Lolita

“Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov tells a story that is compelling and thought-provoking, which will undoubtedly raise your hackles, give you goosebumps, and touch on just about every other __ (insert here) emotion we as humans exhibit.

**Do not worry, I will not go into the sordid details of the novel, I'll just list a brief synopsis and a few thoughts towards the end.

We begin with Humbert, a dashing English fellow who takes up residence with an American family so that he may write in seclusion. Little does he know that he will find his nymphet, a term Nabokov made up to describe an alluring young girl. His predatory nature is unlocked, and his target is acquired. There is one BIG problem, however: Lolita is underage, and Humbert is twenty-five years her senior.

After a few shocking happenings (to say the least), Humbert and Lolita journey across the USA, and you get a front-row seat to the nature of depravity that encompasses each and every town they visit. As Lolita starts to flirt with the idea of leaving Humbert, he does everything in his power to keep her by his side.

One thing to note is that Humbert is the ultimate unreliable narrator. Rarely do you get any insight into other characters points of view. He often projects humility on the outside, but he ravishes in his fantasies on the inside. It is not hard to follow by any means; you just do not get a clear picture of his overall psyche until the latter half of the novel.

/- The tone is doleful. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Nabokov's main purpose is to see if you can emphasize with a monster. The author knows that the subject matter is coarse, but I never really thought he was going for outright tantalization; It's more of an insight into just how much Humbert loves Lolita. -

The writing is very good, even great. It is extremely hard to look past the subject matter, but just like in A Clockwork Orange, you do get quite a bit of humor, satire, and genuine emotion. This is the first book I have read by Nabokov, but he sure likes to toss your heart in the blender on high and walk away. I'm not really sure how to put it. The book challenges your morality, your ethics, your judgment of others, and how we all communicate our feelings on the inside. It's hard to strip away the subject matter from your mind. It occupies a corner and constantly tests your resolve. Should you feel anything for the characters, or are you along for the ride, waiting for an eventual car crash?

I know I have been very vague with the plot, but it is an experience that is best (shudder