:43.297-07:00We read this for our book club and I remember that...We read this for our book club and I remember that I hadn't finished reading it by the time we met. Others loved it but I didn't. I did finish it and liked it a little more, or at least could comprehend why others liked it. It isn't a book that's stayed with me and that in it's own way says something.Joan Hunter Dunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652041203134127783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-85064121438615542392011-10-07T22:00:33.584-07:002011-10-07T22:00:33.584-07:00Bellezza, yes I felt it was a necessary read too, ...Bellezza, yes I felt it was a necessary read too, as part of modern literature. I wanted to know what the buzz was about.<br /><br />It was sad that his struggle was so immense that he couldn't overcome it, not even for someone else's sake, but I think I was mourning for little Lo too much to feel any sympathy for H.H.Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-72010708282726202902011-10-07T17:39:02.245-07:002011-10-07T17:39:02.245-07:00I like the first paragraph as well. I read this bo...I like the first paragraph as well. I read this book because I felt it was necessary to add to my literature library of 'Read books'. But, I didn't love it. I still don't see what makes it so very famous, other than it's rather twisted subject matter. I did feel a small amount, very small, of compassion for H.H. in the general sense of feeling for anyone who cannot overcome an addiction.Bellezza https://www.blogger.com/profile/18073864187188953633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-90067030840714843772011-10-07T15:39:47.804-07:002011-10-07T15:39:47.804-07:00Peppermint, depends on who you talk to I guess...I...Peppermint, depends on who you talk to I guess...I feel like I'm in the minority on this one!<br /><br />Sam, see I never felt any sympathy towards H.H. at all. Not a bit. There was never a point in the whole book that I understood him or even felt bad for him. I'm not sure why...I guess that's one of the things that makes reading such a personal experience. I liked your review, by the way, (thanks for sharing) and really agree with everything you said except for the emotional/personal response (obv.) Nabokov's talent at writing in a non-native language is simply remarkable.Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-974084697195798572011-10-07T14:27:35.731-07:002011-10-07T14:27:35.731-07:00We're going to have to agree to disagree on th...We're going to have to agree to disagree on this one because I very much enjoyed it. And for the same reasons you didn't like it - because it was sad. I liked how Nabokov wrote H.H. in a way that you almost ended up complicit with him and almost agreeing with his view that Lolita seduced him.<br /><br />Here's my review, if you're interested:<br />http://tinylibrary.blogspot.com/2010/11/lolita-by-vladimir-nabokov.htmlSam (Tiny Library)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16375434438465319913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-39681846146320620852011-10-07T14:00:29.770-07:002011-10-07T14:00:29.770-07:00I've never read this nor have I seen the movie...I've never read this nor have I seen the movie...I'm glad to hear I'm not missing out on something special.Peppermint Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02839146118641977559noreply@blogger.com