tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post2861277296410826041..comments2023-08-20T07:42:52.010-05:00Comments on Trish's Reading Nook: Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov and Classics Challenge Completed!Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-12860250892159083272009-01-06T00:27:00.000-06:002009-01-06T00:27:00.000-06:00I read Lolita ages ago and found it interesting th...I read Lolita ages ago and found it interesting then. I wonder what my reaction would be reading it today. I think I'm going to have to put it on my To Read list for this year. Like you said though, if it weren't so well written, it would be smut. Some people might even consider it well written smut, but I think that Nabokov was trying to build a rapport with Humbert to show the human side of the monster. He wasn't just producing smut in the name of art. As you said, the words are so carefully placed, that it's impossible to believe he just banged it out to shock people. It's a care he didn't seem to take with the other books of his I read, so he was most likely really was making the effort to open the subject without becoming so revolting that it wasn't readable. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, interesting book and I may have another read of it. Thanks for the review!TheBlackSheephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13384038059799833795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-64706072132259949702009-01-03T21:30:00.000-06:002009-01-03T21:30:00.000-06:00If anyone is still subscribed to the comments, I a...If anyone is still subscribed to the comments, I apologize for not responding sooner. It finally got to the point where I was a little overwhelmed and started procrastinating. :P Anyway...I'll respond to you all at once. :)<BR/><BR/>Lolita is a curious book, as I mentioned in the review. The sexual matter, while never explicit, is difficult to get past. Humbert describes what he loves about Lolita's body in great detail, and it was incredibly icky. If the writing wasn't so gorgeous, I would have tossed the book as smut. <BR/><BR/>All that said, it did make my 10 top cut for 2008.<BR/><BR/>Maggie--great opener! Glad you had some support. <BR/><BR/>Dar and Lisa--I will be hosting the classics challenge again--most likely mid-year. Maybe April?Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-16124049418657393932009-01-03T19:58:00.000-06:002009-01-03T19:58:00.000-06:00Yep, definitely this is on my list for 2009!I have...Yep, definitely this is on my list for 2009!<BR/><BR/>I haven't been paying attention, are you doing the classics challenge again?Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17401807675546808620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-20456397104804207762009-01-02T12:35:00.000-06:002009-01-02T12:35:00.000-06:00Great review Trish. I have wanted to pick this bo...Great review Trish. I have wanted to pick this book up so many times and read it yet never have. I know the subject matter is difficult and I've not heard of anyone who hasn't been affected by this book that has read it. I think I'll make it one of my library selections this year.<BR/><BR/>Congrats on finishing the Classics Challenge. Sadly I didn't. I will be doing up that post this weekend I hope. Hopefully if you host it this year I will do much better.Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15387389557243960084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-85837312257247705462008-12-31T11:11:00.000-06:002008-12-31T11:11:00.000-06:00I confess that I made it only halfway through Loli...I confess that I made it only halfway through Lolita, but I was very impressed by the writing. As I recall even the list of students in Lolita's class was interesting.<BR/><BR/>Happy new year.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06906212382849291562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-42424667480803291132008-12-31T10:28:00.000-06:002008-12-31T10:28:00.000-06:00I've been absent as well, but I'm still thinking a...I've been absent as well, but I'm still thinking about you! I feel the same way that you wrote about this book "It's bigger than I am" sort of thing. I felt funny listing a story involving a pedolphile (in its basest terms) as one of my top ten reads for 2008, but there it is. The book is so multifaced, so intriguing, I'll have to reread it at some time in my life to grasp more of what he was saying. Happy New Year, Trish. I'm off to mark my Google Reader as 'Read" also. ;)Bellezza https://www.blogger.com/profile/18073864187188953633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-66474290380373478432008-12-30T00:58:00.000-06:002008-12-30T00:58:00.000-06:00It's a positively incredible book.One of my favori...It's a positively incredible book.<BR/>One of my favorites of all time!<BR/>-- Cipper --Ciprianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00254338542624853230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-7832168083619646282008-12-29T21:13:00.000-06:002008-12-29T21:13:00.000-06:00I've got this one on my TBR challenge list for nex...I've got this one on my TBR challenge list for next year. I've been meaning to read it for awhile now.samantha.1020https://www.blogger.com/profile/04124614710493747821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-65725188209396702102008-12-29T19:49:00.000-06:002008-12-29T19:49:00.000-06:00I agree this isn't an easy read, but the writing i...I agree this isn't an easy read, but the writing is beautiful! You've written a great review, Trish! I'm looking forward to reading his other books in the near future. <BR/><BR/>Happy Holidays! :)Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03967837585961009598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-67206434706512693542008-12-27T10:37:00.000-06:002008-12-27T10:37:00.000-06:00Excellent review!I like how you say 'This book is ...Excellent review!<BR/>I like how you say 'This book is bigger than I am. There are so many things to talk about, and I can't do this book justice.'<BR/>I know what you mean, its always great when a book is that good.<BR/><BR/>I've heard of this book before, but dont know if I'd be able to get past the subject matter in order to enjoy the writing.<BR/><BR/>Happy Holidays ;)<BR/><A HREF="http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/</A>The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-5569943847082806992008-12-24T22:07:00.000-06:002008-12-24T22:07:00.000-06:00a Very Merry Christmas!I hope you have fun :)I hav...a Very Merry Christmas!<BR/>I hope you have fun :)<BR/>I have read so many reviews about this one :) I knew the basic story-line..and Yes I agree..sometime the richness in the writing wants you to just hang in there :)<BR/>The covr pic is b'ful..and someday I will read this book too :)<BR/><BR/>U will get some hits from people for your "porno-graphy" of yours!<BR/>:P<BR/><BR/>Congratulations on completing the challengE!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-60200862782957833202008-12-24T18:06:00.000-06:002008-12-24T18:06:00.000-06:00Nice review. I agree with you, Nabokov's writing i...Nice review. I agree with you, Nabokov's writing is excellent.Tashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06131924592639030353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-38214976767392035632008-12-24T07:41:00.000-06:002008-12-24T07:41:00.000-06:00I recently read Nabokov's short stories. They were...I recently read Nabokov's short stories. They were so beautifully written! I completely understand what you mean when you say his subjects aren't beautiful but the writing makes it so.Rebecca Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06062252252301802298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-87775171259306927362008-12-24T06:47:00.000-06:002008-12-24T06:47:00.000-06:00I enjoyed the book. I like the travel aspect, but ...I enjoyed the book. I like the travel aspect, but I remember I had an obligation to slant my booktalk in a negative light. The PR department was not going to print it and asked me to either rewrite or talk about another book.<BR/><BR/>I opened with, "He is a pervert, this E. Humbert Humbert from mysterious places in Europe. The deviant lurks in a handsome face capable of playing the leading man. The voice charms unassuming Americans within listening distance of his romantic French phrases. What knowledge can be gleaned from his façade? How can anyone close enough to smell his cologne realize it masks his spoil?"<BR/><BR/>My boss stepped in and said no! The article runs as written. The PR department wanted to know why I was promoting a book about such subject, and she shot back that the students were reading the book as a club. I was so thankful she had my back! :)maggie moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02462439415973311990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-56078741385382243292008-12-24T04:21:00.000-06:002008-12-24T04:21:00.000-06:00I think you put it perfectly here: "Even though Na...I think you put it perfectly here: "Even though Nabokov's words and descriptions are beautiful, I had the feeling that nothing he discusssed was beautiful." He writes about ugly things, and yet the book itself is a thing of such beauty. I think it takes a huge amount of talent to achieve that. <BR/><BR/>Happy Holidays to you, Trish! Have a great time, and don't be afraid to use that "mark all as read" button when you come back. That's what it's there for :PAna S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-27337082568547094492008-12-23T23:47:00.000-06:002008-12-23T23:47:00.000-06:00My boss (a English major) just finished this book ...My boss (a English major) just finished this book the other day and gave me the low down on it. I can honestly say I was sick to my stomach the rest of the day. Call me a wimp but this will NEVER be on my TBR list!!!!!Laura Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15585254426161993523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-37386058303313521412008-12-23T23:29:00.000-06:002008-12-23T23:29:00.000-06:00Thank you for your great review, Trish. I am on t...Thank you for your great review, Trish. I am on the fence about reading this one for the very reasons you mention in your review. I've heard the writing is beautiful but the subject matter itself makes me cringe. I probably will read it eventually, but it will take a lot of mental preparation to do so.<BR/><BR/>Congratulations on finishing the challenge!Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-61231575420290580622008-12-23T23:19:00.000-06:002008-12-23T23:19:00.000-06:00You always do such a great job at conveying your t...You always do such a great job at conveying your thoughts in your reviews! I don't really have much of a desire to read this book, but I'm glad you were able to see the beauty of the writing!<BR/><BR/>I hope you have a great Christmas and a good time with the in-laws. Pet some sheep for me! :)Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05048221087572023485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-19939609090692484052008-12-23T19:31:00.000-06:002008-12-23T19:31:00.000-06:00You know, I REALLY appreciated this review. I've n...You know, I REALLY appreciated this review. I've never read it, I probably never will, but your review was very thoughtful. You always do a great job :) I hope you have a great holiday and nice job finishing up the challenge :)Corinnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741365928762676938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-41545255896965141612008-12-23T19:19:00.000-06:002008-12-23T19:19:00.000-06:00Oh! btw, I signed up for goodreads and saw you wer...Oh! btw, I signed up for goodreads and saw you were on there. I think I send a friend request or whatever it's called on goodreads. :)<BR/><BR/>Have fun on vacation, and Merry Christmas!Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-34724540402677072282008-12-23T19:15:00.000-06:002008-12-23T19:15:00.000-06:00Lolita is one of my favorite books of all time. I...Lolita is one of my favorite books of all time. I'm sure I only grazed the surface in reading it. It's been nearly eight years...I should read it again soon. See how much my perspective has changed.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-72882528639074638122008-12-23T18:25:00.000-06:002008-12-23T18:25:00.000-06:00I loved your review. I didn't quite make it throug...I loved your review. I didn't quite make it through Lolita. I got bored with it, but I did keep it around to tray and read it another time. Enjoy your time with your family!Nicole (Linus's Blanket)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12473607646939202824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-64511307697909597502008-12-23T18:13:00.000-06:002008-12-23T18:13:00.000-06:00Merry Christmas and congratulations on finishing t...Merry Christmas and congratulations on finishing the challenge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com