Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Awe and exhileration - along with heartbreak and mordant wit - abound in Lolita The authors most famos novel, a story of obsession and passion.


I have wanted to read this book for a very long time but always kept putting it off as I thought the subject matter would be too disturbing and I would need to be "in the right mood" to read it.

That time finally came and I eagerly picked it up and read it. I must admit to being disappointed. I can't really blame the author though as it was not the book itself that disappointed me but rather how the story just didn't meet my expectations. I think I expected it to be more visual and dramatic but it was told in a rather matter of fact way from Humbert Humbert's point of view. I also expected there to be more consequences on Lolita of the abuse that happened to her but it seemed to have very little effect on her in the long run.

I did find it rather interesting the way the author wrote it in such a way that you felt yourself having sympathy for Humbert and despised Lolita at times. This shows how good the writing is and how well the characters are developed and laid out. I had to keep reminding myself not to get sucked into Humbert's lies. In some ways, this showed me just how a young girl could get sucked into this sort of abuse without realising that it is actually very wrong. A disturbing read especially if you have a young daughter.