Vladimir Nabokov

[piquant]

I recently had my first experience with Nabokov, and I don't think I will ever be the same. I absolutely love his prose. There is something incredibly sensual in his images, so you physically feel while you are reading. Specifically, I read Pnin. There is this one part where he is describing how he misses his teeth after he got dentures. This is probably my favorite sentence of all time. I wish I hadn't taken the book back to the library so I could quote it for you. I have read Lolita yet, but it's on my list. What do you all think of Nabokov? Do you have a favorite sentence (not necessarily Nabokov) or is that just a quirk of mine?

[lazy cat]

I have only read Lolita which I ...hated.Yes,I liked his prose and he writes in a very vivid way ,but the theme of the book was...disqusting.I am not a prude ,in any way,but "hearing" this man's thoughts about a CHILD was...too much for me:rolleyes:
Well, maybe I should give one of his other books a try:)

[sloegin]

Nabokov's command of the english language is exceptional. Few can surpass him. So he boinked a child, get over it. There are worse things.

[lazy cat]

I did not say he's a bad writer or anything...

and what is worst than "bonking" a child??????????????:eek:

[piquant]

Wait, he had sex with a child? I know this is the concept of the novel Lolita, but I always thought that it was completely fictional.

Assuming it is, what could be more intriguing than to explore the mind of such an obsessed character. I think the topic takes remarkable courage to explore, and if handled properly could provide valuable insight to the human mind.

I think, from what I've read of Nabokov, he is quite capable of handling the subject.

During my adv. comp. course we each had to bring in a sentence that we liked. One girl brought in this sentence from Lolita.

"Nothing could have been more childish than hersnubbed nose, freckled face or the puplish spot on her naked neck where a fairytale vampire had feasted, or the unconscious movement of her tongue exploring a touch of rosy rash around her swollen lips; nothing could be more harmless than to read about Jill, an energetic starlet who made her own clothes and was a student of serious literature; nothing could be more innocent than the part in that glossy brown hair with that silky sheen on the temple; nothing could be more naive--But what sickening envy the lecherous fellow whoever he was--come to think of it, he resmbled a little my swiss uncle Gustave, also a great admirer of le decouvert--would have experienced had he known that every nerve in me was still anointed and ringed with the feel of her body--the body of some immortal daemon disguised as a female child."

You cant get a better sentence than that.

And, it brings up something else, was Lolita just a little girl, or does she symbolize something much greater?

[sloegin]

lazy cat, I'm surmising you value human life, therefore death would be worse. It was all consensual. If it wasn't, could it be a driving force in that child's life, a purpose if you will. Wouldn't abandonment be worse? How about a child, whose parent/s, inundate it with a negative reality; no violence, just passive aggression and negative comments.

piquant, yes he has sex with a child. None of the scenes are graphic. It was all consensual. He pulled off the obsession quite well, though it was a bit over the top at times. In Ada or Ardor was about incest. Symbolism is subjective.

[lazy cat]

Well there are many horrible things you can do to children ,but I think that molesting a child is death of the soul...and ofcourse in 'Lolita' it is supposed to be consensual,otherwise it would just be description of a rape!I can't deny that Nobocov is a great writer ,but I am still very annoyed by it... :rolleyes:
One book that had incest,sex with a child and homosexuality and I really loved is "The carnivorous lamb" by Agustin Gomez Arcos.However this book seemed romantic to me,I don't have a clue why.:confused:

[piquant]

Nabokov's character had sex with the child, not the real life Nabokov, correct?

[sloegin]

Yes, the character did. If he did in real life, I'm not aware of it.

[Koa]

I read Lolita, it wasn't bad but I found it very very very slow. If you have seen one of the movies about it, they're quite the same, at least the Kubrick one, if I remember it's rather slow when they go aorund the USA... Well the book is much slower. It's not that I didn't like it at all, but if it had been less slow it would have been better in my opinion. Then if you like Nabokov's prose you will only enjoy that slowness I guess :)

[Avera04]

The 1997 Lolita film was haunting and disturbing, disquieting, and nevertheless totally engaging. The musical atmosphere, scenery, costume, characterization and adaptation of the novel were first-rate. I never saw the earlier version.
The book was a long slow read, but draws one into the rich super-literate prose-poetry and sucessfully reveals the twisted, ultra-complicated but all-too -human motivations of the novel's creator. It was clear that the author was truly separated from his subject; this was no autobiograpgy. It was also clear that this was no American work of art; no American could have written this book. This is the success and wonder of a multicultural art-world; so let it stand. The literate world and the ultimate cause of humanity is immeasurably enriched by it.

[piquant]

I completely agree with your culture comment, but why don't you think that an American could have written it?

[Nico87]

Well, after ploughing through most of Solzhenitsyn's work (except The Red Wheel series and some of his less known work), I've now decided to start with Nabokov. But, which of Pnin and Lolita would be best to read first? I also have Pale Fire.

[nathank]

You really can't lose with any of those 3. Pnin is probably the most straight forward and fun, Lolita is the most beautiful, and Pale Fire is the most mind bending. I'd probably go with Lolita first and then Pale Fire.

[Lambert]

Well, after ploughing through most of Solzhenitsyn's work (except The Red Wheel series and some of his less known work), I've now decided to start with Nabokov. But, which of Pnin and Lolita would be best to read first? I also have Pale Fire.

Start with Pnin, Lolita (word of warning: not everybody is wholly impressed on their first reading of Lolita, even martin Amis admits not taking to it entirely on his first read. It's defintely a book that deserves multiple re-readings.).

Nabokov's Collected Stories are a must.

If you feel brave enough go on to the biggie, Ada or Ardor.

[Nico87]

Thanks for your help. I've already started reading Pnin, even though I've heard from many sources that Collected Stories is a great introduction to Nabokov. The only problem is that Everyman's Library has published Pnin, Lolita, and Pale Fire, but not Collected Stories. I like my books in a set of some sort. Besides that, would you happend to know of a good hardcover edition of Collected Stories?

Edit - Doesn't look like there's ever been a Collected Stories published in hardcover, I can only find Nabokov's Dozen. And.. I hate paperbacks!

[PeterL]

Speak Memory is also an excellent introduction to Nabokov.

[Nico87]

PeterL, I found two Speak, Memory's. One is called just Speak, Memory and the other one is called Speak, Memory; An Autobiography Revisited. Is this the same book? According to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com, Speak, Memory is with Brian Boyd, while in Speak, Memory; An Autobiography Revisited, Louis Begley has written the introduction.

Also, Speak, Memory: An Autobiography Revisited has 283 pages while Speak, Memory has 320. Funny thing is that they're both listed as published by Everyman's Library;

They also have different ISBNS's.

http://amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/203-0361041-0567933?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=speak%2C+memory+everyman%27s&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

[Lambert]

Thanks for your help. I've already started reading Pnin, even though I've heard from many sources that Collected Stories is a great introduction to Nabokov. The only problem is that Everyman's Library has published Pnin, Lolita, and Pale Fire, but not Collected Stories. I like my books in a set of some sort. Besides that, would you happend to know of a good hardcover edition of Collected Stories?

Edit - Doesn't look like there's ever been a Collected Stories published in hardcover, I can only find Nabokov's Dozen. And.. I hate paperbacks!

yes, everyman's library is excellent. has some of the best translations of foreign works as well.

as far as I know, everyman doesn't do the collected stories, which is a shame. I got my copy from penguin classics in paperback form. As you would imagine, its already showing signs of wear and tear. it's a well read book, i can tell you.

[Nico87]

Yep. Everyman's has published alot of Collected Stories from other authors, but not Nabokov's. I'm going to the army in january though, and a paperback would be nice to have around there.

On the other hand, Everyman's has published Speak, Memory, and only costed about $11 from amazon.com.

[bazarov]

Let's read Lolita together?! We can discuss also, of course.

[Nico87]

Sure, but I have to read through Pnin first. I planned to start with Notes from Underground after that, but I can read Lolita :thumbs_up

[bazarov]

OK, let me know when you finish with Pnin.

[Morten]

Read Lolita, with great outcome and fascination, several years ago. Now I've started Pale Fire and am very much enjoying it so far.

Any Nobokovians out there?

[islandclimber]

I love Nabokov... Though I like his earlier short works like Invitation to a Beheading best (which at the moment I am reading for a second time--i quoted part of it in one of the threads in this section of the forum...)... Lolita was good, I like Pale Fire better...

I love the way he describes things, he seems a lot like Kafka in some ways... though he definitely has a style of his own... the imagery he uses, and the absurdism at times is quite interesting, quite nihilistic at times as well..

[johann cruyff]

Yes,I'm a fan of Nabokov's works myself,can't say I'm a big fan of the man though.Don't know why,there's just something that tells me I wouldn't like him if I ever got a chance to meet him.

Also,back on topic,try finding Pnin,The Eye and Ada,those are also great.

[Takeahnase]

I'm another fan of Nabokov, though I've only read Lolita and Glory so far and I'm halfway through Pnin. I love his writing, Lolita absolutely blew me away when I read it last year and it's definately up there among my favourite books of all time. I'd like to give Pale Fire a go next.

[chasestalling]

i have a feeling you'll buy all eighteen of his novels, piquant. u won't regret it.

[superunknown]

I've only read Lolita which I thought was absolutely amazing. I have Laughter in the Dark and Pale Fire on my bookshelf but I haven't had a chance to look at them yet.

[Jason Renzi]

Lolita can easily stand as one of modernity's finest novels...
it seems to me that any conversations regarding the 'consensual' nature of the sex acts contained in the story are immaterial...although it bears mentioning that consensual sex is somewhat oxy-moronic when a child and an adult are involved...
the key to understanding this novel, and its themes, lies in the image of the ape in the jardins des plantes, who, when taught to draw, immediately drew the bars of its own cage...

[Scheherazade]

the key to understanding this novel, and its themes, lies in the image of the ape in the jardins des plantes, who, when taught to draw, immediately drew the bars of its own cage...Would like to hear more of your interpretation.

Care to expand on it more please?

Welcome to the Forum, by the way! :)

[tudwell]

Doesn't seem like anyone's mentioned Look at the Harlequins! yet. I think it ranks up there with Lolita, Pale Fire, and Ada. Wonderful little book.

[Jason Renzi]

Would like to hear more of your interpretation.

Care to expand on it more please?

Welcome to the Forum, by the way! :)

thank you for the welcome...i very happy to have discovered this community...
the ape, and his circumstances, to which i refer comes from the afterword by nabakov that's attached to the annotated version of the novel that was recently published...very helpful in understanding what nabakov is doing...
the entirety of this work represents, in a hightened and complex symbolic form, humbert sketching the bars of his own peculiar cage...however, his bars,unlike the ape, aren't real, but exist as a metaphorical system of psychological imprisonment which his "nymphic" obsessions, his pedophilia, ultimately come to signify...
one of the more moving moments in all of literature has to be when humbert stands at the top of that hill, towards the end of the novel, listening to the din of children's voices, and comes to the realization of the crime he has commited against lolita, the destruction of her innocence...in that moment, he sees the bars of his cage as clearly as we do...
anyway, that's how i see it...

[Mariamosis]

So besides Pnin, Lolita, Speak Memory, and Pale Fire .... which other Nabokov books are good...

I have read Lolita and would like to read all Nabokov books. I guess what I am wanting is a top 10 kind of deal...

[Emil Miller]

So besides Pnin, Lolita, Speak Memory, and Pale Fire .... which other Nabokov books are good...

I have read Lolita and would like to read all Nabokov books. I guess what I am wanting is a top 10 kind of deal...

I recently read The Luzhin Defence which is about a chess player and it shows how great chess players are often psychologically flawed, in that chess becomes the sole reason for their existence. There are a number of examples of true life chess players who were mentally unbalanced and Nobokov underlines this in his novel. I won't spoil the story by saying what happens to the protagonist but it won't come as a shock if you decide to read the book. I think it would help you to appreciate it better if you play chess yourself .

[Etienne]

I recently read The Luzhin Defence which is about a chess player and it shows how great chess players are often psychologically flawed, in that chess becomes the sole reason for their existence. There are a number of examples of true life chess players who were mentally unbalanced and Nobokov underlines this in his novel.

What is a "psychological flaw"? And how does chess becoming the sole reason for one's existence any different from, say a researcher whose research becomes so. What is it with looking for novels to "show" us something. This is the story about a chess player becoming crazy, yes it happened to some in real life - a very small minority (Morphy, Steinitz, Fischer, for example) - and the novel is based on the story of such a real chess player (I think Nabokov knew him, if I'm not mistaken - but who was far from being as strong as in the book).

That is, Nabokov doesn't try to show us anything about chess players in that sense. It is a story about A chess player becoming crazy, no need to look for a scientific study of chess players' psychology behind this.

[Mariamosis]

I bought "Invitation to a Beheading" and "Pnin". After I finish those I will probably pick up "The Luzhin Defence". It sounds very interesting, although I haven't played very much chess and must say I play rather poorly. However, Nabokov writes the way I want to read.. so thanks for the input!

[Bastable]

I bought "Invitation to a Beheading" and "Pnin". After I finish those I will probably pick up "The Luzhin Defence". It sounds very interesting, although I haven't played very much chess and must say I play rather poorly. However, Nabokov writes the way I want to read.. so thanks for the input!

I really hope you enjoy Invitation to a Beheading, It was a life-changing book for me! :)

[Jeremiah Jazzz]

I have only read Lolita which I ...hated.Yes,I liked his prose and he writes in a very vivid way ,but the theme of the book was...disqusting.I am not a prude ,in any way,but "hearing" this man's thoughts about a CHILD was...too much for me:rolleyes:
Well, maybe I should give one of his other books a try:)

Sure, that's on the surface but one could definitely find more depth in the book than as you said 'BONKING' a child, it's not just about that...

P.S. My favorite Nabokov book would have to be 'Pale Fire'. What an astounding read.

[jcjp]

Sure, that's on the surface but one could definitely find more depth in the book than as you said 'BONKING' a child, it's not just about that...

P.S. My favorite Nabokov book would have to be 'Pale Fire'. What an astounding read.

To add onto that your ancestors in the 1200-1400's or so were probably fairly young whenever they had you. It was not improper at all for a 14 year old girl to marry a 21 year old man then. Hell, probably wouldn't be wrong for a 12 year old to marry a 30 year old, seeing as people in general were dying off so incredibly fast that they had to have babies early.

I'm not offering a justification but I am just saying that you shouldn't entirely be surprised: she, after all, "enjoyed" the company of older men and I'm sure she was capable of making her own decisions by that point in time.

[Mariamosis]

Sure, that's on the surface but one could definitely find more depth in the book than as you said 'BONKING' a child, it's not just about that...

P.S. My favorite Nabokov book would have to be 'Pale Fire'. What an astounding read.


Yes, I agree. 'Lolita', for me, was slightly difficult to get into given the subject material. However, Nabokov is such a wonderful author and gave the book so many outlets that through this single book I am driven to read all of his books.

I am reading 'A Handmaid's Tale' at the moment, will soon begin 'Invitation to a Beheading', and have 'Pnin' on the way. From there I plan to read Brian Bean's suggestion 'The Luzhin Defense'. Then I will probably move to 'Pale Fire' or 'Ada' and so on.

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

[kelby_lake]

Can someone suggest a good Nabokov book, one with nice prose as in Lolita?

[Mariamosis]

Can someone suggest a good Nabokov book, one with nice prose as in Lolita?

I finished 'Pnin' and 'Invitation to a Beheading' in the last week. Out of the two I found myself drawn to the latter, which had wonderful prose.

'Pnin' was good as well, however as stated above I felt more captivated by 'Invitation to a Beheading'.

I have a few books to read in between, but then I will begin 'Ada or Ardor', and can't wait! I am sure the prose will be just as enjoyable!

[Jeremiah Jazzz]

dudes, Pale Fire is the way to go!

[menelanna]

I'm with Jeremiah. Haven't read Lolita yet, but read Pale Fire for the first time a few months ago. WOW. There's so much going on in there, so much to question, so much to talk about!

Haven't not read any other works by Nabokov, I'm curious--does he play with the structure of the book in his other texts as well? For example, Pale Fire is written as a poem and its commentary... but the story is within the footnotes. ^_^ Fascinating!

[menelanna]

Also, I love these pictures. Vladimir and his butterflies!

http://bestoflife.tumblr.com/post/64495916/author-vladimir-nabokov-and-his-wife-vera-chasing

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=98209bf28a859c78

[JohiSD]

I love this thread!!!

We read Lolita for my book club and it was a life changing experience. I OVE the way he writes. It's incredibly descriptive.

I thought it as fascinating watching this man struggle with the desires he knew, rationally, were "immoral." Didn't he at one point say he tried with more age appropriate women?

Anything worse than "boinking a child?" Well, it is one of the "worst" things one can do in our society, yes. I am 37, mother of a 4 year old boy, and obviously, pedophiles are not my favorite people. HOWEVER. I do draw a distinction between girls of Lolita's age - how old is she? 13?14? - and little kids.

The reason I differentiate (even though developmentally and legally, they are still children) is that in different eras and in different societies, girls are considered women at much younger ages than in modern western societies. I don't know ALL the facts, but I think that in ancient times, maybe Egypt, Babylon...12, 13 year olds getting married was not unheard of, to much older men. Ditto for some African tribes more recently, and of course, the ever-perverted polygamists.

And, sadly, given the statistical rate of child molestation, perhaps it is a fact of human nature that is more prevalent than any of us care to realize. It is an incredibly difficult and complex issue...and it could be that societal "norms" have outpaced biology. But all the more reason why Lolita is such a thrilling read...a glorious dance in the gray areas of life.

[crystalmoonshin]

I started to get interested in Nabokov after reading threads about him and his works here on Litnet. I must admit that I was shocked at all the very descriptive fantasies of Humbert Humbert since it was my first time to read a novel about pedophiles. But I find his prose really good, it's so natural, it's as if I were sitting down in front of a man who's confessing of being a perverted pedophile. And I love the humor in the novel. :)

But sad to say, I didn't get to finish the novel. Not that I lost interest, it's just that I was suddenly piled with schoolwork and I had to give 'Lolita" up. But I'm gonna continue once classes open this summer since I only borrowed it from our college library.

I'm so happy to find interesting suggestions on what to read next of Nabokov's novels.

[Inderjit Sanghe]

Am currently re-reading Ada. It is a strange novel, even though it is beautifully written, it does not have the 'poetic' beauty of Speak, Memory, Pnin, Pale Fire and Lolita, and indeed the prevalence of erotic description is somewhat strange, given Nabokov's disdain of explicit descriptions of sex in books (copulation of cliché’s to quite H.H), it also has touches of genius, such as the description of Marina by Ada-Veen as being nothing more than a puppet, which she, and most of not all of the characters, with the exception of the narrators, Ada-Veen, are they are like shadows against the radiance of their love, which is, I think, an intentional ploy on Nabokov's part, given the fact that both (or are they in fact the same person, as Brian Boyd propagates?) are arrogant, selfish and somewhat indifferent to their surroundings and how their actions affect other people. (Lucette being the prime example) I also find the Terra/Anti-Terra concept wonderful. I also love the clever reference to Proust (the most referenced author, I think, along with Rimbaud and Chateaubriand) when Ada and Veen are with her, in Van's mind, lesbian lover, though the more esoteric references can be somewhat disconcerting, an annotated version really needs to be brought out in print! Nabokov's sly digs as T.S Eliot, Ezra and Pound Maupassant are hilarious.

The small details are, however, as usual in Nabokov, the ones which stick in the mind. Dan Deen's habit of keeping his hand in his pocket before shaking another persons hand, the crumbling honey tower and Percy's kissing Ada's hand live long in the memory.

[dianwulansari]

hi i'm new in the forum..i love lolita.. that's it! it's a masterpiece of nabokov..

[kelby_lake]

Has anybody read Laura?

[DanielBenoit]

I haven't had much experience with Nabokov, having only read Lolita and some of his short stories. But I must say that from what I've read so far is that his prose is phenomenal. I just loove his lucid descriptions and his long sentences. Though I do think that Proust is even better when it comes to descriptions.

I've seen Kubrick's film adaption of Lolita and I must say (unsuprisingly since it's coming from Kubrick) that it has got to be one of the best film adaptions I've ever seen. Both are rather different, but they both stand on their own as great works of literature and cinema.