Lolita

Light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul.

Yeah this book is sick, but rather intriguing

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Threads about books like to live in the Lounge!

Lolita is a very interesting book. One of the most interesting things in that book is that one warms to Humbert Humbert, despite what he is. Vladimir Nabakov was astounded at how easily one can like someone just because they write in fancy prose.

Of course, there are so many themes. Domination, the rights of desire, manipulation, the degradation of youth in America, the beauty of the untouched America, and greatest of all, love. Because despite all his faults, there is no denying that Humbert Humbert truly loved Lolita. I truly rate it as the greatest book ever written.

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Threads about books like to live in the Lounge!

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Apologies, I was watching quite a spiffing film whilst posting, and didn't pay attention

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Because despite all his faults, there is no denying that Humbert Humbert truly loved Lolita. I truly rate it as the greatest book ever written.

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Yes I would be inclined to agree. It is very true i found myself liking Humbert despite myself. It is a truly marvelous read

Very interesting read. One of my favorite books and that's saying something considering it's outside my normal read. But after hearing that term tossed around alot, I had to know where it came from.

Darling, you just made a thread about my favorite book.

I've read it more times than I count. The thing I love about this book, is that the ending brings you right back to the beginning. It never ends. The way you know Humbert is basically the thing that essentially all people hate in humanity - a danger to children, yet his charm still makes you cheer for him. How the writing ITSELF shows the degradation of Humbert and his sanity as the book further goes on. The dialogue. The humor that's woven in so deepy. The mysteries that you catch once you read again, like Quilty and the dogs.

Simply the best book in literature, that I've read, at least. This book is the reason I became an English major.

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Originally Posted by Rye

Darling, you just made a thread about my favorite book.

I've read it more times than I count. The thing I love about this book, is that the ending brings you right back to the beginning. It never ends. The way you know Humbert is basically the thing that essentially all people hate in humanity - a danger to children, yet his charm still makes you cheer for him. How the writing ITSELF shows the degradation of Humbert and his sanity as the book further goes on. The dialogue. The humor that's woven in so deepy. The mysteries that you catch once you read again, like Quilty and the dogs.

Simply the best book in literature, that I've read, at least. This book is the reason I became an English major.

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You've summed up some of the reasons I really enjoy the book. The recurring reference to the dog throughout the book is an example of how this book, although it is flowing and expansive and not compact, is trimmed down to the bare bones - the smallest detail refered to is used to build up something later on. The mad taxi ride with his first wife is also brilliant. But my favourite part of the book is at the end, when he realises what he has done. For the most part of the book, he tries to persuade the readers (and himself, more importantly) that he made Lolita happy. And then, when he faces up to it, he realises how much he has hurt her. He stands up to his guilt.

(And even this is hinted at throughout the book - somewhere he writes about how Lolita would have been a great tennis player if he hadn't broken her, these slight hints that he might not be as convinced about the way he treated Lolita as he makes out.)

It's an interesting book, and although Nabokov's writing has its faults, it's definitely worth a read. One of the curious aspects of the novel is that Humbert Humbert himself is an unreliable narrator, and the way he describes himself (and how it is repeated over and over again as the plot progresses) just adds a certain tongue in cheek attitude to the obvious tragedy that will unfold. The balancing between such aspects makes things fascinating on a certain level.

The two film versions show how people can see certain events and characters of the novel in a different light, and there are a lot of things in this novel to find if one starts digging. :p

I've had a few people recommend this book to me (among many other works of classic literature). I really need to start reading more. xD

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Originally Posted by Momiji

I've had a few people recommend this book to me (among many other works of classic literature). I really need to start reading more. xD

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Seriously, you should read it. It is much easier than most classics. I read Madame Bovary shortly afterwards - Lolita is a lot easier than that. So definitely pick it up. Try find the version where Nabakov writes a little chapter write at the end, where he describes some of the things about the book (especially the difficulty to publish).

I think Nabakov is amazing. English was his third language, yet he still managed to write such great novels (and he wrote Lolita in English from the beginning, not in Russian and then translated across, which is extremely impressive).

It isn't a matter of difficulty, it's just a matter of me not managing my time better! xD

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Originally Posted by Momiji

It isn't a matter of difficulty, it's just a matter of me not managing my time better! xD

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I reccomend you to get to managing it, just to allow yourself the pleasure of reading this book :D

I'll look into it the next time I go to the library. :D

I've only seen the films, the black and white version which obviously isn't quite as explicit, and then Jeremy Irons one. I liked them a lot.

Jeremy Irons is literally exactly how I pictured Humbert, especially his voice. xD