What readers think of Lolita, plus links to write your own review.

Reading Lolita in the age of the Epstein files is weirdly strange. Technically: as to the writing; this is a 5-star read. Nabokov's writing is masterful. Ruth Bader Ginsburg who studied under Nabokov at Cornell, wrote in a 2016 NY Times op-Ed that he "changed the way I read and I wrote." Ginsburg's legal writing was known for its brilliance. Thematically: I struggled because Humburt Humburt's fetish for young girls between the ages of 9-14 so aligns with Epstein and his perversions, and while Humburt didn't traffic his Lolita, his rape of her (even if she was a seductress) is cruel and heartwrenching. This is not to say one should not read this book, its 75th anniversary is just so ironic. But in its whole, this is a classic.

Nabokov’s ability as a writer to create a vile character who justifies his obsession through references to famous people, art and other things where this kind of behavior was accepted is magnificent - and at no time did I feel he was trying to get us to like him either. That a writer can do this is a sign of the strength of their writing. I want to thank BookBrowse for affording me the opportunity of reading this book. This is my first time reading it. I also listened to the book expertly narrated by Jeremy Irons as I read the book. I think this helped me appreciate Nabokov a bit more.

Honestly, I think Lolita is one of those books that’s both brilliant and disturbing at the same time. the writing is insanely beautiful — Nabokov’s use of language is like art, every sentence feels carefully crafted. But the story itself? super uncomfortable. It’s told from the perspective of a manipulative man who tries to romanticize something that’s actually really dark and abusive.

So as a piece of literature, it’s genius. but as a story, it’s meant to make you uneasy and question the narrator’s morality. I’d say it’s not an easy read emotionally, but it’s definitely one that sticks with you.

if I had to rate it, probably 4.5/5 — for the writing, not the man himself ??

This book was extremely hard to get through. While reading, I gave it a 2-star. Upon finishing, I moved it up to a 3-star. While reading, I couldn’t help but to look at it as abusive and criminal. Upon completion and after really thinking about it, I was able to separate the disturbing narrator from Nabokov’s brilliant writing.