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Liked It “The first half of this book is beautiful and perfect, some of the best writing I've ever read. The second half which is composed of parts two through five is also well written but is choppy and filled with post modern quirks that seem experimental with no real purpose. The self indulgent bits...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“ The first half of this book is beautiful and perfect, some of the best writing I've ever read. The second half which is composed of parts two through five is also well written but is choppy and filled with post modern quirks that seem experimental with no real purpose. The self indulgent bits don't keep this book from still being a great read but it took me twice as long to get thorugh the last 300 pages than the first 320.
Robephiles wrote this review Wednesday, November 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Nabokov was daring and adventurous while writing this novel delivering a poignant and moving forbidden love story that at the same time could offend the hell out of many readers. Might be in that "love it or hate it" category for many readers and doubtlessly will frustrate most readers at least some of the time. ”
“For some people, this is their least favorite Nabokov novel, but for me it is the best. It is Nabokov at some of his most elaborate, and nostalgic. Really one of my most favored books.”
Steven Z wrote this review Monday, September 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I read Lolita before this novel, so I was prepared for any "improper" sexual interests and/or habits that the characters might have. But, because the majority of sexual encounters in this book happen with young Veen and Ada, the episodes are beautiful--the characters are unfallen Adam and Eve (noted explicitly in the book), with a purity that their innate sexuality can't diminish.
Zoë wrote this review Thursday, June 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
At least, most of the time. Nabokov certainly doesn't restrain himself when plotting Veen's conquests, or the lovers' interaction with Ada's younger sister. But, as I said, I was prepared.
I appreciate that this is a very carefully written book. Nabokov writes much like Atwood in that respect, doling out tiny pieces of information at just the right point in the plot. Unlike Atwood, however, Nabokov occasionally gets caught up in the moments, bursting with imagery and alliteration. Parts three and four dragged a little, but the rest of the novel was engaging--titillating, perhaps.
One thing I need to mention: this book "abuses" big words. Having to plough through all the unfamiliar words was mostly exciting, but sometimes a little annoying. If (unecessarily) big words are a turn-off for you, this probably wouldn't be a good pick. On the other hand, the specificity with which Nabokov chooses his words is refreshing.”“I read this book so long ago that I can barely remember anything about it, except that I loved it and never wanted it to end. I can't decide whether to read it again--what if I'm disappointed? Though I have rarely been disappointed with Nabokov.”
Virginia R wrote this review Friday, June 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“i could not write a review about this book (let alone in english, cause i dont how to express me very well in this language). ok, i am addicted to this book, it is so... GOOD (god!) that i dont know what i could write. in my opinion, nabokov made a big (remember me the big russian romances like tolstoi or dostoievsky) book about... well, its a FAMILY chronicle. i'm in love about ada and van (most of all in ada). its a great love story (with some of lolita's perversity), its a story about relationships, its fiction, philosophy, sexuality. its not an easy read, all those terms in russian, french etc make me crazy (and all those citations about classic writers too). well, nabokov made lolita, but i think i prefer ada.”
milla g wrote this review Thursday, February 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“An intricate mélange of alternate history, dysfunctional family relationships, and explicit sexuality, this book also features Nabokov's iconic sumptuous prose (in French, Russian, and English, no less). Challenging but rewarding, even for the jaded reader.”
Sara N. H. wrote this review Wednesday, June 18 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A typically difficult Nabokov book, but my favorite after Lolita. Great humor, great characters. ”
Joe F wrote this review Sunday, February 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I can never decide if Nabokov is making fun of the reader when he creates sympathetic characters who do horrible things.”
Erin R wrote this review Tuesday, February 5 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The very best Nabokov, in my opinion, anyway. Odd trappings of sceince-fiction in it, as well as an interesting technique of having the 'authors' of this memoir commenting inside the work. It happened this way - no it didn't.
Bazarov wrote this review Wednesday, January 16 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This book requires a great deal of the reader. You will get the punch-line to a joke which is said 100 pages after. You must remember that line (and that it was unresolved) to get the sequence later.
The prose is lucid, poetic and sensitive. Unlike some of his other stories, I felt he (N) really cared about this story and these characters - this is not just a tour-de-force or just showmanship.
Tower.”
